Flooding in cranberry to minimize insecticide and fungicide inputs

Abstract

A traditional flooding practice showed promise for reducing pesticide use in Massachusetts cranberry beds. The 4-week long spring flood, termed "late water," checked pressure of two of the most prevalent and severe management problems, cranberry fruitworm (CFW) and fungal fruit rots (CFR). Fruit rot generally was equal or lower and infestation of fruitworm was consistently lower at the late water beds compared with unflooded beds, even though no fungicides were used for CFR control (standard practice is two or three applications per season) and insecticide applications for CFW were cut by almost 70%. Although there were no significant reductions in yield in two of the years studied, a significant decline (about 25%) occurred on late water beds in one year for unknown reasons.

Preliminary Assessment of the Impact of Current Flooding Practices on Nonstructural Carbohydrate Concentrations of Cranberry

“…"Winter" fl oods are used for protection against dry winter winds in cold climates (i.e., Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Wisconsin). "Late water" (LW) and "fl ash" fl oods are used for weed reduction and pest control (Averill et al, 1997;Cockfi eld and Mahr, 1992;Marucci and Moulter, 1971). "Harvest" fl oods are used as a means to harvest fruit and remove fallen leaves, and are sometimes extended to control insects and weeds.…”

Hydrologic and Morphologic Variability of Streams With Different Cranberry Agriculture Histories, Southern New Jersey, United States1

“…The generally higher rates of flooding at the cranberry sites are likely due to periodic water releases related to harvesting, frost protection, and pest control (Eck, 1990; Averill et al. , 1997).…”

“…The generally higher rates of flooding at the cranberry sites are likely due to periodic water releases related to harvesting, frost protection, and pest control (Eck, 1990;Averill et al, 1997). This fact may partially explain the higher rates of overbank flooding common at Hospitality Brook and Little Hauken Run, two small first-order watersheds with abundant cranberry agriculture.…”

“…To facilitate the cultivation and harvest of cranberries, large reservoirs are created upstream of bogs by impounding stream segments (Eck, 1990). The reservoirs accommodate the large amount of water needed for seasonal harvests, either in late summer or autumn, for winter and spring flooding to prevent against frost, and for irrigation and pest control (Eck, 1990;Averill et al, 1997). More commonly, spray irrigation technology is utilized during the growing season and to prevent against frost damage.…”

Evaluation of Flooding for Cultural Control of <I>Sparganothis sulfureana</I> (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in Cranberry Bogs

“…Water may control insect populations by restricting access to oxygen (Hoback and Stanley 2001), by physically removing insects from the plants, or by decoupling insect and plant phenology. In cranberry, ßood-ing has been evaluated by Beckwith (1925), CockÞeld and Mahr (1992), and Averill et al (1997) for control of cranberry girdler Chrysoteuchia topiaria (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), blackheaded Þreworm Rhopobotha naevana (Hü bner) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), and cranberry fruitworm Acrobasis vaccinii (Riley) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), respectively. Other crop and insect pest systems where water management has been evaluated for insect control include cotton and pink bollworm Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) (Beasley and Adams 1995), corn and Diabrotica sp.…”