Preventing and Managing Pests and Diseases

Growing in a region where pests and diseases are endemic can be challenging.  However, a tightly sealed controlled environment with strict sanitation protocols can help minimize the risk.  As a responsible grower, it’s essential to understand your risk exposures and take every possible measure to prevent infections.

The Importance of Prevention

Prevention is better than cure, especially when it comes to pests and diseases.  Every gram of prevention is worth several hundred kilos of cure.  Learn and implement the best mitigation/control strategies for your likely exposures and have remedies ready at the first sign of an issue.

Genetic Resistance

One method to prevent pests and diseases is to purchase seeds with ‘built-in’ genetic resistance.  For example, cultivars of tomato and pepper have been developed with resistance to common diseases such as Fusarium, bacterial wilts, and tobacco mosaic virus.

Crop-Specific Knowledge

For each crop you grow, learn about its needs, including optimal temperature, relative humidity, photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) preference, and nutritional requirements.  Understanding these factors helps provide the best environment for your crops and minimizes pest and disease risks.

Managing Rats

Rats can pose a significant threat by damaging crops, contaminating water, and spreading diseases. Here’s how to manage rat infestations in your iAVs setup:

Physical Barriers

• Install sturdy fencing around your iAVs, extending at least 6 inches below ground to prevent burrowing.
• Use fine mesh wire to cover openings or potential entry points.

Sanitation

• Maintain a clean environment around your iAVs.
• Remove debris, tall grass, or potential hiding spots near the system.
• Store feed and harvested produce in sealed, rat-proof containers.

Natural Predators

• Encourage natural rat predators like owls by installing nesting boxes or perches near your iAVs.

Traps

• Use humane traps to capture and relocate rats.
• Place traps along walls and areas with rat activity, and check them regularly.

Ultrasonic Devices

• Consider installing ultrasonic repellent devices around your iAVs.  Their effectiveness can vary, but they may help deter rats.

Rodenticides

• As a last resort, use rodenticides designed for agricultural use. Exercise caution as these can harm wildlife, pets, and the iAVsecosystem.  Follow manufacturer instructions and local regulations.

Regular Monitoring

• Conduct routine inspections of your iAVs for early signs of rat activity.  Look for droppings, gnaw marks, or disturbed soil.

Greenhouse Whitefly Management

Prevention and Early Detection

Exclusion is the most effective defense against greenhouse whiteflies in iAVs. While challenging, proper netting on all inlets and fully sealed exhaust vents when not in use can significantly reduce the risk of infestation. Yellow sticky traps serve as early warning systems, alerting growers to the presence of whiteflies. However, infestations often become apparent through visual inspection, as these pests tend to appear in large numbers.

Identification and Behavior

Greenhouse whiteflies primarily inhabit the undersides of leaves. When disturbed, they form distinctive mini-clouds as they take flight. Regular plant inspections, paying close attention to leaf undersides, are crucial for early detection.

Effective Treatment

Safer’s Insecticidal Soap has proven highly effective in controlling greenhouse whitefly infestations in iAVs systems. This product contains potassium salts of fatty acids (49.52%) and is specifically formulated to target various pests, including whiteflies.

Application Method

1. Mist the underside of affected leaves and the surrounding air where whiteflies are present.
2. To protect the biofilter, place temporary plastic film on the sand beneath the spray area to catch overspray and drips.
3. While a few drops are unlikely to harm biofilter organisms, this precaution ensures optimal system health

Benefits of Safer’s Insecticidal Soap

• Safe for use up until harvest day
• OMRI Listed® and compliant for organic gardening
• Environmentally friendly, as it does not persist in the ecosystem
• Effective against multiple pests beyond whiteflies

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Strategies

IPM is a holistic approach combining cultural, biological, and chemical control methods to manage pests and diseases.  Implementing a comprehensive IPM strategy ensures your iAVs can thrive without the detrimental effects of pests.

1. Prioritize Prevention

• Create barriers to minimize pest invasion risk.
• Sanitize entry points: Implement strict protocols for sanitizing visitors and workers before entering the area.
• Secure the environment: Ensure your greenhouse or growing area is well-sealed while maintaining proper ventilation.

2. Maintain Plant Health and Hygiene

• Keep the plant crown dry and prevent ground-contact water from touching foliage.
• Stimulate plant immunity using the aspirin ‘trick’ to boost immune systems.
• Practice companion planting with pest antagonists and attractants for pest predators and pollinators.

3. Use Insecticidal Soaps and Plant-Based Extracts Wisely

• Use insecticidal soaps carefully to avoid contact with the sand in your biofilter.

4. Implement IPM Strategies

• Employ beneficial insects like ladybugs and lacewings.
• Utilize disease and pest-resistant plant cultivars.
• Incorporate beneficial bacteria like Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt).

5. Be Prepared for Infestations

• Regularly inspect plants for signs of pests or disease.
• Use targeted interventions to eliminate pests.
• Learn and adapt from each infestation to improve practices.

Conclusion

Effective pest management in iAVs requires a proactive and integrated approach.  By prioritizing prevention, employing IPM strategies, and being prepared to act swiftly, you can protect your iAVs and ensure its productivity and sustainability.

Notes

The “aspirin trick” involves using aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) to enhance plant immune defenses.  Regular foliar application may improve yield and quality in Solanaceae crops like tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and potatoes.  Use uncoated aspirin at 600 mg per gallon of water, misted onto leaves every two weeks.

External Resources

Pest and disease management is not exclusive to iAVs; it is inherent in any food production system. There are many resources available to help manage these challenges, and this guide provides a basic overview.  The main thing to remember is that the plants and fish will be consumed, so it is crucial to avoid using any harmful or dangerous chemicals.

Here are some recommended books and manuscripts for further reading on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in the context of iAVs:

• “Integrated Pest Management: Concepts, Tactics, Strategies and Case Studies” by David Pimentel and Roger Levine
• “Sustainable Agriculture: An Integrated Approach” by David A. Douds Jr., et al.
• “IPM for Beginners: A Step-by-Step Guide to Integrated Pest Management” by the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources
• “Integrated Pest Management in Aquaculture” by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
• “IPM in Protected Cropping Systems” by the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization