The second sample survey on the use of plant protection products on commercially-grown crops in Malta and Gozo was undertaken in the summer months of 2007 and covered the agricultural year from September 2006 to August 2007.

Areas treated – The basic area amounted to 5,077.6 hectares or 62.7 per cent of the area surveyed. Although forage areas were the most cultivated, only 45.6 per cent of all forage areas were treated. In contrast, all areas under glass were treated, while 86.6 per cent of all open areas under vegetable cultivation were treated at least once. Similarly, treated areas under potatoes, vines and stone fruit amounted to 96.4 per cent, 91.6 per cent and 87.1 per cent of the respective cultivated areas. On the other hand, only 45.5 per cent of citrus fruit areas received at least one treatment.

Fungicides dominated in the use of plant protection products, in weight applied and area treated. 72.4 per cent of the formulation area was treated with at least one fungicide. Similarly, fungicide applications amounted to 96.7 per cent in terms of weight. The formulation area of herbicides and insecticides amounted to 11.8 per cent and 14.0 per cent respectively.

Overall, 4.2 applications were sprayed, with fungicide applications being sprayed on average 6.1 times while herbicide applications just once. Insecticide applications on average amounted to 3.3 sprays. Where treated, citrus fruit, vines and vegetables under glass were sprayed intensively, these crops receiving over 8 treatments with fungicide. Insecticides were regularly used in stone fruit cultivation, with an average of 4.4 sprays.

Application methods – Land fragmentation is a common feature of Maltese agriculture. As a result, the knapsack (76.5 per cent) was the most common method of pesticide application in Malta. Tractor-mounted spraying (14.4 per cent) was mainly used for forage and vines, where areas under these crops tend to be larger than areas with vegetables. On the other hand, 9.1 per cent of all applications were effected by methods infrequently encountered.

Active substances – On average, 5.6 kg of active substance per hectare was sprayed, ranging from less than 0.1 kg per hectare with acaricides to 7.5 kg per hectare with fungicide. The application rates of fungicide differ, from 28.7 kg per hectare for vegetables in the open (due to the high amounts of sulphur used), to 0.7 kg per hectare on potatoes. Vines, on average, received 2.1 kg per hectare, mainly due to the high number of applications. Herbicide application rates averaged 1.2 kg per hectare. Application rates per hectare for insecticides were negligible, with an average of 0.3 kg per hectare. In total, 87 different active substances were recorded in the pesticide survey. Their combined use amounted to just over 120 tonnes.

More than 95 per cent in terms of weight of active substances was dominated by three active substances, namely sulphur, mancozeb and MCPA albeit for different uses. Ranking the most important active substances by chemical family. Fungicide use was dominated by sulphur (92.5 per cent in terms of weight of active substance) while MCPA dominated herbicide use (92.1 per cent of herbicides). On the other hand, 4 active substances namely Carbaryl (24.9 per cent), Malathion (23.0 per cent), Chlorpyrifos (20.2 per cent) and Dimethoate (19.2 per cent) dominated insecticide use.

Pesticide usage in Malta follows the typical pattern of the Mediterranean climate. Herbicide applications are mainly used at the beginning of the agricultural season while fungicide use occurs throughout the agricultural year, with the main period of application occurring from April to July. Insecticide use is at its peak during the summer period ..

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