Zucchini is becoming more and more popular in Poland and is grown for direct consumption as well as for processing. Due to the big number of small farms in Poland production of minor crops, among them cucurbit vegetables, which include zucchini, have a great importance, as it allows achieving a relatively high income per hectare. The paper presents non-chemical, as well as chemical methods of zucchini protection against weeds. On large plantations non-chemical weed management is challenging and usually not sufficient. However the chemical means available in Poland in 2016 are limited to glyphosate, that can be only used before sowing and pendimethalin applied only in the inter – rows before sowing or transplanting of zucchini mulched with films (black polyethylene mulches and woven). The availability of herbicides registered for zucchini protection in other European Union member states is also limited but usually wider than in Poland.
The use of plant protection products in reduced doses is an extremely important issue for agricultural practice. This is a complex issue that requires a lot of knowledge, which is difficult to access. You can be sure that in the coming years there will be a huge demand for knowledge and its transfer to agricultural practice.
PL
Stosowanie środków ochrony roślin w obniżonych dawkach jest dla praktyki rolniczej zagadnieniem niezwykle ważnym. Jest to zagadnienie złożone, wymagające sporej wiedzy, która jest trudno dostępna. Można być pewnym, że w najbliższych latach będzie istniało ogromne zapotrzebowanie na wiedzę i jej transfer do praktyki rolniczej.
The crops used as a source of renewable energy, like all the other crops can be damaged by harmful organisms and diseases and may require chemical protection. The analysis of the register of plant protection products placed on the Polish market on 21.07.2014 shows significant differences in their availability. For crops grown in Poland on large areas, such as oilseed rape and maize, numerous products are available and the chemical protection possibilities are in principle sufficient. For minor crops, especially those grown mainly or solely as energetic crops, the protection possibilities are either very limited or non-existent.
Due to the big number of small farms production of minor crops is important in Poland, as it gives comparatively large income per hectare. However the possibilities of chemical protection of minor crops, such as spinach, are often insufficient in Poland. In spite of spinach comparatively low susceptibility for weeds, its weed management is very important as presence of weeds can disqualify the trade value of harvested crop. The paper presents non-chemical methods of weed management in spinach as well before, as after sowing. In Poland the chemical methods can be used only before sowing as in 2015 there are no herbicides registered for spinach protection. The situation of the Polish farmers is challenging, especially as in the other EU Member States herbicides for spinach protection are available.
The plant protection in allotments and home gardens is not without significance. The amateurs willingly use the possibilities of chemical protection against harmful organisms as evidenced by data concerning the consumption of plant protection products by unprofessional users. Currently, 69 preparations are available for the amateurs of which 23 products are used in the protection of nightshade plants including 14 fungicides, 6 insecticides and 3 herbicides. The number of registered preparations is small. The possibilities of protection against many significant pests are limited and in many cases there is no possibility of chemical protection. Lack or very limited possibilities of active substances rotations contribute to the development of resistance. Harmful organisms which are resistant in allotments or home gardens may be transmitted and contribute to the further development of resistance and consequently may cause economic losses in commercial crops.
The cost of apple protection against fruit-tree red spider mite (Metatetranychus ulmi) and codling moth (Laspeyresia pomonella) was analyzed. The plant protection products containing active substances of natural and chemical origin were listed and compared. The analysis of protection costs considering 15 products failed to confirm the thesis that the protection with the use of chemical substances is cheaper than using the substances of natural origin. The products containing substances of natural origin do not ensure protection against all economically important insects and their availability is worse in comparison to chemical products.
Carbendazim, available on the Polish market since 1976, is one of the oldest substances used in the protection of cereals and oilseed rape. According to Regulation 542/2011, the substance will be withdrawn from use in plant protection. As a consequence, from June 2016 a part of cheaper preparations used in the protection of cereals and oilseed rape against fungal diseases will be no longer available. Products with carbendazim are currently the only registered solution for spring oilseed rape seed treatment.
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