Determining the economic threshold for the sugarcane stalk borer (Diatraea spp.) in the Córdoba-Golfo region, Veracruz, Mexico

Resumen

Objective: To determine the economic threshold for Diatraea spp. in the Córdoba-Golfo sugarcane growing region in Veracruz, Mexico.

Design/Methodology/Approach: During the 2020-2021 production cycle, we established 21 sampling plots to measure damage percentage due to borer larvae in sugarcane stalks. Based on these measurements, we calculated the economic damage level (EDL) and the economic threshold (ET) by regions and subregions.

Results: The most affected subregion was Yanga, with an average annual damage of more than 5 % and a real economic threshold of 1.36. The average ET in the Córdoba-Golfo region was 2.76, which indicates that applying control strategies for Diatraea spp. enables the regulation of insect populations.

Study limitations/Implications: Strategies to obtain reality-driven diagnoses are still necessary to design and apply assertive management procedures to control stalk borer populations in the field.

Findings/Conclusions: We posit a suitably calculated ET for each studied subregion, considering updated parameters that include real crop losses per zone (field performance). This can provide the basis for a course of action with an effective management that will, in turn, increase field performance and sugarcane juice quality.