Successful crop protection from slugs

Slugs are an increasing problem in the high-rainfall zones, especially where conservation agriculture is practised. No single control method will provide complete protection against pests slugs: an integrated approach is best.

Key points

• Understand the context in which slug controls are being applied
• Moisture availability is a key regulator of slug populations
• Wet winters and cool springs provide ideal conditions for numbers to build up
• The grey field slug and the black keeled slug are the main pest species, but brown field slugs can also pose a threat
• No single control method will be completely effective; for successful crop protection, an integrated approach is needed