As a garlic farmer, it is essential to know that your crop is susceptible to attacks from sucking pests like aphids, thrips, and mites, among others. These pests can cause significant damage to garlic, reducing yields and market quality. In this article, we shall discuss ways of controlling these pests to ensure maximum yield and quality of garlic.
1. Scouting: As soon as garlic crops emerge, farmers should conduct regular scouting to identify the presence of pests. Early detection of pests helps to prevent severe damage later on. Farmers can use yellow sticky traps, sampling, or visual observation to detect the presence of pests.
2. Planting resistant varieties: Farmers can opt for garlic cultivars that are resistant to pests. Garlic varieties like Germidour, Purple Wight, and Cristo are known to be resistant to pests. Planting resistant varieties can help to lower pest populations and reduce damage.
3. Crop rotation: Crop rotation is an effective way of controlling sucking pests in garlic crops. The practice involves planting crops from different families in rotation to avoid the buildup of pest populations. Farmers can plant crops like onion, carrot, or leafy greens after garlic to reduce pest infestation.
4. Use of biopesticides: Biopesticides are natural control agents that can effectively control pest populations without harming the environment. Farmers can use neem oil, horticultural oil, or insecticidal soap to control sucking pests. These biopesticides work by smothering pests or interfering with their reproductive system.
5. Chemical control: As a last resort, farmers can use chemical control methods to control pest populations in garlic crops. However, farmers should follow product labels and use the recommended dosage to prevent crop damage. Chemicals like pyrethroids, organophosphates, and carbamates can be used to control sucking pests in garlic.
In conclusion, controlling sucking pests in garlic crops requires an integrated approach that involves regular scouting, crop rotation, planting resistant varieties, use of biopesticides, and chemical control. Farmers should choose a control method that is most effective, economically feasible, and least harmful to the environment. By implementing these measures, farmers can prevent severe damage to garlic crops and ensure maximum yield and quality.