Influence of the homeopathic preparation of shell lime on thrips and yieldof onion in an organic system

The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of a homeopathic preparation of shell limestone on the incidence of Thrips tabaci Lind. (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) yield and bulb mass of onion in organic production system. The experiment was carried out at the Epagri Experimental Station in Ituporanga, from August to December 2007. The cultivar used was Epagri 362 (Crioula Alto Vale). The experimental design used was in randomized blocks with four replications. The evaluated treatments were: shell lime prepared homeopathic preparations 
at 6, 12 and 30CH dilutions (CH = Hahnemannian centesimal dilution) and untreated parcel. Each treatment was sprayed on onion plants at the proportion of 0,1%. The incidence of thrips was similar between treatments. The dilutions of 6CH and 12CH increased the percentage of commercial bulbs and the productivity of the culture, but did not interfere in the weight of commercial bulbs.