Disinfecting and Cleaning Infrastructures and Equipment to Limit Populations of Bioagressors
Presentation
Characterization of the technique
Description of the technique :
Information originally from the Practical guide for the design of vegetable cropping systems saving phytopharmaceutical products (2014) / Technical sheet T2. For more information see link
Principle
Disinfection and cleaning of shelters, the irrigation network and work equipment as well as maintenance of the surroundings of shelters and greenhouses are part of the recommended prophylactic measures to prevent or hinder the establishment of a bioaggressor and its development in a territory. These measures must be taken into account before, during and after the crop, but also during the intercrop period.
Example of implementation :
Practical application of available techniques :
- Cleaning and disinfection of shelters : between two crops, all areas of the shelter must be washed then disinfected to eliminate bioaggressors that may find refuge there (tetranychid mites, fungal spores…) and to remove traces of phytosanitary products that could hinder the establishment of auxiliaries in the following crop.
- Sanitary break period : between two crops, a sanitary break corresponding to a complete emptying of greenhouses and shelters for a minimum duration of two consecutive weeks is necessary to break the development cycle of bioaggressors and eliminate them.
- Maintenance of the surroundings of shelters and greenhouses : shredding, weeding… are carried out to limit refuge areas for bioaggressors and their multiplication.
- Cleaning and disinfection of the irrigation network : whether in greenhouse, shelter or open field, the irrigation network must be washed/cleaned and disinfected when there is a risk of presence of transmissible bioaggressors (mechanically, by contact…). Disinfection can be done using bleach concentrated between 1 to 3 %.
Irrigation is then 400 cm³ per dripper, i.e. about 100 to 300 l/ha of bleach. The measured pH must be between 10 and 11. The network must be rinsed by drip 12 hours later. Some drippers do not resist bleach; in this case, the use of hydrogen peroxide at a dose of 30 l/ha in 400 cm³ of watering is recommended.
- Cleaning and disinfection of work equipment : in case of risk, it is advisable to clean agricultural machinery (tractors, soil working tools…) between two plots, two shelters, two greenhouses, or even two rows of plants to reduce the risk of dissemination and contamination. Likewise, equipment (harvest crates, small tools…), boots, shoes and
hands must be cleaned and disinfected regularly.
Details on the technique :
Combining these techniques with other prophylactic techniques improves their effectiveness (see sheet 'Managing bioaggressor populations through prophylactic measures')
Implementation period During intercrop
On established crop
Spatial scale of implementation Plot
Farm
Application of the technique to...
All crops : Easily generalizable
Easily generalizable
All crops under shelters, greenhouses and open field are concerned.
Regulations
No specific regulation for this technique, except in areas concerned by one or more quarantine organisms.
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
Effect on fossil resource consumption : Variable
fossil energy consumption : VARIABLE
Other : No effect (neutral)
Comments
Reduction of the risk of water and air pollution if treatments are avoided or delayed.
Presumably lower fossil energy consumption if treatment applications are reduced, but additional trips may be caused for equipment washing.
Agronomic criteria
Productivity : No effect (neutral)
No effect (neutral)
Production quality : No effect (neutral)
No effect (neutral)
Economic criteria
Operating costs : No knowledge on impact
No knowledge on impact
The cost of the technique seems low compared to risk limitation (depending on the technique)
Social criteria
Peak period : Variable
Variable
Rework organization to limit frequency of passages between infected - non-infected plots/shelters/greenhouses.
Increase in working time depending on the technique.
Favored or disadvantaged organisms
Disadvantaged bioaggressors
| Organism | Impact of the technique | Type | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| mite | pest, predator or parasite | ||
| weeds | weeds | ||
| bacteria | pathogen (bioaggressor) | ||
| nematode (bioaggressor) | pest, predator or parasite | ||
| pythium | pathogen (bioaggressor) | ||
| virus | pathogen (bioaggressor) |
For more information
- Protection of vegetable crops under shelter and open field, Prophylaxis and indirect control methods, Case of tomato and carrot.
- -Trottin-Caudal Y. et al.
CTIFL, Technical brochure, 2006
Infos-CTIFL n° 224, 36-42.
To access the brochure see link
- Controlling bioaggressors in organic farming : prophylaxis, cultural methods and indirect control
- -Mazollier C. et al.
RMT DevAB, Technical brochure, 2009
To access the brochure see link
Keywords
Bioaggressor control method :
Mode of action : Action on the initial stock
Type of strategy regarding pesticide use :
Appendices
S'applique aux cultures suivantes
Défavorise les bioagresseurs suivants
