Cucumbers like other cucurbit vegetables are continuously harvested at frequent intervals. If synthetic pesticides are applied during harvesting period, then pesticide residues may pose significant risks to food safety. To address the issue, Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) has developed a cost-saving and effective crop protection technology that integrates biological, mechanical, cultural, and chemical pest management practices, based on continuous pest monitoring, with an aim to minimize the application of synthetic pesticides. The technology produces high-quality pesticide-free produces, secures food safety for consumers, and does not adversely affect the environment.

    Cucumber is an important vegetable in Taiwan. The crop is often afflicted with powdery mildew, Phytophthora blight, downy mildew, Fusarium wilt, anthracnose, aphids, whiteflies, melon fly, mites and moths. To control these diseases and pests, the farmers often use a great deal of synthetic pesticides, especially for the control of powdery mildew and whiteflies. But a little carelessness on the use of synthetic pesticides to control these diseases and pests could amount to the serious food safety issue of pesticide residues. For this reason, TARI has developed a cost-effective and eco-friendly integrated crop management system that incorporates the use of healthy seedlings, field cleaning, and continuous pest monitoring, as well as the application of non-pesticide crop protection formulations that are developed by TARI researchers.

    The aforesaid system consists of: 1) using well-built screen houses to keep out large-sized insect pests such as melon flies, armyworms, cucumber moths, etc.; 2) carrying out comprehensive field cleaning to remove weeds and all fallen branches, leaves, flowers and fruits to avoid them becoming a breeding ground for diseases and pests; 3) implementing weekly pest monitoring to assess the type, extent and intensity of disease and pest occurrence so as to select and adjust the best timing and methods to control diseases and pests; and 4) employing horticultural oil formulations for effective insect control in seedlings and plants after transplanting, and to augment the effect of non-pesticide crop protection formulations.

    Regarding the non-pesticide crop protection formulations to control diseases after transplanting, the weekly applications of neutralized potassium hydroxide/phosphorous acid solution for three weeks are effective to control Phytophora blight and downy mildew; the application of 200-300 fold emulsified sunflower oil at the initial stage of the disease incidence is effective to control powdery mildew; and lime sulfur is used to control anthracnose. For insect control, the application of 200-400 fold horticultural oil formulation is effective to control various small insects.