Disease control in strawberry plants in different cropping systems: a study on sustainability

Abstract

Non-observance of the inter-relationships of natural resources with the global environment has compromised the maintenance of life on earth. Neoclassic economics believes that the environmental problem can be solved by technology, and the capitalist system encourages consumerism, which contributes to the depletion of natural resources and to environmental pollution. The great challenge is to find mitigative ways to enable economic development without affecting much the environment, as usually happens. Among these ways is the alternative agriculture, based on the maintenance of soil fertility through organic fertilization, and on plant health through the use of cultural, physical, genetic and alternative methods, without using the fungicides and insecticides as in the conventional system. Specifically for diseases, the
alternative control involves biological control and the use of natural extracts with antimicrobial and/or resistance-inducing properties. This study aimed at evaluating the economic viability of the alternative control of diseases in organically grown strawberry plants with the use of extracts, using information from strawberry farmers’
statements and from research. Based on cost data for strawberry production (fertilizers, irrigation, electricity, pesticides and manpower), a comparative table for disease control of strawberry plants was designed, for the following cultivation systems: conventional, organic with the use of Bordeaux mixture, and organic with the use of vegetal extract. The analysis of the information
indicated that, although the cost of production had been on
average 3.6 times higher in the conventional system, the income was 1.9 times higher in relation to the organic with Bordeaux mixture, but 2% lower in relation to the organic system using plant extracts. The impacts on the environment and on the farmers’ health are also discussed.