Abstract

RUIZ NAJERA, Ramiro Eleazar; RUIZ NAJERA, José Alfredo; GUZMAN GONZALEZ, Salvador  and  PEREZ LUNA, Esaú de Jesús. Diagnostic evaluation of management of insecticides in the control of tomato pests. Rev. Int. Contam. Ambient [online]. 2011, vol.27, n.2, pp.129-137. ISSN 0188-4999.

Management practices of insecticides by tomato growers in the municipality of Cintalapa, Chiapas, Mexico, were evaluated by a diagnosis during the crop cycle of 2008. About 17 % of the total cultivated area was studied and all the tomato growers in such area were interviewed. The interviews were conducted either in the households or in the tomato fields. The collected data were analyzed by descriptive statistics. Results indicate that 100 % of tomato growers used chemical products for pests' control; 71.4 % applied insecticides to control white flies, aphids and 5 °% for the rest of leafhoppers. The insecticides applied were : Thiodan ® (OC-cyclodienes), Rescue ® (neonicotinoid). Confidor ®, Calypso ® 480SC (chloronicotinyl) Shot ® (FH-SM + pyrethroid) Abam-ectin 1.8 ® (macrocyclic lactone), Oberon ® (ketoenoles tetron-acid), Mustang ® and Herald ® (pyrethroid). Five products were applied at lower doses, three at higher than recommended in the product and only one according to manufacturer directions. About 80 % of growers did not calibrate equipment for pesticides application and 98 % did not use protective equipment to spray the chemicals. In that sense, about 50 % of growers have experienced somehow a degree of intoxication. These results indicate that tomato growers urgently need speciic training on pesticides management.

Keywords : insecticides; pests; doses; protective equipment.

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