Development and optimization of non-chemical methods of plant pest control with a view to their implementation in sustainable agriculture systems

During the 36-month applicative project, whose content will be directly related to the 2nd goal of the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development, we intend to study the insecticidal activity of four inert powders and plant powders of five species of invasive alien plants in separate and combined use. The use of inert and plant powders is one of the most important alternative means of controlling plant pests, as the number of registered insecticides is steadily declining due to rising environmental and dietary standards, and the limited range of insecticidally active substances may be the basis for the resistance of pests to insecticides. In our research, we will use standard methods to study the insecticidal action of wood ash of Norway spruce and white fir, zeolite, diatomaceous earth and quartz sand, and powders obtained from aboveground parts of trees of heaven (Ailanthus altissima), Canadian goldenrod (Solidago canadensis), giant goldenrod (Solidago gigantea), staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina) and false indigo (Amorpha fruticosa). Material for the preparation of the powders will be obtained in Slovenia. The chemical compositions of the plant powders (essential oil content and total polyphenols) will be determined by HPLC and GC analysis, and the geochemical analysis of inert powders will be performed by inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy (ICO-ES) and mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The particle size of the dust will be determined with a laser particle size metre. In our laboratory, we will study the insecticidal activity of dust against four species of storage beetles, two insect pests of field crops and three insect pests of vegetables. The most effective powders against the field crop and vegetable pests under laboratory conditions will also be tested in the field experiment. In a separate semifield experiment, we will also investigate the phytotoxicity of the powders toward potatoes, winter wheat and cabbage and the effects of the powders on the photosynthetic activity of plants (CI-340 Handheld Photosynthesis System). The results obtained in the laboratory and outdoors will be analysed with appropriate statistical tools and presented in professional and scientific journals and at national and international conferences. We expect that in the future, the methods of pest control that are proven to be the most effective in our research will find their place in the systems of protection of stored products and/or protection of field crops and vegetables in the open.