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As a component of a large, interdisciplinary study of Biointensive Integrated Pest Management, the composition of orchard ground covers and woody borders was characterized in 28 Massachusetts commercial apple orchards, and plants which were most likely to harbor Tetranychid spider mites and Phytoseiid mite predators was determined. Data are presented on makeup of plant communities within orchards and adjacent woody borders. All species of spider mites and mite predators were more often observed on broadleaf plants than on grasses.
In 1989, two 1-Acre orchard blocks were established to compare the effect of of either bare ground, an all grass row, or an all broadleaf row ground cover on phytophagous and predatory mite population dynamics, and on tree growth and productivity. Data are presented on frequency of occurrence of mites found in timed scans, and on differences in trunk circumference increase in each ground cover regime.
Abstract
A microcomputer-based bulletin board using the FIDO software package was established at the Univ. of Massachusetts for the distribution of information in the cooperative extension programs of home horticulture, fruits, vegetables, cranberries, and integrated pest management. System establishment costs were under $3000, and costs for the first year were about $200 for the maintenance of a telephone line. The system logged 4595 calls from university personnel, county extension staff, state agencies, and farmers during the first year of operation (July 1986 to June 1987). A total of 307 individual information files were uploaded to the system by both university and county extension staff, while 387 downloads occurred from the system.