Pests, pesticide use and alternative options in European maize production: current status and future prospects

Abstract

Political efforts are made in the European Union (EU) to reduce pesticide use and to increase the implementation of integrated pest management (IPM). Within the EU project ENDURE, research priorities on pesticide reduction are defined. Using maize, one of the most important crops in Europe, as a case study, we identified the most serious weeds, arthropod pests, and fungal diseases as well as classes and amounts of pesticides applied. Data for 11 European maize growing regions were collected from databases, publications and expert estimates. Silage maize dominates in northern Europe and grain production in central and southern Europe. Crop rotations range from continuous growing of maize over several years to well-planned rotation systems. Weeds, arthropod pests and fungal diseases cause economic losses in most regions, even though differences exist between northern countries and central and southern Europe. Several weed and arthropod species cause increasing problems, illustrating that the goal of reducing chemical pesticide applications is challenging. Pesticides could potentially be reduced by the choice of varieties including genetically modified hybrids, cultural control including crop rotation, biological control, optimized application techniques for chemicals, and the development of more specific treatments. However, restrictions in the availability of alternative pest control measures, farm organization, and the training and knowledge of farmers need to be overcome before the adoption of environmentally friendly pest control strategies can reduce chemical pesticides in an economically competitive way. The complex of several problems that need to be tackled simultaneously and the link between different control measures demonstrates the need for IPM approaches, where pest control is seen in the context of the cropping system and on a regional scale. Multicriteria J. Appl. Entomol.

Efficacy of Bt maize against European corn borer in Central Europe

“…The ECB in the infested areas in Europe occurs in a large proportion of fields ranging from 20% in Hungary to 60% in Spain, and the estimated yield losses between 5% and 30% are typical without control measures (Meissle 2010). In the Czech Republic, ECB occurs in 50% proportion and the estimated yield losses on the respective area ranges from 10% to 15%.…”

“…The biological control of ECB with Trichogramma wasp is one alternative to reduce insecticidal application. According to Meissle et al (2010), the efficacy higher than 75% destroyed pest eggs, and the price 35-40 EUR per hectare ise comparable to that of insecticides unless the pest pressure is very high. The economic efficacy of Trichogramma wasp application can be estimated from EIL values given in Table 4.…”

“…and other pathogens producing mycotoxins (Munkvold & Desjardins 1997). In the areas highly infested with ECB, the yield losses in Europe without control measures range usually between 5% and 30% (Meissle et al 2010). The population density of ECB and the injury occurrence caused by ECB has been increasiog in the Czech Republic since 2000 (Anonymous 2012).…”

“…The options for insecticides reduction are the biological control of ECB, mainly by Trichogramma spp. wasps, and the use be genetically modified maize -Bt maize (Meissle et al 2010). Bt maize is one of the tools in the integrated pest management (IPM).…”

<i>Fusarium</i> spp. and levels of fumonisins in maize produced by subsistence farmers in South Africa

“…7 Late planting and practising maize monoculture also increases fungal inoculum and pest damage, thereby resulting in increased fungal infection of crops. 8 Agricultural practices, such as retaining crop residues on the soil surface, may further increase the severity of diseases such as stem, ear and root rot in the following season. 9 One of the most important fungal pathogens affecting maize in South Africa is Fusarium verticillioides (Sacc.)…”