No abstract

SUMMARY Microplots were used to measure the rate of decline of potato cyst eelworm from 1961 to 1967 under different non‐host regimes. No differences in decline rate were found, but the overall decline rate was lower than expected, possibly due to the species present.

SUMMARY In South Wales two generations of brassica cyst eelworm (Heterodera cruciferae Franklin) can be completed in a year and development of a third generation proceeds slowly over winter. No consistent increase in cyst populations occurred in two fields sampled annually for eight years and two sampled annually for five years.

SUMMARY This further series of field trials in 1972–75 at sites in England and Wales confirmed that a useful, but not wholly adequate, degree of control of slugs in maincrop potatoes could be achieved with one application to the growing crop of 5–6 kg/ha of methiocarb pellets from mid‐July. Increasing the rate of application to 11–2 kg/ha improved control marginally, as did the addition of a second application of 5–6 kg/ha later in the season. Measurement of rainfall and slug activity did not provide a basis for improving control by more appropriate timing of applications, although bait‐trapping slugs gave some indication of the level of crop damage to be expected.