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Avocado
Year-Round IPM Program
(Reviewed 1/07, updated 1/07)
These practices are recommended for a monitoring-based IPM
program that reduces water quality problems related to pesticide
use. Links take you to information on how to monitor, forms to
use, and management practices.
Track your progress through the year with the annual
checklist form. This program covers the major pests of avocados;
information
on additional pests is included in the Avocado
Pest Management Guideline.
Water quality becomes impaired when pesticides move off-site
and into water. Each time a pesticide application is considered,
review the Pesticide Application Checklist at
the bottom of this page for information on how to minimize water
quality problems.
Bloom period (pre-bloom,
open flower, pollination, and fruit set) |
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Special
issues of concern related to water quality: drift, runoff. |
| What should you be doing
during this period? |
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Monitor for
diseases and conditions that promote disease development.
Record the date
and location of problem trees or sites. Manage if needed
according to PMGs. |
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Begin monitoring for
invertebrate pests, including:
Manage
if needed according to PMGs. |
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Survey weeds, especially
weeds near trunks, during spring through fall.
- Manage vegetation if
needed, especially weeds near trunks.
- Record results
on a weed
survey form .
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Look for vertebrates,
especially during spring and summer. Manage if needed. |
| Provide proper cultural
care and good growing conditions
to improve fruit yield and control pests. |
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Promote pollination of flowers:
- Place honey bee hives in groves during bloom.
- Manage pesticides to avoid killing bees.
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Apply gypsum and mulch to
reduce avocado root rot and improve soil. |
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Manage irrigation:
- Inspect irrigation systems by late winter.
- Monitor
and adjust scheduling to meet trees’ varying
water needs.
- Test irrigation water quality.
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Early fruit development—fruit
are less than 2 inches long |
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Special issues of concern related to water quality: drift,
runoff. |
| What should you be doing during this period? |
Identify and manage the causes
of damage to fruit. |
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Monitor for diseases and
conditions that promote disease development:
Record the date and location of
problem trees or sites. Manage if needed according to PMGs. |
Monitor invertebrate
pests, including:
Record results on a monitoring
form. Manage if needed according to PMGs.
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Look for other
invertebrate pests. Manage if needed according to
PMGs. |
| Provide proper cultural
care and good growing conditions to improve fruit yield,
reduce insect damage, and control pests. |
Look for vertebrates especially
during spring and summer. Manage
if needed. |
Survey weeds, especially
during spring through fall.
- Manage vegetation, especially
weeds near trunks, as needed.
- Record results on a weed
monitoring form .
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Manage irrigation:
- Monitor
and adjust scheduling to meet trees’ varying
water needs.
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Late fruit development—fruit
are greater than 2 inches long |
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Special
issues of concern related to water quality: drift, runoff. |
| What should you be doing during this period? |
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Monitor for diseases and
conditions that promote disease development, including:
Manage
if needed according to PMGs. |
Monitor invertebrates:
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Look for vertebrates,
especially during spring and summer. Manage if needed. |
| Reduce pest problems and manage tree growth by proper
pruning. |
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Manage nutrition:
- Test foliar nutrients and
fertilize if needed.
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| Provide proper cultural
care and good growing conditions to improve fruit yield
and control pests. |
Apply frost protection when
warranted through March, especially if growing on flat
land.
- Test frost control system by November.
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| Inspect trees or sample foliage or soil during late summer or fall before winter
rains to assess salinity from alkaline
soils, poor quality water, and fertilizers. |
Harvest until fruit
arrives at the packing house |
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Special
issues of concern related to water quality: none |
| What should you be doing during this period? |
Check preharvest intervals for all products used**. |
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Use pruning and other cultural
practices to
minimize anthracnose in groves and fruit rots postharvest. |
Size pick fruit.
Thin clustered fruit and prune to reduce protected sites,
thereby culturally controlling greenhouse thrips, leafrollers,
loopers, and mealybugs:
- Thin by selectively
harvesting only larger fruit, which increases market
price to the grower.
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Minimize fruit injury
and postharvest disease. |
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Educate and supervise workers regarding fruit handling
Best
Management Practices (BMP), Good
Agricultural Practices (GAP),
and food
safety. |
| Inspect fruit quality
before bins are moved from the picking site to identify
grove areas where management practices need improvement.
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Take steps to prevent fruit contamination and theft. |
**Pesticide application checklist |
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When planning for possible pesticide applications in an
IPM program, review and complete this checklist to consider
practices that minimize environmental and efficacy problems.
- Choose a pesticide
from the UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines for the
target pest considering:
- Select an alternative chemical or nonchemical treatment
when risk is high.
- Choose sprayers and application procedures that keep
pesticides and fertilizers on target.
- Identify and take special care to protect sensitive
areas (for example, waterways or riparian areas) surrounding
your application site.
- Review and follow label for pesticide handling, storage,
and disposal guidelines.
- Check and follow restricted entry intervals
(REI) and preharvest intervals (PHI).
- After an application is made, record application date,
product used, rate, and location of application. Follow
up to confirm that treatment was effective.
- Consider water management practices
that reduce pesticide movement off-site.
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