Straw potato mulching is becoming a global trend

Published Mar 8, 2021

Tridge summary

Experiments are being conducted in New Zealand to control potato moth and weeds in the Pukekohe potato region by mulching potatoes with barley straw. Conducted by Inta-Ag, the trial involved spreading about 10 tons of straw over an area of 1 hectare, with initial findings showing a decrease in larval exposure, fewer weeds, and improved disease control. The cost of straw mulch for growers depends on the source, with lower costs if the straw is available from a related crop. The trial is set to expand to 20 hectares across two or three farms next season, and additional experiments are exploring the use of various cover crops as trap crops to deter the potato moth.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

Experiments are underway in New Zealand to mulch potatoes with barley straw against potato moths and weeds. The potato moth (Phthorimaea operculella) is an oligophagous insect that damages plants from the Solanaceae family, native to South America. Currently, the potato moth is present in more than 90 countries, presenting a problem in New Zealand in the Pukekohe potato region. This is due to dry, hot summers and mild winters, which allow growers to leave potatoes in the ground from mid-January to April. But cracks in volcanic clay soils offer many opportunities for potato moth larvae to infest tubers. Organophosphate pesticides have previously been used to protect crops from potato moths, but due to overuse, environmental impacts and pest resistance, pesticide practices are being sought for an alternative, says Shane Smith, CEO of local Inta-Ag. Inta-Ag tested straw mulch against potato moth, applying about 10 tons of mulch on an area of 1 hectare in October last year and setting ...

Source: Agroxxi