Estimation of economic losses associated with the presence of Amaranthus palmeri in Aragon

Abstract

The detection of Amaranthus palmeri in Aragon has encouraged efforts to identify the best strategies for its control in infested plots and to prevent its spread to other areas. Together with the different greenhouse and field trials carried out at CITA, the Center for Plant Health and Certification developed an important survey work that entails considerable costs for the administration. This paper collects all this information with the aim of estimating the losses associated with the invader in the affected areas, including yield losses depending on the density of A. palmeri, the costs for the farmer associated with the different control measures in his plot and the costs related to the survey and dissemination tasks that are being assumed by the administration. For this purpose, the data from the field trials and prospections carried out in the first two years of testing are incorporated.