Soil, Crop and Pest Management

IPM Guidelines for Greenhouse Tomato

Introduction
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a systematic approach to pest management that considers all factors affecting crop health, including plant nutrition, horticultural practices, and all suitable means of pest suppression. IPM programs are based on information obtained by sampling and monitoring, and this information is used to make management decisions. Pest management tactics may include biological, chemical, mechanical, and cultural methods. An IPM program for a given crop will include some essential elements, but some practices will not be appropriate in all situations: designing a farm-specific IPM program requires flexibility.

The Massachusetts IPM Guidelines are a list of best management practices, developed cooperatively by growers, university faculty and extension specialists, and private IPM consultants. Additional input was solicited from commodity associations and participants in IPM verification programs and IPM courses. Practices have been evaluated for their practicality and assigned points based on their importance to IPM and/or their difficulty. The guidelines for most crops have been tested and adjusted through the USDA Farm Service Agency ICM cost-share program and through the Partners with Nature program. While these guidelines represent the best management options currently available, they will evolve as new IPM technologies are developed.

IPM Guidelines can be used in a number of ways: 1.) As a checklist for farmers to evaluate their on-farm pest management programs and identify areas where management can be improved; 2.) To verify and document that IPM is practiced on the farm; 3.) As an educational tool which describes the scope and complexity of IPM to farmers, government officials, community groups and the general public.

Definitions
The followings terms are used in calculating points in the IPM guidelines:

Category or Grand Total Practice Points
Refers to the sum of all possible practice points described within a category or individual crop guideline. For example, if a grower used every practice in the guideline, all points would apply.

Adjusted Category or Grand Total Practice Points
Refers to the sum of all practice points appropriate for the crop, within a category or guideline. Because some practices may not apply to the site being assessed, the points associated with that practice may be deducted from the Total Practice Points. Such practices are marked with an asterisk (*) within each guideline.

Bonus Points
Refers to points associated with practices which are of potential value to an IPM system, and are worthy of trial, but are experimental or require exceptional effort. Point values associated with these practices do not contribute to the Total Practice Points but, if the practice is completed, the points are added when calculating Grand Total Practice Points. Bonus points are labeled as such within the guidelines.

Greenhouse Tomatoes

by Craig S. Hollingsworth, Linda Massad, John C. Howell and Robert L. Wick

Media Nutrient Management and Cultural Practices
Cultural practices may be of value in management of nutrients, weeds, diseases or insects.

1. Last season's crop residue is disposed of in a manner to prevent it from providing
   disease inoculum to this year's crop. 5 pts
2. Growing medium used for last year's crop is discarded or steam sterilized. 5 pts
3. All plants are removed from the greenhouse at least one month before introducing
   the crop. 5 pts
4. Minimum and maximum temperatures are recorded throughout the crop cycle. 5 pts
5. Greenhouses are managed in a sanitary manner. All surfaces and tools are sanitized
   with an appropriate disinfectant at the beginning of the season. 5 pts
6. The irrigation system is disinfected. 5 pts
7. Screening is installed over air-intake louvers and vents to prevent insect entry.
   Note: screening decreases airflow. Before screening is added, the air-intake system
   design should be re-evaluated. 5 pts
8. Humidity level is maintained low enough to prevent condensation on
   greenhouse parts and plant surfaces. 10 pts
9. Bag culture: Fertilizer injectors are calibrated a minimum of once during the
   production season. *5 pts
10. Hydroponics: Status of nutrient solution and medium is recorded daily, including
    the following: Amount fed per plant, electrical conductivity (EC) of nutrient solution,
    pH of nutrient solution. EC and pH are adjusted to normal ranges. *5 pts
11. Suckers are removed regularly while still small (less than 2"). 5 pts
12. In bag culture or hydroponics, when lowering plants, horizontal stems are kept off
    the greenhouse floor by stakes or other means to reduce Botrytis. 5 pts
13. Horizontal airflow is maintained to improve air movement through the crop canopy. 5 pts
14. If workers come from a tomato field, they change clothes and boots, and scrub
    their hands before entering the greenhouse. *5 pts

Category Total 75 pts
Adjusted Total ______ pts

Pesticide Application and Records
Only pesticides approved and registered in the state are used. Records of pesticide applications including date, location, targeted pest, pesticide name, formulation, rate and area treated, and environmental conditions are maintained. Pesticide drift is minimized. Re-entry and pre-harvest intervals are adhered to.

1. If pesticides are used, application equipment is calibrated for rate and droplet size at
   least once during the growing season. *5 pts
2. If pesticides are used, any worn nozzles are replaced and routine sprayer equipment
   maintenance is performed prior to the growing season. *5 pts
3. If pesticides are used, sprayer coverage of leaf surface is tested using water/oil
   sensitive cards during calibration. *5 pts

Category Total 15 pts
Adjusted Total ______ pts

Insect Management

1. Aphids are monitored by inspection of a minimum of 50 leaves each week. Records
   of active and parasitized aphids are maintained. 5 pts
2. Spider mites are monitored by examining 50 leaves each week and recording the
   number of infested leaves. 5 pts
3. Whiteflies are identified to species. 5 pts
4. Appropriate colored sticky cards are deployed (1 per 250 ft 2) and inspected each
   week. The number of thrips and whiteflies captured are recorded. 5 pts
5. Horizontal sticky cards are deployed to monitor for fungus gnats. Fungus gnat
   numbers are recorded weekly. 5 pts
6. If aphids occur, lacewings or predacious midges are released when aphids
   appear. Additional releases are made as necessary. *5 pts
7. If spider mites appear, releases of Phytoseilus persimilus are made when 10 percent
   of the leaves are infested. *5 pts
8. When thrips appear on plants or sticky cards, Neoseilus cucumeris is released
   (slow release cones are recommended). OR If thrips were problematic in the
   previous year, N. cucumeris are released at first flower opening. N. cucumeris
   are released until plants are topped (no more flowers). 5 pts
9. If thrips numbers show increase after N. cucumeris is released, Orius is released. *5 pts
10. If appropriate, Encarsia or Encarsia/Eretmocerus (dependent on whitefly species)
    are released for whitefly. *5 pts

Category Total 50 pts
Adjusted Total ______ pts

Disease Management
Many cultural practices previously listed address disease management concerns. In a well managed greenhouse, fungicides are usually not needed to produce a crop.

1. Hot-water treated seeds are used. 5 pts
2. Tomato cultivars are disease-resistant (fulvia leaf mold, fursarium wilt, powdery
   mildew, virus, verticillium wilt or root-knot nematode). 5 pts
3. Only Tomatoesare grown in the greenhouse. 5 pts
4. Each plant is inspected weekly. Diseased and broken plants are removed. 5 pts
5. Plants are dry when pruned or otherwise handled. 5 pts
6. Lower leaves are removed to just below the developing cluster and cluster stems
   are removed after the cluster is harvested to improve air flow and minimize
   disease development. 5 pts
7. Flower parts are removed from bottom of fruit to minimize disease spread. 5 pts
8. Plants are not touched by anyone who handles or uses tobacco or tobacco products. 5 pts
9. Anyone who touches plants washes their hands and disinfects tools before entering
   a greenhouse and moving from one greenhouse to another. 5 pts

 Category Total 45 pts
Adjusted Total ______ pts

Weed Management

1. Greenhouse is kept weed-free (hand-pulling is generally sufficient). 5 pts
2. A weed-free area around the greenhouse is maintained. Decorative vegetation is
   not grown near air intakes. 5 pts

 Category Total 10 pts
Adjusted Total ______ pts

Education

1. Manager attends an appropriate greenhouse or vegetable workshops during the
   current year. 5 pts

Category Total 5 pts
Adjusted Total ______ pts

Grand Total 200 pts
Adjusted Grand Total ______ pts
Percentage of adjusted total %