Organic fertilization and botanical insecticides to control two-spotted spider mite in strawberry

Abstract

Strawberry fields receive several pesticides spraying and residues in fruits are recurrent. Development and application of methods that avoid applying pesticides mostly during fructification period are imminent needs. Comparison of population of two-sppoted spider mite (TSSM) Tetranychus urticae Koch. in organic and mineral fertilized plants (as used by growers) and treated with alternative products were done. Plants were grown in vessels in a greenhouse infested with local population of TSSM. Extracts of Tephrosia voggeli (Hook), neem oil (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.), and lime sulfur were applied three times against TSSM in ten days intervals. Assessments were done three times after each spraying. Interaction between fertilization and spraying alternatives was also assessed but was not significant. TSSM population was about 44% lesser in organic fertilized plants than those in inorganic fertilized. T. voggeli extracts reduced in large amounts TSSM; neem oil reduced in some assessments and an intermediate reduction was found for sulfur lime. Organic fertilization and T. voggeli extracts are potential strategies to manage TSSM and additional studies are proposed to enable wide utilization