Insect control
During and following emergence, monitor for:
- Redlegged earth mite
- Lucerne flea
- Cutworm
- Pasture looper
To protect crops of Kaspa from these pests apply an appropriate insecticide with the knockdown herbicide or apply a bare earth spray immediately after sowing. Bare earth sprays are more appropriate where redlegged earthmite are the major pest.
During flowering and podding, monitor for:
- Pea weevil
- Native budworm
Kaspa may be more susceptible than other varieties to native budworm because of its shorter flowering and podding period.
Pea weevil
Only use seed that was fumigated with phosphine soon after harvest. Two phostoxin tablets per tonne of seed should be placed in a sealed silo and left for 28 days. If the seed was harvested above 12% moisture, it should be dried by aeration before fumigation and sealing. Begin monitoring the crop with a sweep net just before the first pods begin to form (5-7 days after flowering begins). Monitor on warm days (above 18°C), first along the edges of paddocks nearest to trees and last year’s field pea stubble. If more than one pea weevil in 100 sweeps are present then spray a synthetic pyrethroid (for example, Karate®) immediately. In large paddocks clear of trees, it is usually only necessary to spray a 60m border around the paddock because pea weevil work their way in from the edges of the paddock. Eggs on pods and larvae in pods will not be killed by insecticide so it is important to kill adults before they lay eggs. Recommence monitoring the crop about 14 days after spraying; if you find more pea weevil spray the entire crop. Harvest as soon as the crop is ready, and fumigate the seed promptly. Grain left on the ground after harvest can be a source of pea weevil infestation in the future, so harvest as efficiently as possible.
Native budworm
Monitor for native budworm at regular intervals from early podding onwards. Spray insecticide if more than one caterpillar per 10 sweeps is present. Spray immediately to protect early pods; don't wait for caterpillars to grow. Monitor the crop after spraying to determine the efficacy of treatment, and to determine if follow up sprays are required.
Diseases
Blackspot is the most serious disease of field pea in WA. The best way to manage this disease is to separate the crop from potential infection sources by following recommendations on paddock selection and sowing times.
- Sowing time; use the Field pea blackspot management guide
- Rotation at least three years between crops
- Separation >500m from last seasons field pea stubble.
Seed dressings and foliar fungicides do not provide economic control.