Investigating the management factors effective in controlling pistachio Gummosis disease

Document Type : Research

Authors

1 Assistant Professor of Pistachio Research Center, Horticultural Sciences Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Rafsanjan, Iran

2 Associate Professor of Pistachio Research Center, Horticultural Sciences Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Rafsanjan, Iran

Abstract

Pistachio trees have different diseases. In the current study, the successful application of knowledge and experience of farmers for the control of pistachio gummosis disease was investigated. The data used is related to 286 pistachio orchards in Anar and Rafsanjan districts that were collected over a 9-year period (2010 to 2018) and during three cross times, in 2012, 2015 and 2018. The target sample was selected using a multi-stage random sampling method. To evaluate the effect of different management factors on reducing or increasing the severity of orchard disease and its effects on the quantity and quality of pistachio crop yield and profit, the methods of the correlation coefficient, mean comparison and regression were used. The results showed that 25% of pistachio orchards were always infected with gummosis and this disease could not be eliminated and should be controlled and managed. More than 97% of farmers have prior knowledge of gummosis but have failed to control and manage it. The results also showed that the only way to successfully control gummosis is to hire experts in plant pathology and they were active in the orchards and more investigation showed that this work is economical. Factors such as heavy irrigation, freshwater irrigation, use of mulch, and excessive use of machinery, especially tiller, increase the risk of gummosis. In contrast, regular and well-distributed irrigation, reducing irrigation terrace area, use of pressurized irrigation system, use of irrigation water from different wells, increase the width of the irrigation strip, use of poultry manure and enhance using macro and micro chemical fertilizers reduce the severity of gummosis in pistachio orchards.

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