Prospects for the control of bulb pests and diseases in a world concerned with protecting the environment

Intensification of flowerbulb cultivation in the past coincided with a reduction of input of labor and an increase in the use of crop-protecting chemicals to control diseases, pests and weeds. In the last decade the occasional demonstration of residues of these chemicals in the environment has stimulated political discussions in many countries on the role of pesticides in the future. In the Netherlands, a large reduction must be realized before the year 2000 in the dependency on and the volume of pesticides used (50-80% reduction), as well as in the emission of pesticides to the environment (more than 90% reduction). Moreover, registration of pesticides is being reevaluated. To contribute to the achievement of these objectives research programs were initiated, covering most of the expected disease, pest, weed, and emission problems. Strategies include biological, physical, mechanical, and revised chemical control. Recent developments in research on integrated flowerbulb crop protection will be summarized. In the period 1988-1994 pesticide use in horticulture and agriculture in the Netherlands showed a 45% decline (kg active compound). This decrease ecxeeds the objectives set for 1995. It is expected that well-managed flowerbulb farms will be able to achieve the objectives set for 2000.