Bt on Kale Research Report
The Effects of Bacillus Thurgeinsis on two Varieties of Kale Introduction:
Pest such as cabbage whites often cause damage to plants. The damage sometimes leaves the plants not as sufficient at producing as they could be if there was no damage. All sorts of caterpillars and other insects like them chew and eat holes in the leaves of plants, such as kale. Trying to reduce the amount of damage done to the pants by these pests, farmers use a type of biological control which uses bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.), a bacterium, to kill off the targeted pests and keep the beneficial ones unharmed. This type of biological control, is easy,safe, and quick. The reason for this study is to observe the effects,if any occur, of B.t. on the pests that ail the kale plants compared to the plants without treatment. according to the null hypothesis B.t. will not have an effect in the kale plants or the pests its targeting.The hypothesis that we are looking at is that there will be less damage from pest on the kale plants treated with b.t. than those plants that are not treated.
Materials:
- 4-6 week-old kale plants, 8 of them (two of each variety in both the control group and the treatment group)
- Water and a formulation of B.t.
- Four spray bottles(2 for water and 2 for B.t.)
Methods:
1.Transport the 8 kale seedlings(4 Beira Kale and 4 Toscano kale) into garden, spacing each 2 feet apart from one another in the garden plot. The four plants that will receive the b.t. must be as far away from the 4 control plants as possible. Two of each variety will be in each group.
2. Before the B.t.is sprayed for the first time, inspect all the plants for pests and manually remove them. (But after the first spray of treatment on plants, do not remove the pests if present on the plant.)
3. Spray a dilute solution of B.t. (1/4 tsp powdered dipel to 1qt. spray bottle) spray enough to sufficiently moisten the leaves of all the treatment plants, and in return spray a
Pest such as cabbage whites often cause damage to plants. The damage sometimes leaves the plants not as sufficient at producing as they could be if there was no damage. All sorts of caterpillars and other insects like them chew and eat holes in the leaves of plants, such as kale. Trying to reduce the amount of damage done to the pants by these pests, farmers use a type of biological control which uses bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.), a bacterium, to kill off the targeted pests and keep the beneficial ones unharmed. This type of biological control, is easy,safe, and quick. The reason for this study is to observe the effects,if any occur, of B.t. on the pests that ail the kale plants compared to the plants without treatment. according to the null hypothesis B.t. will not have an effect in the kale plants or the pests its targeting.The hypothesis that we are looking at is that there will be less damage from pest on the kale plants treated with b.t. than those plants that are not treated.
Materials:
- 4-6 week-old kale plants, 8 of them (two of each variety in both the control group and the treatment group)
- Water and a formulation of B.t.
- Four spray bottles(2 for water and 2 for B.t.)
Methods:
1.Transport the 8 kale seedlings(4 Beira Kale and 4 Toscano kale) into garden, spacing each 2 feet apart from one another in the garden plot. The four plants that will receive the b.t. must be as far away from the 4 control plants as possible. Two of each variety will be in each group.
2. Before the B.t.is sprayed for the first time, inspect all the plants for pests and manually remove them. (But after the first spray of treatment on plants, do not remove the pests if present on the plant.)
3. Spray a dilute solution of B.t. (1/4 tsp powdered dipel to 1qt. spray bottle) spray enough to sufficiently moisten the leaves of all the treatment plants, and in return spray a
References: Damgaard, Christian, and Christin Kjaer. "Competitive Interactions and the Effect of Herbivory on Brassica Napus, Brassica Rapa,Lullum Perenne." Journal of Applied Ecology 46 (2009): 1073-079. Web. Kaya, Harry K., T. M. Burlando, H. Y. Choo, and G. S. Thurston. "Integration of Entomopathic Nematodes with Bacillus Thurgiensis or pesticidal Soap for Control of Insect Pests." Biological Control (1994): 432-41. Web. Lagerkvist, Carl J., Marther Ngigi, Julius J. Okello, and Nancy Karanja. "Means-End Chain Approach to Understanding Farmers Motivations for Pesticide Use in Leafy Vegtables: The Case of Kale in Peri-urban Nairobi, Kenya." Crop Protection (2012): 72-80. Web. .