Aquaponics in Hawaii Conference Are we ready for insecticide-free aquaponic system? Koon-Hui Wang, Ph.D.; Jane Tavares Sustainable Pest Management Lab, PEPS Jari Sugano, Jensen Uyeda, Steve Fukuda Cooperative Extension CTAHR
Why going after non-chemical based IPM for Aquaponic? Environmental hazard (bees, aquatic invertebrates) Low biodiversity in aquaponic Pesticide treadmill NOP Sunset list
National Organic Program Sunset list Several organic insecticides such as sulfur, horticultural oil, insecticidal soap, and even insect pheromone and sticky traps for insect management are on the National Organic Program (NOP) Sunset list due on 27 Jun, 2017. (http://www.ams.usda.gov/amsv1.0/getfile?ddo cname=stelprdc5096045)
Options for Non-chemical Based IPM against Insect Pests for Aquaponic Biological Planting insectary plants to attract natural enemies Setting up wasp nesting block Physical Using reflective hydroponic raft to repel insects Resistance Using vermicompost extracts to induced host plant resistance
Natural Enemies of Insect Pests Lady beetle Green lacewing Braconid wasp Trichogramma wasps Minute pirate bug Hover fly Tachinid fly Assassin bug http://www.organicgardeninfo.com/beneficial-insectary-plants.html
Insectary Plants Plants that attract insects, either by producing abundant flowers with pollen and nectar for beneficial insects, or by luring insect pests away from the cash crop. Hoverflies on buckwheat Hoverflies on cilantro Sunn hemp flowers attract s Lycaenidae butterflies that drawn Trichogramma wasps to lay eggs on the Lepidopteran eggs.
Case Study 1: Non-Chemical based IPM for Green Onion Pests in Hydroponics Sunn hemp Wasp nesting block Buckwheat
Wasp Nesting Block Pollinators Predators Leaf cutter bee Key-hole Wasp http://bugguide.net/node/view/241212 Hylaeus bee Untreated wood Aphid-collecting Wasp
Number of nests/box Wasp Nesting Block 3.5 3 2.5 2 1.5 1 0.5 Buckwheat just started flowering 0 2/7/13 2/21/13 3/7/13 3/21/13 4/4/13 4/18/13 Total nesting hole possible = 18
Hoverfly larva/plant Hoverflies Buckwheat just started flowering 0.4 0.35 0.3 0.25 0.2 0.15 Buckwheat planted into insectary plots Insectary Metallic Control A B A Hoverfly larva eating aphid 0.1 0.05 B B 0 3/14/13 3/28/13 4/11/13 4/25/13
% Thrips damage/plant Thrips Damage Light spots are an indication of thrip feeding/damage 120 100 80 A 60 A C B B 40 B Insectary 20 B Metallic Control 0 3/14/13 3/28/13 4/11/13 4/25/1 A Buckwheat just started flowering A A B
Reflective Hydroponic Raft Reflective materials Repel thrips and whiteflies, avoid insect transmitted viruses Repel birds No need bird netting
Weight / half a bench (kg) Green Onion Biomass Not significant Control 0.9 0.8 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0 Insectary Control Metallic Bench size = 4 8 ft 2 (total of 10 rows) Insectary border with buckwheat
What would Sunn Hemp Border do? 50% of the Lycaenidae eggs were parasitized by Trichogramma wasps (potential biocontrol agent against eggs of most Lepidopteran pests.
Onion Aphids on Aquaponic Cinder Bed is too damaging Cilantro Cilantro Green onion planted: January 31, 2013 March 7, 2013 Green Onions Completely killed by onion aphids
Summary Planting insectary plants can enhance natural enemies of insect pests (hoverflies), but only after they are in full bloom. Thus, critical to synchronize flowering time with crop production. Wasp nesting block provide another means to enhance natural enemies of insect pests. Reflective hydroponic raft could repel thrips and whiteflies. Non-chemical based insect pests management strategies are more manageable in hydroponic raft system then on cinder beds.
Number of plants with chewing damaged/box OMRI Insecticide Trials on Manoa Lettuce Entrust (a.i. spinosad) and Dipel (a.i. Bt) are most effective. Both are sensitive to pest resistance. Cabbage Looper/Imported Cabbage Worm 3.5 3 2.5 2 1.5 1 0.5 Latron Pyganic Entrust Crymax Debug Turbo Dipel a ab b 0 3/28/2013 4/4/2013 4/11/2013
Future Research Induced Host Plant Resistance with Vermicompost Extract Reduce aphids on tomatoes (Radovich and Arancon, 2011)
%Thrip damage/plant Aphids/bunch Preliminary results on Induced Host Plant Resistance against Onion Aphids 150 100 50 0 05/16/13 05/23/13 Vermicompost soak overnight at 1:5 (v/v) Then drenched into onion seedling pot at 1:10 concentration. A B 100 80 60 40 Control 1:180 20 Agripower 0 Vermicompost tea 05/16/13 05/23/13
Future Research Integrating Reduced Risk Pesticides with Non-chemical Approaches Note: Pests are easier to control in hydroponic raft system than in cinder bed. Pesticide use is also safer in raft system than in cinder bed. Allow on surface water Ecotek (Rosemerry oil) Not allow on surface water Sucrashield (sugar based) or Dipel, XenTari (Bacillus thuringiensis) Mycotol (Beauveria bassiana) Oroboost (surfactant, citrus oil solution) Grandevo (Chromobacterium subtsugae)
Acknowledgement Jensen Uyeda Jari Sugano Steve Fukuda Poamoho Farm Crew CTAHR Hatch Project PEPS 310 Students Donna Meyer Shelby Ching Angelo Loffredo Ikaia Leleiwi Gareth Nagai Sustainable Pest Management Lab