Map-based zonal dosage strategy to control yellow spider mite (Eotetranychus carpini) and leafhoppers (Empoasca vitis & Jacobiasca lybica) in vineyards

The particularly high incidence of yellow spider mite and leafhoppers in southern European viticulture means that between 1 and 4 interventions are required each year for their effective control. In vineyards with spatial variability in vigour, decision support systems such as DOSA3D (www.dosa3d.cat/en) have proven useful to adjust dose rates according to vigour classes delimited in on-board monitor prescription maps. However, there remain some doubts as to whether this variable dosage allows pests to be controlled when reducing conventional doses in vines with low vegetative development. To check the efficacy of using variable dose rates according to two vigour classes (low and high), field trials were carried out against the aforementioned pests in vineyards located in Raïmat (Catalonia, Spain). After classifying vigour through multispectral images, doses were reduced by 16.6%–24.8% in low vigour areas without losing control efficacy. Biological efficacy was always higher in low vigour areas, reducing the initial pest population below the corresponding economic damage threshold. In areas of high vigour, subsequent applications will probably be necessary to avoid exceeding the economic threshold, as there is normally a higher pest population density in vines with more vegetative development.

This study was financed by the EU Horizon 2020 project EUCLID [grant 633999] and the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the FEADER within the project GOPHYTOVID [contract 2018002001192]. Funding of Secretaria d’Universitats i Recerca del Departament d’Empresa i Coneixement de la Generalitat de Catalunya under Grant 2017 SGR 646 is also thanked. The authors would like to thanks Codorníu SA and Agropixel SL staff for their logistic support.