Lettuce cropping with less pesticides. A review

• Published in: Agronomy for sustainable development 2014, Vol.34 (1), p.175-198
• Main Authors: Barrière, Virginie, Lecompte, François, Nicot, Philippe C, Maisonneuve, Brigitte, Tchamitchian, Marc, Lescourret, Françoise
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agricultural sciences; Agriculture; agroecosystems; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; climatic factors; community structure; cropping systems; Ecology, environment; Environment and sustainable development; environmental impact; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agroecology; General agroecology. Agricultural and farming systems. Agricultural development. Rural area planning. Landscaping; General agronomy. Plant production; Generalities. Agricultural and farming systems. Agricultural development; horticultural crops; human health; issues and policy; lettuce; Life Sciences; nontarget organisms; pathogens; pest control; pesticide residues; pesticide resistance; pesticide use reduction; pesticides; pests; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; Review Article; Soil Science & Conservation; Sustainable Development
• ISSN: 1774-0746; 1773-0155
• DOI: 10.1007/s13593-013-0158-5

Agricultural intensification has increased crop productivity but decreased agroecosystem services. Agricultural intensification is occurring notably for horticultural crops such as lettuce. In conventional agriculture, lettuce protection is achieved mostly by preventive applications of pesticides with about eight treatments for a 60–90-day-long cycle in the Mediterranean region. However, new sustainable control strategies are needed due to pesticide impact on environment and human health, emerging pesticide resistance, and stricter policies on levels of pesticide residues in food. Here, we review knowledge and methods allowing to grow lettuce with less pesticides. Advances shown are based on pest ecology and pathogen control by the agroecosystem. The major points are as follows: (1) pest and pathogen community composition depends partly on climatic conditions. The identification of pests and pathogens that can threaten the crop is the first step to design innovative lettuce cropping systems less dependent on pesticides. (2) The numerous alternative techniques currently available should be combined to control lettuce pests and pathogens. The effects of alternative techniques on non-target organisms including non-target pests are poorly known so far. (3) Designing sustainable systems requires taking into account ecological interactions and suitability of different management techniques of low impact.