Strawberry
Year-Round IPM Program
(Reviewed 6/08, updated 5/10)
These practices are recommended for a monitoring-based IPM program that reduces water and air quality problems related to pesticide use. Water quality becomes impaired when pesticides move off-site and into water. Air quality becomes impaired when volatile organic compounds move into the atmosphere. Each time a pesticide application is considered, review the Pesticide Application Checklist at the bottom of this form for information on how to minimize air and water quality problems.
This program covers the major pests of strawberry fruit-production fields in California. Pest management activities for strawberry nurseries are discussed only as they impact pest problems in the field. Details on carrying out each practice and information on additional pests can be found in the guidelines. Track your progress through the year with this annual checklist form.
| What should you be doing during this time? |
| Make arrangements with the nursery to
obtain transplants of
the desired
cultivar and certification
level. |
| Survey
previous crop and adjacent areas for:
|
| Review the cropping
history of the field. |
| Analyze soil for nutrients and salts;
consider an application of slow-release fertilizer. |
| Consider analyzing irrigation water for salinity
and nitrogen content. |
| Consider soil treatments for soilborne
pests and weeds.
|
| Prepare the
field by making sure it is
properly
graded with good drainage. |
| Shape beds to minimize water retention on
bed tops. |
Consider visiting the transplant
nursery in the last month of the
propagation cycle (before it gets cold) to evaluate nursery
fields for:
- Spider mites
- Cyclamen mite
- Anthracnose
- Angular leaf spot
- Botrytis
- Powdery mildew
- Uniformity in planting, indicating possible disease
or plant quality issues
- Pesticide usage
|
| Apply herbicides, if needed, before applying
mulch. |
Apply plastic
mulch appropriate
to your needs for:
- Weed control
- Managing soil temperature
- Controlling plant size
|
| What should you be doing during this time? |
|
Inspect transplants for gray mold, uniformity, quality,
and proper root length. Follow proper
procedures for placement
of strawberry transplants. |
|
Consider fungicide dips and/or water wash to reduce
fungal diseases.
|
| Consider monitoring salinity of irrigation water. |
| Irrigate as needed. |
| Apply fertilizer at planting if preplant application
was not made. |
| Confirm correct planting depth of transplants. |
| What should you be doing during this time? |
Monitor for
spider mites and caterpillars.
- Keep records (example mite
monitoring form ).
- Treat as needed according to Strawberry Pest Management Guidelines.
|
| Confirm correct
planting; note any need
for replanting. |
Look for insects
and mites; flag locations with problems:
- Aphids
- Cyclamen mite
- Whiteflies
|
Look for diseases;
flag locations with problems:
- Angular leaf spot
- Anthracnose
- Common leaf spot
- Leaf blotch
- Phytophthora crown and root rot
- Powdery mildew
- Red stele root rot
|
Look for vertebrates; flag locations with problems:
- Deer
- Ground squirrels
- Moles
|
Survey for weed emergence.
- Apply preemergence herbicide as needed according to Strawberry Pest Management Guidelines.
- Handweed as needed.
|
| Remove runners in summer plantings as needed. |
|
Consider monitoring salinity of irrigation water. |
|
Monitor soil moisture and irrigate as needed. |
|
Apply fertilizer as needed. |
| What should you be doing during this time? |
Monitor for spider
mites and caterpillars (cutworms, armyworms).
- Keep records (example mite
monitoring form ).
- Treat as needed according to Strawberry Pest Management Guidelines.
|
|
Monitor lygus bug in Central Coast plantings and Southern
California summer plantings.
|
| Treat diseases as
needed according to Strawberry Pest Management Guidelines:
|
Look for Insects and mites; flag locations with problems:
|
Look for diseases;
flag locations with problems:
- Angular leaf spot
- Anthracnose
- Common leaf spot
- Leaf blotch
- Phytophthora crown and root rot
- Red stele root rot
- Verticillium wilt
|
Look for vertebrates; flag locations with problems:
- Deer
- Ground squirrels
- Moles
|
| Survey for weed emergence;
manage as needed according to Strawberry Pest Management Guidelines. |
| Consider monitoring salinity of irrigation water. |
| Monitor soil moisture and irrigate as needed. |
| Apply fertilizer as needed. |
| What should you be doing during this time? |
| Monitor weekly for lygus bug.
|
Monitor for spider mites and
caterpillars.
- Keep records (example mite
monitoring form ).
- Treat as needed according to Strawberry Pest Management Guidelines.
|
| Treat diseases as
needed according to Strawberry Pest Management Guidelines:
|
Look for Insects and mites; flag locations with problems:
- Aphids
- Cyclamen mite
- Thrips
|
Look for diseases; flag locations with problems:
- Angular leaf spot
- Anthracnose
- Common leaf spot
- Leaf blotch
- Phytophthora crown rot
- Red stele root rot
- Verticillium wilt
|
Look for vertebrates; flag locations with problems:
- Deer
- Ground squirrels
- Moles
|
|
Survey for weed emergence;
manage as needed according to Strawberry Pest Management Guidelines. |
| Remove and discard decayed fruit and fruit with water damage. |
| Look for bird damage on fruit, especially in locations
with a history of bird presence. |
| Consider monitoring salinity of irrigation water. |
| Monitor soil moisture and irrigate as needed. |
| Apply fertilizer as needed. |
| What should you be doing
during this time? |
| Consider rotation
crops for reducing
pest problems and improving soil structure, organic matter,
and water penetration. |
| Consider a cover crop to reduce runoff and erosion. |
| Thoroughly work-in crop residue immediately after harvest,
allowing it to completely decompose
before the next strawberry crop. |
Analyze field records for pest problems.
Note yield differences based on
management strategies to plan a management program for the
next strawberry crop.
|
Pesticide application checklist |
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 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:
- Install an irrigation recirculation or storage and reuse system.
- Use drip rather than sprinkler or flood irrigation.
- Limit irrigation to amount required using soil moisture monitoring and evapotranspiration (ET).
- Consider vegetative filter strips or ditches.
- Redesign inlets into tailwater ditches to reduce erosion. Ditches should not be lower than furrows.
- Consider management practices that reduce air quality problems.
- When possible, choose pesticides that are not in emulsifiable concentrate (EC) form which release volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs react with sunlight to form ozone, a major air pollutant.
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