Mulching can save potatoes in New Zealand from moths

The potato moth (Phthorimaea operculella) is an insect that damages plants of the Potato family, native to South America. Today, the potato moth is present in more than 90 countries around the world and is a problem in New Zealand. This is due to the dry hot summers and mild winters, which allow growers to leave the potatoes in the ground from mid-January to April. But cracks in volcanic clay soils present many opportunities for infecting tubers with potato moth larvae, reports the potatoesnz portal. Organophosphate pesticides used to be used to protect potato moth crops, but due to overuse, the negative impact on the environment and the development of pest resistance, an alternative is being sought, said Shane Smith of a local company. His company is testing straw mulch against potato moths. During the test, the specialists placed straw mulch in October 2020 on an area of 1 ha, using about 10 tons of mulch and set traps. The mulching technique is borrowed from British organic ...