Integrated Protection of Tomato Crops against Tuta absoluta in Open Ground Conditions in the South-East Part of Kazakhstan

Abstract

There is a need to develop strategies for the protection of tomato crops that would provide high-quality produce safe for the consumer without environmental pollution. The objective of the study is to deploy an integrated system for the protection of open-field tomato crops from Tuta absoluta using biological agents (Bracon hebetor Say., Trichogramma, biopreparations, pheromone traps) and devices in the conditions of southeast Kazakhstan to obtain environmentally safe produce. Experiments on the protection of tomato crops from pests are conducted by applying integrated protection measures with the use of entomophages, biopesticides, pheromone traps, and low-hazard pesticides on the tomato field of the Musa private farm. Per the results of the experiments on protecting open-field tomato plants from Tuta absoluta, the effectiveness of the employed instruments reaches up to 90%. The obtained results can be used to protect tomato plants accounting for pest density and the phase of crop development. Thus, based on the results obtained, it can be concluded that the primary elements of the integrated system for the protection of tomato crops against Tuta absoluta should include the application of biological preparations, entomophages and, if necessary, low-hazard insecticides, as well as the use of pheromone traps to detect the appearance of the moths and capture them en masse.