Novel technologies for integrated slug control

Bernhard Speiser

Sponsors:

Swiss portion is funded by the Swiss Federal Office for Education and Science grant no. 97.0194.

Project Title

Novel technologies for integrated control of slug damage in key horticultural crops. FAIR CT 5-PL 97-3355. (European Union)

Purpose

The overall objective of this project is to produce, for the horticultural industry, biological and non-chemical methods of slug control that could be used in both conventional and organic agriculture.

Methods

This project is a collaboration between seven partners involving a multi-step procedure to examine the effectiveness of nemotode biocontrol agents, mechanical and cultural methods, feeding deterents, methods of killing slug eggs, and to introduce these alone and in combination in both organic and conventional agriculture settings.

Results

After the first project year it was found that nemotodes (P. hermaphrodita) and a novel molluscidal compost successfully controlled slug damage in some field trials. However, certain techniques such as mechanical hoeing, microwaves to kill slug eggs and low-chemical methods did not demonstrate success in the field. A report from the second year is forthcoming.

Literature

Speiser, Bernhard, David Glen, Simon Pigott, Albert Ester and Davies, Keith and Castillejo, Jose and Coupland, James (2001) Slug Damage and Control of Slugs in Horticultural Crops. FiBL-Merkblatt. Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL).