An Electrostatic Pest Exclusion Strategy for Greenhouse Tomato Cultivation

Autor: Koji Kakutani, Yoshinori Matsuda, Teruo Nonomura, Hideyoshi Toyoda
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2022
Předmět:
Zdroj: Horticulturae, Vol 8, Iss 6, p 543 (2022)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 2311-7524
DOI: 10.3390/horticulturae8060543
Popis: Electrostatic devices generating an electric field (EF) are promising tools for greenhouse tomato cultivation. In these devices, an EF is generated in the space surrounding an insulated conductor (IC) that is charged by a voltage generator. Thus, a physical force is exerted on any insect that enters the EF, as a negatively charged IC (NC-IC) pushes a negative charge (free electrons) out of the insect body. The insect is polarized positively to be attracted to the NC-IC, and a grounded metal net (G-MN) repels the insect. This dual function of the apparatus (insect capture and repulsion) is the core of the electrostatic pest-exclusion strategy. In this study, we applied various innovative EF-based devices to evaluate their efficacy in greenhouse tomato cultivation. Our objective was to determine the optimal apparatus for simple, inexpensive construction by greenhouse workers. The results of this study will contribute to the development of sustainable pest-management protocols in greenhouse horticulture.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals