January 2025 - 34

VEG CONNECTIONS
Our findings highlight the potential of
non-chemical management strategies in pepper
production, showing that reflective mulches and sufficient
fertility levels can effectively complement insecticide
use to create a more sustainable thrips management
approach in pepper production. "
insecticide and mulch type, and
mulch type and fertility level
(Figure 4). For the insecticide and
mulch interaction, the highest
marketable yield came from plots
treated weekly with the insecticide
program in combination with
diamond-reflective mulch, while
untreated plots with no mulch
produced the lowest yield. In the
mulch and fertility interaction, plots
with diamond-reflective mulch
paired with either high or sufficient
fertility rates had the highest yields,
whereas plots without mulch,
regardless of fertility level, yielded
the lowest. These results suggest
that mulch may play a critical role
in preserving soil nutrients and
enhancing their availability to plants
throughout the growing season.
IPM implications
Our findings highlight the
potential of non-chemical
management strategies in pepper
production, showing that reflective
mulches and sufficient fertility
levels can effectively complement
insecticide use to create a more
sustainable thrips management
approach in pepper production.
This IPM program has the
potential to reduce reliance on
insecticides, yielding both economic
benefits - through lower input
costs - and ecological gains by
fostering stronger populations
of natural enemies that support
sustainable pest control - all while
sustaining high yields in Midwest
pepper production.
Arnold Gomez, gomez.428@osu.
edu, is a Ph.D. student working
under Dr. Ashley Leach, whose
research focuses on developing
alternative and effective integrated
pest management combining
insecticides and cultural controls
to manage thrips while conserving
beneficial insect populations in
pepper agroecosystems.
Ashley Leach, leach.379@osu.
edu, is an assistant professor and
state Extension specialist dedicated
to advancing sustainable pest
management strategies for specialty
crops. Her research and Extension
work focus on developing evidencebased
Integrated Pest Management
programs that reduce reliance
on insecticides, benefiting both
growers and the environment.
34 | JANUARY 2025

http://vganj.com

January 2025

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of January 2025

Editor's Letter
Sensory help
Ground resiliency
H-2A rule blocked
Earth-friendly philosophy
From seed to store
Preparing for your preparer
Fresh Views
Veg Connections
Farm Marketing & Agritourism
Ag Labor Review
Classifieds
Advertiser Index
January 2025 - 1
January 2025 - 2
January 2025 - 3
January 2025 - Editor's Letter
January 2025 - 5
January 2025 - Sensory help
January 2025 - 7
January 2025 - 8
January 2025 - 9
January 2025 - 10
January 2025 - 11
January 2025 - Ground resiliency
January 2025 - 13
January 2025 - H-2A rule blocked
January 2025 - 15
January 2025 - Earth-friendly philosophy
January 2025 - 17
January 2025 - 18
January 2025 - 19
January 2025 - From seed to store
January 2025 - 21
January 2025 - 22
January 2025 - 23
January 2025 - 24
January 2025 - 25
January 2025 - 26
January 2025 - 27
January 2025 - Preparing for your preparer
January 2025 - 29
January 2025 - Fresh Views
January 2025 - 31
January 2025 - Veg Connections
January 2025 - 33
January 2025 - 34
January 2025 - 35
January 2025 - Farm Marketing & Agritourism
January 2025 - 37
January 2025 - Ag Labor Review
January 2025 - 39
January 2025 - Classifieds
January 2025 - 41
January 2025 - Advertiser Index
January 2025 - 43
January 2025 - 44
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