Ecological and economic evaluation of modern systems for apple tree protection from codling moth

Abstract

This work substantiates the transition to biorational systems of plantation protection using low-toxic preparations to ensure high-quality yields. Regularities in the development of codling moth in Krasnodar Krai are revealed. During the period of 2021–2023, a 30% increase in the expenditures on protective measures in horticultural organizations of Krasnodar Krai was established. As a result, the production costs grew by an average of 17%, decreasing the entire efficiency of fruit production. This explains the need to develop modern protection systems for perennial plantations. Differentiated approaches to apple-tree protection from pests (on the example of codling moth), which are based on application of low-toxic chemical and biorational preparations according to phytophage development stages, are reviewed. An integrated system for protection of industrial fruit plantations in the Krasnodar Krai against coddling moth is proposed. The advantages of the proposed system over the existing approaches that apply highly toxic chemicals are described. These relate to the possibility of introducing flexible changes in protective measures in accordance with phytosanitary characteristics of orchards, including activation of local apple varieties and use of agrotechnical and biological methods based on toxicological monitoring. An ecological and economic evaluation of the integrated system of fruit plantation protection from codling moth is provided. This system enables a reduction in the background pesticide content in food chains (a 2-fold and 5-fold decrease in soils and fruits, respectively), a 1.3-fold reduction in pesticide load, the preservation of yield by more than 98% while complying with the regulations of ecological agrocenosis safety regulations, a 1.5-fold reduction in production costs, and a 10.5% increase in the product profitability.