As a diligent farmer, you may know how much stress the presence of pests can cause to your onion crop. Thrips are tiny, slender, winged insects that can cause significant damage to your onion crop. In their immature and adult stages, they feed on onion leaves by sucking sap tissue, leaving speckled and silverish scars on the plant’s surface. Severe infestation can lead to distortions, deformities, or even destruction of the whole crop. This article will guide you on how to control thrips in your onion farm.
1. Use reflective mulch
Reflective mulch is a highly reflective film that is laid between the onion rows to lighten and reflect the light onto the onion leaves. Thrips’ reproductive cycles are interrupted due to the intense reflection of the light, weakening their population and infestation level.
2. Increase biodiversity in your farm
Introducing natural predators into your farm such as ladybugs, lacewings, and mites will help control thrips naturally. You can also plant nectar-rich flowers and other natural herbs in your onion crop farm to support the growth of beneficial insects.
3. Keep your farm dry
Thrips thrives in a humid environment, so planting onions during the dry seasons will reduce the relative humidity around the onion plants. Also, avoid over-watering the crop and doing irrigation only when it is needed.
4. Rotate crops
Rotate your onion crop with other crops that are not susceptible to thrips infestation. Crop rotation helps break the thrips’ reproductive cycle, reduce population, and prevent infestations.
5. Use insecticides
Insecticides such as neem oil, pyrethrin, and spinosad can provide effective remedies in controlling thrips infestation. However, it is crucial to read and follow the product label instructions before use.
6. Apply sticky traps
Sticky traps such as yellow and blue sticky cards attract and trap thrips before they can lay eggs, reducing populations and controlling infestations.
7. Practice good hygiene
Thrips can easily spread from one infected farm to another. Adopting good hygiene practices such as proper cleaning of farm tools, equipment, and plant debris can prevent thrips infestations.
Conclusion
Thrips can cause significant damage to your onion farm, but with the right control measures, they can be prevented and controlled. You must adopt natural farming practices and use insecticides only as a last resort and under expert advice. Ensure that your onion farm is dry, well-drained, and clean at all times, and control measures are implemented early enough to prevent extensive damage.