Predatory insects help grow ecologically clean vegetables

October 27, 2020 | 23:43 |2476

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In 2020, several agricultural complexes of Russia used a new method of growing vegetables without chemicals – predatory insects helped agrarians in it. They not only make environmentally friendly vegetables, but also deal with various pests. According to the Production Director of the Martynovsky Agricultural Complex, Alisa Sadykova, this is called “biological protection”. The principle of method is to use living organisms to destroy pests and plant diseases. Many farmers in the Kurgan region (Russian Federation) are already adopting this safe method of plant protection. Predatory but useful insects are specially grown in the laboratory. After that, they are planted on one of the infected plants, and they find the rest themselves. Thus, small workers “treat” the crop in an environmentally friendly way. The main advantage of this method is that it is completely safe for people. In addition, unlike chemical action, this technology preserves all the nutritional properties of the crop and is much lower in cost. The main advantages of the method, which are mentioned by farmers who have applied it in practice, are that plants do not suffer from chemical influences and do not lose their growth power, and, of course, the main achievement of such method of protection is to obtain environmentally friendly products. However, the creators of the method reminded that before planting insects, the following details must be taken into account: the compatibility of crops, the temperature that the grafted insect can withstand, the periods of additional illumination of the greenhouse, and a number of other factors. Application of the method is very effective, but it is necessary to carry out constant monitoring. Cucumber and tomato were chosen as pilot vegetables for the introduction of the technology, and during the year they attained the third harvest. Next year, it is chosen an eggplant – the main crop – the most popular vegetable for growing in the Kurgan region of Russia.