METHODS OF PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF DISEASES AND WEEDS,AS WELL AS PESTS OF CROP PLANTS
Small gardens are characterized by a large variety of horticultural plant species sown or planted in a small area. These plants -trees and fruit shrubs, vegetables and ornamental plants – require different care, than with commercial crops. Hence, the protection of plants with chemicals is difficult. It is related to the coordinate cultivation of many species of fruit trees and vegetables as well as the toxic properties of the pesticides used. By spraying one crop, we often contaminate other plants, ready for harvest and consumption at this time. Therefore, the control of diseases and pests on plots and in home gardens in all cases, when it is possible, should be carried out by mechanical and biological methods. Insecticides should only be used then, when pests cannot be controlled by other methods.
Agrotechnical and hygienic method. It consists in creating the best conditions for plants to grow and develop, as a result of which the occurrence of diseases is prevented. As a result of proper soil cultivation, appropriate crop rotation, proper fertilization and watering plants grow well. It is also important to use healthy plant material.
The influence of the watering time on the development of diseases caused by fungi should be emphasized here. It is best to water in the early morning hours, because the water has enough time to soak into the soil before a strong solar operation, and at the same time the plants will dry out quickly, which will prevent the germination of the spores of pathogenic fungi.
Therefore, by doing irrigation in the evening, let's try to pour water under the plants, not on the list.
Hygienic procedures are based on the removal of all sources of disease, i.e.. fallen and rotting fruit should be collected and burned, remove the so-called. tree mummies and sick shoots, rake the leaves, and remove any leftovers from harvesting vegetables.
The most disease and pest resistant varieties should also be planted, which are recommended in the selection of plants for employee allotment and home gardens, administered by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Economy.
Mechanical method. It consists in manually collecting and destroying insects or setting up various traps, obstacles, lures, as well as removing diseased parts of plants. By using this method in the leafless period, when it is much easier to spot wintering forms of pests, or symptoms of diseases on trees, they are vetted. We collect single or groups of dry leaves, attached to twigs or boughs by the rod, because young caterpillars of such pests winter in them, how: shred hawthorn, kuprówka rudnica, some scrolls and others; such leaves must be burned. On young shoots, it is also easy to see the black-gray rings of the nebulae eggs stuck together.; We cut such shoots and burn them. Small felt-looking brown pillows can also be seen on the trunks, being the egg deposits of the gypsy moth; these deposits must be scraped off and destroyed.
During spring pruning, remove shoots affected by apple or gooseberry mildew (visible floury coating – silvery shiny surface and underdeveloped buds). We also use a knife to cut out pieces of bark affected by cancer and gangrene (easily distinguishable spots with protruding, wrinkled bark). Lubricate the wounds left by the cut tissue with Funaben 3 or 4 albo Santar SM.
Caterpillars of apple fruit can be caught and placed on trunks – in the month of June – corrugated paper wristbands, additionally secured with foil or paper resistant to rain. Such bands are removed and burned in the fall or in March-April.
In order to catch the females, the first mite is placed on the trunks of fruit trees – in October – sticky bands. Lep is prepared as follows: to hot, but not boiling castor oil (20 day) is pouring in 25 a dag of shredded rosin, heats by 20-30 minutes, constantly stirring until the moment, until the drop that is dropped on the plate spills out. When the glue thickens sufficiently, pours in 4 a dag of glycerin, mixes and sets with fire; it is smeared with it only after 2 days from the time of preparation. Half a liter of such prepared glue is enough for 30-50 belt.
On vegetables, you can manually pick caterpillars foraging on cruciferous plants, catch sticky fleas in the traps, set traps for crows and rodents.