scholarly journals Adoption of Best Management Practices for Grapevine Leafroll and Red Blotch Diseases: A Survey of West Coast Growers

Author(s):  
MALCOLM HOBBS ◽  
Selena Vengco ◽  
Michelle Moyer ◽  
Stephanie Bolton ◽  
Larry Bettiga ◽  
...  

Grapevine leafroll (GLD) and red blotch (RBD) diseases threaten the sustainability of the USA wine grape industry. To understand factors influencing the adoption of disease management practices, we surveyed wine grape industry professionals in California, Oregon, and Washington (n=154). Economic factors were the fundamental cost of implementing management practices and the ability to sell product from diseased vines (salability). Respondents with reduced salability were more likely to adopt virus testing, replace infected vines, and view these practices as economically favorable. Salability was a strong driver for adoption among Californian respondents, but lesser so in Washington where wineries appeared more willing to accept infected product. Respondents who had acquired technical knowledge of disease ecology were more likely to adopt management practices and to perceive them as economical. Conversely, when there was a lack of knowledge of GLD ecology, notably that mealybugs transmit the pathogen, , adoption was reduced and practices were considered less economical,. Factors affecting adoption were broadly generalizable across diseases. However, knowledge of GLD ecology was more strongly associated with adoption, likely reflecting the remaining knowledge gaps in RBD related to vector ecology and field spread. An emphasis on grower knowledge acquisition and the development of economical disease management practices can improve adoption of best management practices for viral diseases of grapevine.

1999 ◽  
Vol 39 (12) ◽  
pp. 117-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Braune ◽  
A. Wood

South Africa currently has one of the highest rates of urbanisation in the world causing a significant increase in surface water runoff. This, in turn, causes increased flooding and a significant decrease in water quality due primarily to the accumulation of pollutants. The need exists to manage urban stormwater runoff on an integrated catchment basis, thereby reducing the negative impact of urbanisation on the environment and quality of life. In this paper, details on how existing problem areas can be identified and ranked, the use of Best Management Practices (BMPs) to reduce the impacts of urbanisation on the environment and the effectiveness of BMP's are discussed and illustrated, based on expertise gained from studies in South Africa as well as visits to the USA and Australia.


2019 ◽  
Vol 109 (10) ◽  
pp. 1720-1731 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Sherman ◽  
Jordan M. Burke ◽  
David H. Gent

Scaling of management efforts beyond the boundaries of individual farms may require that individuals act collectively. Such approaches have been suggested several times in plant pathology contexts but rarely have been implemented, in part because the institutional structures that enable successful collective action are poorly understood. In this research, we conducted in-depth interviews with hop producers in Oregon and Washington State to identify their motivations for and barriers to collective action regarding communication of disease levels, coordination of management practices, and sharing of best management practices and other data for powdery mildew (caused by Podosphaera macularis). Growers were generally open to and engaged in communication with neighbors and others on disease status in their hop yards and some evidence of higher levels of information sharing on management practices was found. However, growers who had developed extensive knowledge and databases were reluctant to share information viewed as proprietary. Relationships, trust, and reciprocity were facilitating factors for communication and information sharing, whereas lack of these factors and social norms of independence and pride in portions of the grower community were identified as impediments. Given the heterogeneity of trust, lack of confidence in reciprocity, and weak shared norms, communication of disease risk and coordinated management may be most successful if directed at a smaller scale as a series of neighborhood-based partnerships of growers and their immediate neighbors. Developing a disease reporting system and coordinated disease management efforts with more producers and at larger spatial extents would require formalized structures and rules that would provide assurance that there is consistency in disease data collection and reporting, reciprocation, and sanctions for those who use the information for marketing purposes against other growers. Given the analyses presented here, we believe there is potential for collective action in disease management but with limitations on the scope and nature of the actions.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qin Lu ◽  
Zhenli L. He ◽  
Peter J. Stoffella

Land application of biosolids has proven a cost-effective method of waste disposal by beneficially recycling organic matter and nutrients and improving soil quality; however, it may also pose potential threat to the environment and human health. The purpose of this paper is to provide information on recent research progresses and regulation efforts regarding land application of biosolids, including forms and types and nutrient values of biosolids, environmental and health concerns, and related best management practices (BMPs) of biosolids application, with emphasis on its land application in agriculture. More research and regulations are expected to minimize potential risks of biosolids land application, especially its long-term impacts.


2012 ◽  
Vol 65 (6) ◽  
pp. 1076-1080 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xubin Pan ◽  
Kim D. Jones

Bacteria are one of the major causes of surface water impairments in the USA. Over the past several years, best management practices, including detention basins, manufactured devices, grass swales, filters and bioretention cells have been used to remove bacteria and other pollutants from stormwater runoff. However, there are data gaps in the comprehensive studies of bacteria concentrations in stormwater runoff. In this paper, the event mean concentration (EMC) of fecal indicator bacteria (Enterococcus, Escherichia coli, fecal Streptococcus group bacteria, and fecal coliform) across the USA was retrieved from the international stormwater best management practices database to analyze the seasonal variations of inflow and outflow event mean concentrations and removal efficiencies. The Kruskal–Wallis test was employed to determine the seasonal variations of bacteria indicator concentrations and removals, and the two-sample Kolmogorov–Smirnov test was used for comparing different seasonal outcomes. The results indicate that all the inflow EMC of FIB in stormwater runoff is above the water quality criteria. The seasonal differences of fecal Streptococcus group bacteria and fecal coliform are significant. Summer has the potential to increase the bacteria EMC and illustrate the seasonal differences.


2014 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Taylor

At least three major gardens or arboreta in the USA have experienced periods of significant decline and death of mature Taxus (yews) in the landscape. The symptoms displayed on declining plants are described as chlorosis of the needles, partial defoliation, and death of some of the branches. Eventually, the entire plant may die, but they are typically removed before reaching this stage. Information on managing mature Taxus in the landscape is limited. The objective of this article is to review the literature on Taxus cultural practices and use the information to develop best management practices for Taxus in the landscape. Soil moisture is the most critical factor for health of plants in the landscape. Saturated soils create anaerobic conditions for roots and create an environment ideal for root infection by Phytophthora cinnamomi, the major root pathogen affecting Taxus. During planting, proper site selection and well-drained soil are crucial for the longterm survival of plants. After planting, irrigation should be managed to avoid saturated soil. Management from a nutritional standpoint is poorly understood. Maintaining an appropriate pH of 6.0 to 7.0 and fertilizing plants based on soil and tissue testing is recommended. More research needs to be done to determine optimal fertilization rates and appropriate nutrient concentration in tissue and in soil. When plants become symptomatic, soil should be tested for P. cinnamomi. If the fungus is present, appropriate chemical controls should be used.


Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 985
Author(s):  
Ruimin Liu ◽  
Yuexi Miao ◽  
Qingrui Wang ◽  
Lijun Jiao ◽  
Yifan Wang ◽  
...  

A questionnaire survey was conducted among farmers in the Xiangxi River Basin to investigate the local livestock situation and the farmers’ understanding of and attitude towards pollution. The results showed that local farmers lacked environmental awareness and few livestock and poultry pollution treatment measures had been implemented. However, once farmers understood that livestock pollution would greatly influence their lives and interests, they would act to prevent Agricultural non–point source (ANPS) pollution. The farmers’ education level and satisfaction with the environment were the main factors affecting their awareness regarding ANPS pollution. The “Comprehensive Environmental Optimization Tool SWAT–APEX Interface” model (SWAPP) was used to simulate the reduction of ANPS by different best management practices (BMPs) and the construction cost was calculated. The results showed that compound bedding and piping systems and ponds were the most effective and economic measures for reducing ANPS pollution. Spatially, implementing BMPs in the upstream region was better for improving water quality. The nitrate reduction rate in upstream sub–basins reached 90%, which is 30% larger than that in downstream sub–basins with combined bedding and piping systems. Combining the farmers’ awareness of and engagement in livestock pollution with cost–effective BMPs can improve the BMPs’ effectivity and efficiency.


Agriculture ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yonas T. Bahta ◽  
Henry Jordaan ◽  
Gunda Sabastain

Integrating best management practices and improving the technical efficiency of smallholder maize farmers is critical in raising overall agricultural output. However, there is not much information, besides marginalization and high rehabilitation and maintenance costs, which adequately explains why productivity of smallholder irrigation farmers drop at very high rates. Therefore, this study measured technical efficiency, identified factors affecting technical efficiency, and identified best management practices adopted by smallholder maize irrigation farmers at Tokwane-Ngundu (Zimbabwe). The Data Envelopment Analysis, Double Bootstrap Approach in a Principal Component Regression was used. Primary data were gathered using a questionnaire. Empirical results revealed that the mean technical efficiency of the respondents was 77%, which indicated a potential for them to increase their efficiency by 30%. The factors that increased technical efficiency included human capital, extension contacts and compliance with best management practices. The policy implication of this study is the need for robust group incentive schemes to promote farmer-to-farmer skills transfer to boost the technical efficiency of smallholder maize irrigation farmers in Zimbabwe.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document