Applying Glue Around Fruit Tree Trunks
1. Presentation
Characterization of the technique
Description of the technique:
Information initially from the Guide for the design of fruit production systems economical in phytosanitary products (2014) / Technical sheet no. 22. For more information: See link
The principle:
The application of glue on the trunk of fruit trees is a biocontrol method whose mode of action is to create a physical barrier to prevent pests from climbing the trees. By sticking to the glue as they pass, the pests will not invade the branches of the tree, no longer parasitizing the leaves or the fruits.
Example of implementation:
– On apricot tree, on cherry tree and on peach tree, glue is useful to prevent the ascent of earwigs in the trees (glue bands placed around the trunks). When glue is used, it is also necessary to remove branches touching the ground to avoid creating bridges for the earwigs.
– On peach tree, glue is also useful against leaf-feeding weevils (application on graft shoots).
– On chestnut tree, glue is useful against the perithele, if there is grafting, or on young plantations.
– On olive tree, glue is useful to limit the presence of ants which prevent the action of beneficial insects against the black scale of the olive tree (but it is slow to apply and must be renewed often: preventive measures are more effective). It is also useful against the otiorhynchus (application on trunk) which is mainly a problem on young plantations (damage is insignificant once the main branches are established).
– On vine (table grape), glue can be useful against snails. This technique is not really usable on large areas but can be interesting for localized application on certain zones of the plot more particularly affected. A limitation of this technique is that, over time, the snails stuck create bridges for the following ones, allowing them to progress towards the aerial organs.
Details on the technique:
Different application methods are possible:
- Direct application of a 5 to 10 cm glue ring on the trunk, by hand, or after dilution with a spray gun or brush.
- Application of glued plastic bands. To be used so that the glue is not directly in contact with the tree: in organic farming or on young trees to avoid risks of burns and phytotoxicity.
Implementation period
Spatial scale of implementation Plot
Application of the technique to...
All crops: Easily generalizable
Easily generalizable
Technique can be applied to various fruit species.
All soil types: Not applicable
Not applicable
All climatic contexts: Easily generalizable
Easily generalizable
Regulation
Glue is a low-concern product and has a marketing authorization (MA).
2. Services provided by the technique
3. Effects on the sustainability of the cropping system
"Environmental" criteria
Effect on air quality: Increasing
phytosanitary emissions: DECREASE
Effect on water quality: Increasing
pesticides: DECREASE
Other: No effect (neutral)
"Agronomic" criteria
"Economic" criteria
"Social" criteria
Working time: Increasing
It takes about 10h/ha for application.
4. Organisms favored or disadvantaged
Favored pests
| Organism | Impact of the technique | Type | Details |
|---|
Disadvantaged pests
| Organism | Impact of the technique | Type | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ants | Ants | ||
| Earwig (pest) | pest, predator or parasite | ||
| snail | pest, predator or parasite |
Favored Beneficial insects
| Organism | Impact of the technique | Type | Details |
|---|
Disadvantaged beneficial insects
| Organism | Impact of the technique | Type | Details |
|---|
Favored climatic and physiological accidents
| Organism | Impact of the technique | Details |
|---|
Disadvantaged climatic and physiological accidents
| Organism | Impact of the technique | Details |
|---|
5. For more information
Ecophyto DEPHY, Technical brochure, 2015
Arboriculture trajectory sheet. Link to the sheet
- Earwig
- -Regional Chamber of Agriculture Languedoc-Roussillon, 2010
Technical sheet no. 13: Earwig. Guide to reasoned and biological protection in Languedoc-Roussillon, Technical sheets, coll. SudArbo. Link to the sheet
6. Keywords
Pest control method: Biological control
Mode of action: Barrier
Type of strategy regarding pesticide use: Substitution
Annexes
S'applique aux cultures suivantes
Défavorise les bioagresseurs suivants
