I.) How to Design a Monitoring Program Flashcards
Efficient monitoring programs consider the range of pests, phenology of each pest species, how the environment affects the pest, the interaction of the pest with the host, as well as beneficial organisms.
For low-yielding or low value crops, the cost of intensive sampling programs can cross into profits, therefore monitoring programs must be streamlined.
UC Pest Management Guideline can help with the identification of pests.
The ability to observe and ask questions is the most important resource for diagnosing a pest problem and designing a monitoring program that is specific for the pest and site.
1.)Identify Potential Pests
2.)Establish Monitoring Guidelines for Each Pest Species
A.) Select Sample Unit
B.) Define Sample Universe
C.) Determine the Number and Size of Necessary Samples
D.)Determine how Frequently to Sample
E.)Determine Beginning and End of Sampling
3.)Establish Injury Levels and Action Thresholds for Pests
4.)Determine the Crops Key Developmental Stages that Must be Monitored in order to Evaluate Regular Growth Patterns, Predict Timing of Pest Activity, and Evaluate Damage.
5.)Determine Environmental Factor that Must be Monitored
6.)Determine any Detrimental Production Practices
7.) Streamline the Monitoring Program to Develop Efficiencies.
8.)Keep Well-Written Records.
Step 1: Identify the Pest.
Resources are available for most crops and landscapes that outline major pest species and offer monitoring and management suggestions.
Many potential pest species are likely to reside within or close to the site, but not all will cause significant economic damage to warrant a monitoring program.
-Make a list of the key pests, potential pests, and disorders likely to occur.
For each pest, know the damaging life stage and the best time to monitor so that management decisions can be made.
-Example: Citrus cutworms are most easily controlled with microbial insecticides when they are in the youngest instars. Thus detecting damaging levels just after they hatch is critical for control.
Step 2. Establish Monitoring Guidelines for Each Pest Species
Become familiar with the seasonal development of each pest. Develop a regular monitoring schedule for use through-out the growing season. Most pests must be monitored only at certain times of the year.
During the growing seasons visit each field or location at least once a week; during periods of crop development or when a population is approaching a treatment threshold, visit every 2 or 3 days.
Unless other formal methods are recommended, it is usually desirable to keep sampling patterns as random as possible when designing a monitoring plan.
2A.) Select Sample Unit.
The sample unit varies according to each monitoring method and amount of time available to take the sample.
The best sample unit for the same pest may differ,, depending on the time of year or stage of pest or crop.
2B.) Define the Sampling Universe.
*Rule of thumb:
The more uniform the field and the more uniform the pest distribution in the field, the larger the sampling universe can be..
Determine the boundaries of the area being sampled.
-Example: In orchard crops, the sampling universe is usually the orchard block that is easily identifiable and can be treated separately from the rest of the orchard if a control action becomes necessary.
In a field with areas that differ in plant growth because of variable soil types, drainage, or other factors; sample each area separately..
In fields that have different varieties with marked differences in susceptibility to the pest, sample these varieties separately and be prepared to recommend treating them separately as well.
2C.) Determine the Number and Size of Samples Needed.
*Ideally take the smallest number of samples necessary to acquire the level of precision acceptable for accurate decision making.
Determining the number of samples or observations to take is a critical decision.
Further consideration:
a. ) Pest species
b. )Pest biology
c. )Potential for damage
d. )The area and crop being sampled
e. )The economic value of the crop
d. )Sampling technique
f. )Variability in samples
g. )Experience
h. )Level of precision required
i. )Action threshold
j. )Time it takes to get accurate samples
k. )Sampling costs.
2D.) Determine How often to Sample
For sampling results to yield reliable information, the frequency of sampling needs to be established.
Factors that determine frequency of sampling: Increase (+) or Decrease (-)
a.)Rapid pest development (+)
b.)Rapidly increasing pest populations (+)
Damage Potential of Pest Species
c.) High damage potential (+)
d.) Susceptibility of host growth stage (+)(-)
e.)Potential effect of weather (+)(-)
f.)Potential effect of natural enemies on pest population (+)(-)
Cost of Sampling
h.) High sampling costs (-)
i.) Low sampling costs (+)
Cost of Control Method
j.) High control cost (+)
k.) Low control cost (-)
Follow-up sampling
l.) Control effective (-)
m.)Control ineffective (+)
2E.) Determine When Sampling Begins and When it Ends
From the standpoint of cost and efficiency, when to start sampling is probably the most important question a PCA needs to answer.
In cases where controls must be applied early (pre-emergent herbicides, protectant fungicides, or applications for overwintering pests), or cases where preventative actions can be taken (sanitation, selective pruning, etc), monitoring may need to begin in the previous season.
The time of day to sample is also an important consideration in the design of a monitoring program.
-Example: Many insects are found on different parts of the plant or not even found on the plants at all, during certain times of the day. (Initially, take samples at different times on the same day and then modify respectivley)
The most efficient monitoring programs are designed to take samples at the ideal times of the day.
Step 3. Establish Injury Levels and Action Thresholds for Each Pest Species
*The threshold usually assumes a given value of the crop and cost of a control action. These monetary considerations may change due to unforeseen conditions.
Make use of Economic Injury Levels/Action Thresholds.
Example: Treatment thresholds for whiteflies in cotton in Arizona are based on sampling the fifth main stem node leaf on 30 plants at least 10-15ft. apart from each other, on two separate sites in the field.
Guidelines for pests, are usually based on the history of a field or region, the stage of crop development, weather conditions, and other observations.
Note: Action thresholds are not rigid; conditions such as weather or harvest schedule may influence the decision to treat.
-Example: If populations of beneficial species are high, a treatment decision may be delayed. (However continue to monitor pest populations).
Other factor that may change thresholds include changes in the value of the crop, sampling or taking action.
Step 4.) Determine what Host or Crop Developmental Stages Must Be Monitored to Asses Normal Growth, Predict Timing of Pest Activity or Evaluate Damage.
The ultimate goal of pest management is to produce a crop or landscape that is healthy, vigorous, and profitable or aesthetically pleasing
When setting up a monitoring program, identify these critical plant stages and predict when they may occur.
Step 5.) Determine the Environmental Factors that Must be Monitored.
Environmental factors can impact sampling counts
Because of this a reliable source of weather date improves pest management decisions. At a minimum, daily high and low temperatures are needed if degree day accumulations are used to predict pest developments.
Other variables include;
- Free moisture for specific time periods is required for development of certain diseases.
- Soil temperatures affect weed seedling emergence.
Local variations in terrain, vegetation, elevation, wind, and other factors affect pest development.
Step 6.) Determine the Production Practices that Can Impact Development of the Pest Species.
Practices such as planting time, irrigation, fertilizer selection, crop rotation, and field sanitation, can have a significant impact on many pest populations; therefore it is important to understand the impact of these activities on pest management.
Example: Excessive nitrogen can increase occurrences of brown rot and aphids in stone-fruit.
Step 7.) Streamline the Monitoring Program to Develop Efficiencies
Combine monitoring or sampling activities to reduce the time needed in the field.
Incorporate a system of checks into the monitoring program.
Step 8.) Keep Well Written Records
Knowing what happened last year or last month can make many pest management decisions easier.
It is usually best to take field notes on a standardized form tat reduces the amount of writing or data entry required, provides a reminder of what to look for, and makes it easier to keep uniform records.
Keep good records has become even more important with the advent of GIS and as precision agriculture becomes more prevalent.
Keep a file, notebook, or electronic record of the following information for each are being monitored.
a. ) weekly monitoring records including pest counts, natural enemies, damage, and crop growth and development.
b. )weed surveys
c. )records of pesticide and fertilizer applications, including; materials, rates, dates, methods, the target pests, efficacy of control as indicated by observations and subsequent sampling.
d. ) laboratory reports and records of diagnostic tests.
e. )releases of natural enemies.
f. )irrigation, cultivation, and other cultural practices.
g. )aerial photographs with reports attached.
h. )agronomic information, including; crop characteristics, cultivar traits, dates (planted/harvested), and yield qualities.
i. )disease reports.
j. )Written PCA recommendations
In addition, keep a file of local weather data, including charts of accumulated degree-days if they are being used for pest management decisions.
Additional: Using Scouts Effectively
Scouts can be an effective tool in a monitoring program. They must be precise and methodical when gathering data so that sampling data from multiple scouts will be consistent. If not, the sampling information will be misleading with off control results.
- Explain to the scout precisely how to take the sample.
- Provide sampling forms that are easy to use and summarize the results of the samples taken from each visit.
