On-farm hygiene and sanitation for greenhouse horticulture

Summary

Options for pest and disease control range from basic cultural practices such as good sanitation and hygiene to biological and chemical control.

Increasingly, options for effective chemical control are becoming limited due to resistance in the pests and pathogens, the discovery of toxic effects of certain chemicals and residue accumulation and breakdown differing amongst field and hydroponic growing conditions.

Many growers are now taking up integrated pest and disease management (IPM) strategies, of which one component is limiting the use of harsh pesticides.

Some of the topics covered in this Primefact include:

• Scouting
• Know your pest and disease problem
• Good agricultural practices within the crop
• Sanitisation of water
• Clean seedlings
• Weed control
• Successive plantings
• Visitors and farm staff