Projects on Pest, Disease and Weed Management

The bracketed names after the title are funding bodies, the italicised organisations are collaborators.

Weed control strategies in organically grown carrots and onions (Coventry University/HDRA Studentship)

The study aims to investigate weed control strategies for organically grown maincrop carrots and transplanted onions by evaluating a range of weed control factors. These include cultural, thermal and mechanical methods of control which will be integrated to formulate optimum weed management programmes. The results will be interpreted agronomically and economically.
HDRA (project leader), Coventry University & HRI Wellesbourne
>> More details on this project can be found here (PDF 12Kb)

Modelling growth & competition for weed control (DEFRA)

This project aims to adapt a general mechanistically-based computer model, originally developed for conventional production systems, to aid the specification of optimum weed control times in organic vegetable production.
HRI Wellesbourne (project leader)
>> More details on this project can be found here

Forecasting systems for pest control (DEFRA)

A project aiming to demonstrate how methods of pest control developed for conventional vegetable production can be adapted for use by organic growers. The work focuses on developing and validating pest forecast and crop damage models for carrot fly and the major beetle, fly, caterpillar and aphid pests of cruciferous crops.
HRI Wellesbourne (project leader)
>> More details on this project can be found here

Disease control strategies for organically grown field vegetables (DEFRA)

A review of the significance of diseases in organically grown field vegetables combined with a programme to monitor and evaluate disease problems on large and small commercial organic farms. The work also includes field studies to assess the use of novel techniques such as mulches and natural substances for disease control. The project aims to update, produce and publicise advisory literature for disease control in organically produced field vegetables.
ADAS (project leader); EFRC & Soil Association
>> More details on this project can be found here

Participatory investigation of the management of weeds in organic production systems (DEFRA)

Weed control is a primary production constraint to organic farming systems. This new project aims to take a participatory approach to identify and resolve weed management problems. Workshops will be run throughout the project and farmers, researchers and other stakeholders will jointly investigate and develop solutions.
EFRC, HRI Wellesbourne, ADAS, RULIVSYS
(RULIVSYS = Agricultural and Rural Livelihood Systems)
>> More details can be found here
 

Two papers presented at the 2002 Conference organised by the Colloquium of Organic Researchers

  1. The use of mixed species cropping to manage pests and diseases – theory and practice (PDF)
    by Birgitta Rämert
    Department of Ecology and Crop Production Sciences, Swedish University ofAgricultural Sciences, Box 7043, SE 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden. and Margi Lennartsson, Gareth Davies
    IOR-HDRA, Ryton Organic Gardens, Coventry, CV8 3LG, UK

  2. The effect of organic amendments on clubroot (Plasmodiophora brassicae) (PDF)
    by Gareth Davies, Catherine Jones
    IOR-HDRA, Ryton Organic Gardens, Coventry, CV8 3LG, UK

    >>Contact researchers working on these projects


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