de Bie, Kees
INCIDENCE AND CONTROL OF PESTS AND DISEASES
All orchards suffered from stem boring caterpillars and several from beetles, flies
and fruit piercing moths. Diseases affecting mango were not reported. To control
caterpillars, 34 farmers used pesticides, viz. Lannate (12x), Azodrin (9x), Civin-85
(7x), Furadan (4x), Folidol (5x) and Thiodan (3x).
Regression showed that only Azodrin application had a positive moderately
significant effect on yields (Figure 9°). The method of pesticide application was
either by knapsack or by motor sprayer. Use of a motor sprayer had a highly
significant impact on yields (Adj.- -R? of 15. 896), which might be explained by the
fact that pesticides were sprayed deep into the tree canopy. The regression
equation, derived is: Ln(Yield+1) = 1.17 + 1.88 (if a motor sprayer is used); see
Figure 9°. Motor sprayers were almost exclusively used for application of Civin-85
(4x), and Azodrin (3x). Spraying was practiced throughout the year. Besides
spraying, farmers cut branches that showed signs of caterpillar damage. Several
orchards were badly damaged by this practice.
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a. Azodrin . Motor sprayer C. Supplementary irrigation
Figure 9. a: Effect of Azodrin on caterpillar control.
b: Effect of motor sprayer of pesticide efficiency.
c: Effect of supplementary irrigation on yields.
IRRIGATION
Eighteen farmers reported experiencing water shortage during the fruit bearing
stage (end of dry season). This number includes five (out of twelve) farmers who
were able to apply supplementary irrigation water when available. Note that wells
etc. dry-up when irrigation water is most urgently needed. Irrigation infrastructure
present within or in the direct proximity of orchards included water reservoirs /
dams (8x), ground water wells (10x), canals (6x), underground irrigation pipes with
taps above the surface (5x), and hose-pipes / tubes for irrigation purposes present
within the orchard (7x).
Water shortage during the fruit bearing stage or the presence of irrigation
structures did not visibly correlate with yields. Supplemental irrigation led to higher
yields (Figure 9°) and significantly explained 796 of the overall yield variability. The
equation is: Ln(Yield+1) = 1.20 + 1.17 (if ability to apply supplementary irrigation
water exists).
International Archives of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. Vol. XXXIII, Part B7. Amsterdam 2000.
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