According to a report by Piedmont's agricultural register, nut groves have gone from the 18,200 hectares of 2015 to 20,800 in 2016. Production increased by over 30% and there are a thousand new producers (9,80. in 2016). The main production provinces are Cuneo, Asti and Alessandria.
"Nut production is very important for Piedmont agriculture. Agrion is involved in many projects to obtain certified nursery material (VIVA.COR project), innovation techniques for the sustainable management of buds, turf and hazelnut groves (CORI.ECO project) and energy production from pruning residues," explains Maria Corte.
The stink bug situation
Many types of stink bugs were analysed during six years of research, though the real worry surfaced with the recent arrival of Halyomorpha halys, the brown marmorated stink bug.
Claudio Sonnati, Agrion technician for nut cultivation, says that "inspections carried out on hazelnut samples up to 10th December showed an average damage of 6.6% against the 1.3-2.5% of the previous years."
"Samples were collected and analysed with the help of technicians from Professional Agricultural Organisations. In 2016, we followed the evolution of H. halys populations between mid-May and late July. This pentatomidae, which is extremely polyphagous and gregarious in all season, causes more damage when passing from other crops to hazelnuts."
Damage caused by Haliomorpha halys.
In addition to monitoring the groves, Agrion technicians also assessed the effectiveness of a few products for bug containment.
Tests showed Acetamiprid and Etofenprox worked well when applied singly at different doses but their best performance was when they were combined and used with lambda-cyhalothrin. Damage was significantly reduced.
"Nonetheless, new tests are needed to understand bug behaviour in relation to the direct (elimination) and indirect (repellent) effects of the products used. Further data will be presented during the hazelnut convention to be held in Piedmont," concluded the technicians.
Contacts:
Maria Corte, Claudio Sonnati
Agrion -Fondazione per la ricerca l'innovazione e lo sviluppo tecnologico dell'agricoltura piemontese
Via Falicetto, 24
12030 Manta (CN)
Tel.: (+39) 0175 1953030
Centro Sperimentale per la Corilicoltura
Strada Provinciale, 31/2 – 12050 Cravanzana (CN)
Unione Montana Alta Langa, via Oberto, 1
12060 Bossolasco (CN) – Telefono 0173 799000
Email: m.corte@agrion.it
Email: c.sonnati@agrion.it
Damage caused by Haliomorpha halys.
In addition to monitoring the groves, Agrion technicians also assessed the effectiveness of a few products for bug containment.
Tests showed Acetamiprid and Etofenprox worked well when applied singly at different doses but their best performance was when they were combined and used with lambda-cyhalothrin. Damage was significantly reduced.
"Nonetheless, new tests are needed to understand bug behaviour in relation to the direct (elimination) and indirect (repellent) effects of the products used. Further data will be presented during the hazelnut convention to be held in Piedmont," concluded the technicians.
Contacts:
Maria Corte, Claudio Sonnati
Agrion -Fondazione per la ricerca l'innovazione e lo sviluppo tecnologico dell'agricoltura piemontese
Via Falicetto, 24
12030 Manta (CN)
Tel.: (+39) 0175 1953030
Centro Sperimentale per la Corilicoltura
Strada Provinciale, 31/2 – 12050 Cravanzana (CN)
Unione Montana Alta Langa, via Oberto, 1
12060 Bossolasco (CN) – Telefono 0173 799000
Email: m.corte@agrion.it
Email: c.sonnati@agrion.it