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CONTROLLING SUFETULA SPP.: A COCONUT INSECT PEST ON PEAT SOILS

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 July 2007

X. BONNEAU
Affiliation:
CIRAD, TA 80/02, Avenue Agropolis, 34398 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
M. HUSNI
Affiliation:
P.T. RSUP, km 9 desa Pulau Burung, Kecamatan Kateman, Kabupaten Indragiri Hilir, Propinsi Riau, Indonesia
L. BEAUDOIN-OLLIVIER
Affiliation:
CIRAD, TA 80/02, Avenue Agropolis, 34398 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
JOKO SUSILO
Affiliation:
P.T. RSUP, km 9 desa Pulau Burung, Kecamatan Kateman, Kabupaten Indragiri Hilir, Propinsi Riau, Indonesia

Abstract

We demonstrated experimentally that Sufetula, a root-mining insect, has a depressive effect on coconut yields on peat soils. The impact of the pest resulted in a shortfall in earnings that warranted taking control measures. We considered control methods suitable for rehabilitating infested mature coconut plantings and for preserving young coconut plantings. Currently, cultural control is the only effective method. It involves eliminating all identified shelters for the adult insect, i.e. fern cover and heaps of coconut waste (dry fronds and husks). The aim is to achieve totally bare soil, with moss cover that does not attract the pest, or planted with an unattractive intercrop such as pineapple.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
2007 Cambridge University Press

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