Changes in pest management practice in almond orchards during the rainy season in California , USA
In California, regulatory agencies are concerned about organophosphate (OP) contamination of surface water. OPs originate in part from applications on dormant almond and stone fruit orchards that are washed off during winter rainstorms. Programs conducted by the University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Project, University of California Cooperative Extension, and the Biologically Integrated Orchard Systems (BIOS), a coalition of public and private groups, have promoted the replacement of OPs on almonds during the rainy season with alternative practices. Data from individual applicator records from the California Pesticide Use Reports demonstrated that during 1992–1997, almond growers in all nine major almond-producing counties significantly reduced use of OPs. The area of almond orchards treated with OPs during the dormant season was reduced by 40–55%, depending upon the region. Similarly, the percentage of growers who used OPs during the dormant season was reduced by 31–48%, and the mass of OPs applied to almond orchards during the dormant season was reduced by 22–57%. During the same period, there was a significant increase in the percentage of growers who used “reduced-risk” treatments: the microbial pesticide Bacillus thuringiensisat bloom-time, oil without an insecticide during the dormant season, and no treatment during the dormant or bloom season. In addition to the decrease in OPs during the dormant season, there was a significant decrease in the area treated with OPs during the growing season. However, there was also a significant increase in the use of pyrethroids during the dormant season, a practice that might result in some surface water and sediment contamination. © 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Insects and mites.
Shore flies are other insects that often are found associated with poinsettias, but feed on algae and are not directly injurious to the crop (Although shore flies can carry several plant pathogens). Mealybugs sometime occur as well, but almost always on poinsettias produced adjacent to mealybug-infested crops. Thrips can be found feeding on leaves early in the production cycle. Sometimes their feeding will cause leaf distortion.
Short-term methods for estimating the chronic toxicity of effluents and receiving water to freshwater organisms. Third edition
This manual describes four short-term (four- to seven-day) methods for estimating the chronic toxicity of effluents and receiving waters to three freshwater species: The fathead minnow, Pimephales promelas, a daphnid, Ceriodaphnia dubia, and a green alga, Selenastrum capricornutum. The methods include single and multiple concentration static renewal and non-renewal toxicity tests for effluents and receiving waters. Also included are guidelines on laboratory safety, quality assurance, facilities, equipment and supplies; dilution water; effluent and receiving water sample collection, preservation, shipping, and holding; test conditions; toxicity test data analysis; report preparation; and organism culturing, holding, and handling.