Today, pest management based on biological control is the most sustainable alternative to pesticide use. The whitefly Bemisia tabaci is one of the key pests negatively impacting yield and quality of vegetable crops; while the predator Macrolophus pygmaeus is one of the main natural enemies widely used for its control, although it can sometimes behave as a pest, causing damage to plants. In this study, the impact of M. pygmaeus as a plant feeder has been investigated, by analyzing the combined impact of the whitefly and the predator bug on potted eggplants under laboratory conditions. Results show no statistical differences between the heights of plants infested by the whitefly or by both insects compared with non infested control plants. However, indirect chlorophyll content, photosynthetic performance, leaf area, and shoot dry weight were all greatly reduced in plants infested only by B. tabaci, compared with those infested by both the pest and its predator or with noninfested control plants. Contrarily, root area and dry weight values were more reduced in plants exposed to both insects, compared to those infested only by the whitefly or to noninfested plants (the latter showing the highest values). These results show how M. pygmaeus can significantly reduce the damage caused by B. tabaci to host plants, although its effects on the belowground part of the plants remains unclear. Anyway, from a practical point of view and given the overall positive effect of the predator, both for its control of the whitefly and reduction of negative effects on crops, its release during the early stages of B. tabaci infestation in greenhouse environments is recommended.
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Agricultural run-off and subsurface drainage tiles transport a significant amount of nitrogen and phosphorus leached after fertilization. alchemia-nova GmbH in collaboration with University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna developed two multi-layer vertical filter systems to address the agricultural run-off issue, which has been installed on the slope of an agricultural field in Mistelbach, Austria. While another multi-layer addressing subsurface drainage water is implemented in Gleisdorf, Austria. The goal is to develop a drainage filter system to retain water and nutrients. Both multi-layer filter systems contain biochar and other substrates with adsorption properties of nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus). The filter system can be of practical use if an excess of nutrients being washed out is of concern in the fields of the practitioner by keeping the surrounding waters clean. This approach may result in economic value by re-using the saturated biochar as fertilizer and improving the soil structure, thus increasing long-term soil fertility. Link: https://wateragri.eu/a-bio-inspired-multilayer-drainage-system/
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under Grant Agreement No 858735This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under Grant Agreement No 858735. FACTSHEET NANOCELLULOSE MEMBRANES FOR NUTRIENT RECOVERY Key information Functionalized nanocellulose membranes can take up nitrate and phosphate. These membranes can be put in a water treatment unit. As the membranes are biobased, degradable materials, they can after use be added to the soil, thus returning the leached nutrients back for their original purpose providing fertilizers (nutrient recycling).
Because variables such as temperature and humidity have a profound effect on the activity of crop pests, diseases and natural enemies, the ability to monitor environmental conditions within a crop has always been important for crop protection.