Murray State University
STUDY 1: Repellency Effects of Incorporated Worm Castings and Compost Tea Sprays on Whitefly Populations for Poinsettia Production.
Institution
Murray State University
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
Pat Williams; Kris-Ann Kaiser
Abstract
Every year the horticulture program produces poinsettias for holiday sales. Under normal conditions, fungicidal drenches and systemic insecticides are used to control soil-borne pathogens and whitefly populations. This one crop uses more chemicals than any other crop during the year and without some type of control, a saleable plant would not be possible. There are four treatments being currently used with four repetitions using a randomized block design. Treatment 1 is the control group which has no worm castings or sprays. Treatment 2 consists of 10% worm castings incorporated in the commercial growing substrate. Treatment 3 will have 10% worm castings and be sprayed with the worm casting tea. Treatment 4 will receive only worm casting tea sprays. Pinching, watering, and fertilization follows a normal recommended schedule for production. This line of research follows up on a master’s research project where information from The Ohio State University saw reduction of whitefly populations when utilizing worm casting by-products.
STUDY 1: Repellency Effects of Incorporated Worm Castings and Compost Tea Sprays on Whitefly Populations for Poinsettia Production.
Every year the horticulture program produces poinsettias for holiday sales. Under normal conditions, fungicidal drenches and systemic insecticides are used to control soil-borne pathogens and whitefly populations. This one crop uses more chemicals than any other crop during the year and without some type of control, a saleable plant would not be possible. There are four treatments being currently used with four repetitions using a randomized block design. Treatment 1 is the control group which has no worm castings or sprays. Treatment 2 consists of 10% worm castings incorporated in the commercial growing substrate. Treatment 3 will have 10% worm castings and be sprayed with the worm casting tea. Treatment 4 will receive only worm casting tea sprays. Pinching, watering, and fertilization follows a normal recommended schedule for production. This line of research follows up on a master’s research project where information from The Ohio State University saw reduction of whitefly populations when utilizing worm casting by-products.