USO DO MULCHING PLÁSTICO NO ALHO NOBRE EM GOIÁS: CONSIDERAÇÕES SOBRE TRIPES E OUTROS INSETOS

Abstract

The use of mulching as a soil cover has benefits for certain crops, with higher yields. This coverage can be made by agricultural plastics. With the advancement of the use of plastic in the agricultural sector, more appropriate materials are being launched in the Brazilian market, such as those reflective to UV rays. What can lead to confusion in the location of herbivorous insects, such as thrips. This insect is difficult to control in areas of garlic production in Brazil, being considered a key pest. The objective was to evaluate the impact of a black/silver plastic mulching (Mulch More®) on the incidence of Thrips tabaci, in garlic plants grown in the Cerrado biome, as well as in non-target insect populations. The project was carried out under field conditions, in two seasons (2018-2019). The Ito garlic cultivar was explored with yellow adhesive traps for sampling the insects. In both evaluated seasons, the population of thrips was lower with the use of plastic mulching compared to those without. From the 75th day after germination (DAG) the population of thrips in the plots without mulching started to be higher until the end of the experimental period (at 120 DAG). Other herbivores, such as Dalbulus maidis, Diabrotica speciosa, Astylus variegatus, as well as the natural enemies parasitoids and ladybugs, in addition to the Musca domestica fly had lower numbers of individuals sampled in the plots using Mulch More®. However, the natural enemies of Tachnidae and Syrphidae flies and honeybees had a higher number of individuals sampled with the use of the evaluated technology. These results were repeated in both evaluated seasons. Finally, garlic yield was higher in plots with Mulch More®. The present study highlights that the Mulch More® technology may become an important component in Integrated Pest Management in noble garlic crops in the Brazilian Cerrado.