Demonstration of the use of a decision support system for pest and / or disease control in integrated farming in different regions of Latvia Project leader Regīna Rancāne Team of project Inta Jakobija Edīte Jākobsone Viktorija Zagorska Duration 2019 - 2021 Research focus 4. Development and adaptation of technologies for obtaining high-value agricultural and forest products, as well as in veterinary medicine Source of funding Knowledge transfer Project partners Latvian Organic Farming Association (LBLA) Description of project The aim of research To demonstrate in practical terms the use of the decision support system for the control of pests and diseases of apple trees in integrated cultivation. The tasks of project: To set up two demonstration plotsEvaluate the effectiveness of the applied decision support systemTo keep records of labor consumption in pest and disease control and to evaluate the economic indicators of the method used Results A demonstration trial on the use of a decision support system to control pests in integrated apple orchards has been implemented in two apple orchards in different regions of Latvia from 2018 to 2020. The demonstration plots were used to control apple scab and codling moth as predicted by the Decision Support System, in addition to monitoring the pests to determine their onset and critical threshold. Both farms have successfully mastered the principles of the Decision Support System to use the different pest forecasts to select the exact spray timing and the most appropriate plant protection product and are ready to use the Decision Support System in the future. As part of the demonstration trial, the farms have learnt to recognise the damage caused by the different pests and have also learnt pest monitoring techniques that can be used in the future. Over the course of four years, six field days were organized (one per year at each farm) to share insights with farmers.
