Projects / Programmes
Optimization and implementation of methods and measures for reducing the damage caused by larvae of common cockchafer in Slovenia
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 4.03.05 |
Biotechnical sciences |
Plant production |
Phytomedicine |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| B390 |
Biomedical sciences |
Phytotechny, horticulture, crop protection, phytopathology |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 4.01 |
Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences |
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries |
common cockchafer / Melolontha melolontha / larvae / adults / bionomics / biological control / Beauv
Researchers (20)
Organisations (2)
Abstract
In the present project proposal, which is composed of three extensive parts, we want to gain key data for the preparation of all Slovenian strategy for reduction the damage caused by larvae of common cockchafer on grasslands, which presents in the last decade one of the most important biotic factor of lessening its productive capacity. In Slovenia, no synthetic soil insecticides nor biological products are available (registered) and with the purpose of future application in the area of grub noxiousness we want to test specially the efficacy of different biological products or their mixtures (part 2) as majority of permanent grasslands lies on water protection area or where organic production is taking place. In the period from 2007 to 2009 on the area of municipalities Idrija and Logatec the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria brongniartii was introduced on agricultural land where soils were heavily infested by grubs and which succeeded to reduce the number of grubs under the economic threshold, but grubs managed to multiply a lot in the following year 2011 due to dry spring and heavily damaged the grass sward. Large number of grubs in the soils of some other areas (for example Kočevska) leads to the problems with wild boar which make damage by rooting activity on grassland, while grubs represent important source of protein feed. The results of our investigation will be oriented toward short- and long-termed search for solutions with grub problems on grasslands and important part of present proposal will be also the compilation of technological instructions for herbage (fiber) production on endangered areas. These instructions will be grounded on the basis of many field experiments with seeding different mixtures of cereals (winter and spring varieties) and grass-clover plants (part 3). Furthermore the research will also consist of capability of long termed survival of fungus B. brongniartii in the area of Črni vrh and we will also check the negative effect of drought conditions on its growth
Due to the changes in weather patterns, which we witness in the last decade, we want to examine if the comprehensions of Janežič (1958) about the bug’s years in different parts of Slovenia are still conforming. In this relation we want to develop the prognostic model to forecast regional appearance and population abundance, which will enable simple and reliable
mitigation of problems, which appear by grubs which feed on grassland plant roots. For this purpose we will gather also archives and field records with the intention to make revision on common cockchafer and forest cockchafer bionomics (part 1). With the results of the project we want to follow the strategic goals of Agricultural development in Slovenia and The national program of environment protection.
Results of the experimental part of the present project proposal, which keep in sight the realization of themes in public call, will be presented on both domestic conferences with agricultural background, on special workshop with subject on integrated food and feed production for agricultural advisory service and other interested participants, in major domestic scientific journals from the field of agriculture and in original scientific papers. The proposed project group represents well known researchers and agricultural professionals from Biotechnical Faculty and Slovenian’s Chamber of Agriculture and Forestry Slovenia – Institute of Nova Gorica and which are all active in fields to which directly or indirectly the present project is attached and these are plant protection, arable production, grassland and pasture management, agricultural machinery and agrometeorology.
Significance for science
- None of tested biological control agents (alone or in combination with entomopathogenic nematode H. bacteriophora) did not show satisfactory insecticidal effect on grubs. Grubs population was more the result of their natural population dynamics in soil. - There were no difference between green and white light in attraction of M. melolontha adults. In comparision with chemical atractants, the light traps were more effective in attraction of adults in the period of their massive flight. - Among tested chemical attractants the most efficient was cis-3-hexanol, specially when used in the period where the population of adults was low.
Significance for the country
- Among tested synthetical granular soil insecticides we gained satisfactory effect on M. melolontha grubs when we used tefluthrin (13 kg/ha) and chlorpyrifos (15 kg/ha), but only in 2014. There were no effect in 2012 and 2013, due to the lack of rainfall during the experiment. - We conclude that in the area of Kočevska Region there are different species of Scarabaeidae beetles (this is the reason why there are mixed population of different larval stages of grubs in soil). The most dominant species was June beetle (more than 70 %). - On the area of the Črni Vrh nad Idrijo M. melolontha was the dominant species and also economic important. - Results of the flight monitoring of M. melolontha showed, that the population in Slovenia is relativelly low (except some areas) and the pest is under the economic treshhold. The population of M. hippocastani is in Slovenia low. - We confirmed that in Slovenia beside two historical known populations (Janežič, 1958) with sequence of showing III0 (flight in year 2013, Idrijsko) and III1 (flight in 2014 – Dolenjska Region and south Primorska Region) there is also the third population, which appear in sequence III2 (flight in year 2012, Otlica, Log pod Mangartom, Podlanišče). - Obtained model for forecasting the intensity of M. melolontha occurence is not sufficient (the quality of simulation). We suggest in order to improve the model also inclusion of different parameters (exact location, soil type, presence of plants,…) - In the third part of the project where we tested the suitability of selected fodder mixtures directly seeded into the exisiting grass sward for the purpose of supllying proper forage mass, we came to the conclusion that better yields were gained by a mixture of grasses (4 to 5 species) with at least one legume (red clover). - We also determined a strong influence of soil characteristics (depth, nutrienst) and weather conditions in the area of Črni Vrh as cold spring and drought in summer of 2013 lessen the grassland yield compared to year 2014. - To fullfill long term expectation for large quantity of herbage for large ruminants there is a obligatory demand to recultivate some of encroached agricultural land (do the bush and forest clearings) and that land which is going to be abandoned in the nearby future to promptly start to utilize. Short term assurance of appropiate fodder for the livestock must be reached through different measures of sward improvement, specially by direct seeding of more productive species of grasses and legumes and from time to time also of winter cereals.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2011,
2012,
2013,
final report
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2011,
2012,
2013,
final report
