EVALUATION OF A VEGETABLE PROJECT IN THE DEPARTMENT OF BENI, BOLIVIA

DEVELOPMENT OF THIS AREA WILL DEPEND UPON, AMONG OTHER THINGS, WEED CONTROL. THE REPORT DISCUSSES VARIOUS METHODS OF WEED CONTROL INCLUDING HAND AND MECHANICAL METHODS, FLAME, HERBICIDES, AND BIOLOGICAL AGENTS. THE AUTHOR NOTES THAT EVEN THE MOST EFFECTIVE CHEMICAL METHODS FREQUENTLY MUST BE COMBINED WITH HAND OR MECHANICAL WEEDING. THUS FAR, ONLY LIMITED ATTENTION HAS BEEN GIVEN TO CONTROLLING WEEDS WITH INSECTS, PLANT DISEASE ORGANISMS & OTHER NATURAL ENEMIES. DIRECTIONS AND GENERAL PRECAUTIONS IN THE USE OF HERBICIDES ARE OUTLINED. VEGETABLE CROP HERBICIDES HAVING EPA REGISTRY FOR USE IN THE US ARE LISTED. THE REPORT ALSO DISCUSSES THE AREA'S MAJOR VEGETABLE CROPS -- CARROTS, CUCUMBER, LETTUCE, ONIONS, SWEET PEPPERS, AND TOMATOES. INFORMATION IS PROVIDED ON TYPES, SOILS, PLANTING, SPACING, AND OPTIMUM TEMPERATURES FOR GROWTH. THE AUTHOR RECOMMENDS THAT THE SYSTEMATIC INVESTIGATION OF THESE CROPS BE INTENSIFIED. TESTING OF NEW WEED CONTROL CHEMICALS IS NOT NECESSARY. INSTEAD, THE PRESENTLY REGISTERED MATERIALS SHOULD BE EVALUATED FOR USE ON SPECIFIC CROPS. THE FACULTIES OF AGRICULTURE OF THE NATL UNIVERSITIES AT TRINIDAD & COCHABAMBA SHOULD BE STRENGTHENED, WITH MORE DIVERSIFIED STUDY PROGS ESTABLISHED IN HORTICULTURE, CROP PRODUCTION, AGRONOMY, AND AGRICULTURE EDUCATION. OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE EVALUATION OF THE POTENTIAL OF FRUITCULTURE CROPS AND ESTABLISHMENT OF AN AGENCY TO REGULATE AGRICULTURAL CHEMICALS. IN ADDITION, AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE AREA IS RECOMMENDED. THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT LARGE POPULATIONS OF PRECOLOMBIAN PEOPLES INHABITED THE AREA, AND THAT THESE PEOPLE COPED WITH YRLY FLOODING AND PRODUCED FOOD CROPS. IT IS PROBABLE THAT THEIR SYSTEMS COUPLED WITH MODERN TECHNOLOGY COULD SOLVE EXISTING WATER MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS. APPENDICES LIST US SPRAY EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS AND VEGETABLE SEED DISTRIBUTORS.