Mircea Varga

Preliminary Research Concerning the Application of Viermicompost on Aphid Control in Fruit Growing

There is a growing interest for sustainable agriculture as a response to consumer’s health interest. Vermicompost is a product that answers to this demand. Due to the complex chemical composition it can be used both as a fertilizer, and pesticide. The experiment was conducted in laboratory conditions. On infested branches with black cherries aphids, three different concentrations of liquid vermicompost were applied. The variants were separated by an insulator made from solid framework covered with gauze and each of them consisted in three replicates. The data was registered at 24h, 48h, and 72h when the number of dead individuals was rated and at seven days when both alive and dead individuals were counted. Regarding the effect of liquid vermicompost concentration, the highest mortality was obtained in variant 2 (1:5) with a percentage of 82.72%. Variant 3 follows with the most concentrated solution of vermicompost (1:3), but a lower percentage 73.84%. In variant 1 (1:10) the mortality was of 70.59%, this represents the lowest value registered. Â

Pristiphora abietina Christ., defoliator in resinous forest stands of Lunca Bradului Forestry Department.

Pristiphora abietina Christ. is one of the most dangerous pests of coniferous forest stands, especially at those that are located outside their natural vegetation area. During four years this species was monitored in Lunca Bradului Forestry Department and it has been found that there is a trend of reduced infested areas and the degree of infestation. Infested area decreased from 2.85% (in 2010) to 0.39% (in 2013) of the total area of the Forestry Department. As a result of soil surveys it was found that larval hibernating density ranged from: 1.3 to 25.2 larvae / m² (in 2010, from 1.2 to 6.5 larvae / m² (in 2011) , between 1.1 to 2.9 larvae / m² (in 2012), and between 1.1 to 2.2 larvae / m² (2013). This trend is determined both by the action of chemical control of larvae and due to the contribution of useful entomofauna. In this infested stands, we proceeded to multiplying the ant mounds. Entomofauna of predatory Carabidae collected in Barber traps is represented by 36 species. The dominant species are: Carabus ulrichii Germar. and Harpalus distinguendus Duft.