Floating rowcovers improve germination and reduce carrot weevil infestations in carrot

Abstract

A lightweight agrotextile floating rowcover (10 g·m-2) designed for insect control was evaluated for its potential to reduce carrot weevil [Listronotus oregonensis (Le conte)] damage and to improve germination and carrot (Daucus carota L.) yield. The floating rowcover had no effect on total emergence and spread on emergence time but decreased emergence time by 0.5 day. Although floating rowcovers generally increased fresh weight of carrot leaves and roots during early development, no effect was detected late in the season and at harvest time. Carrot weevil damage of uncovered plants was 0.4 tunnels per root in 2006 and 2.0 tunnels per root in 2005. In both years, covering carrots with a floating rowcover for a period of 35 days after sowing reduced carrot weevil damage by 65% to 75%. In most years with low or medium carrot weevil infestation, the use of a rowcover could eliminate the use of insecticide to control this pest.