scholarly journals Irrigated trap crops impact key hemipteran pests in organic pistachio orchard

Author(s):  
Judith M. Stahl ◽  
Houston Wilson ◽  
Robert K. Straser ◽  
Jessica J. Maccaro ◽  
Kent M. Daane

AbstractUsing sown groundcovers as trap crops to protect a cash crop is a traditional pest management tool. Pistachio is a major crop in California’s Central Valley, where high summer temperatures and little to no precipitation between May and November lead to summer dry-down of annual groundcover. Hemipteran pests that consist of ‘small bugs’ and ‘large bugs’ are a major contributor to nut damage, especially in organic production. In this 2-year field study, we tested the use of irrigated trap crop mixtures, sown between tree rows, to reduce those hemipteran pests’ abundance or damage. Biweekly beat samples of the tree canopy and sweep samples of the sown groundcovers in trap crop plots and resident weedy vegetation in control plots were taken over two consecutive growing seasons. Arthropod richness and abundance were highest in the groundcover and tree canopy in the trap crop plots. Small and large bug pest populations were higher and lower, respectively, in the tree canopy in trap crop plots, indicating a mixed response of these hemipterans to the presence of the trap crops. Additionally, natural enemy populations were more abundant in the tree canopy in trap crop plots than in control plots. There was no difference in nut damage between plots with and without the trap crop. These findings suggest that populations of hemipteran pests and beneficials can be manipulated successfully with irrigated trap crops, but future studies will need to focus on doing so in a way that decreases hemipteran pistachio damage.

HortScience ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 827E-827
Author(s):  
Joseph DeFrank ◽  
G.C. Luther ◽  
H. Valenzuela

Experiments conducted over 3 years have determined the potential of utilizing Indian mustard and `Tastie' head cabbage multi-species borders as trap crops for management of caterpillar pests of head cabbage in Hawaii. `Scorpio', a cultivar that showed less feeding damage than `Tastie', was used as the main crop. The studies point toward the use of isolated patches of multi-species attractant crops separated from the main crop by a buffer of non-host crops such as sweet corn. A sweet corn buffer was effective in preventing insect movement between plots. Initial studies showed the high susceptibility of Indian mustard to white rust (Albugo candida), to be a constraint to its use as a trap crop. Follow-up studies found that `Excel' and `Parkland' mustards may be adequate substitutes for mustard crop due to their attraction of caterpillars and their tolerance to white rust. Gradient experiments conducted on 60 × 30-m plots indicate that the trap crop may be effective for a distance of 25 to 30 m in terms of attraction of caterpillars and dispersal of beneficials into the main crop. A record was also made of growth, flowering patterns, and of beneficials hosted by 12 different Brassica cultivars during the winter and spring growing seasons.


The Holocene ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 095968362110259
Author(s):  
Anna Masseroli ◽  
Giovanni Leonelli ◽  
Umberto Morra di Cella ◽  
Eric P Verrecchia ◽  
David Sebag ◽  
...  

Both biotic and abiotic components, characterizing the mountain treeline ecotone, respond differently to climate variations. This study aims at reconstructing climate-driven changes by analyzing soil evolution in the late Holocene and by assessing the climatic trends for the last centuries and years in a key high-altitude climatic treeline (2515 m a.s.l.) on the SW slope of the Becca di Viou mountain (Aosta Valley Region, Italy). This approach is based on soil science and dendrochronological techniques, together with daily air/soil temperature monitoring of four recent growing seasons. Direct measurements show that the ongoing soil temperatures during the growing season, at the treeline and above, are higher than the predicted reference values for the Alpine treeline. Thus, they do not represent a limiting factor for tree establishment and growth, including at the highest altitudes of the potential treeline (2625 m a.s.l.). Dendrochronological evidences show a marked sensitivity of tree-ring growth to early-summer temperatures. During the recent 10-year period 2006–2015, trees at around 2300 m a.s.l. have grown at a rate that is approximately 1.9 times higher than during the 10-year period 1810–1819, one of the coolest periods of the Little Ice Age. On the other hand, soils show only an incipient response to the ongoing climate warming, likely because of its resilience regarding the changeable environmental conditions and the different factors influencing the soil development. The rising air temperature, and the consequent treeline upward shift, could be the cause of a shift from Regosol to soil with more marked Umbric characteristics, but only for soil profiles located on the N facing slopes. Overall, the results of this integrated approach permitted a quantification of the different responses in abiotic and biotic components through time, emphasizing the influence of local station conditions in responding to the past and ongoing climate change.


2004 ◽  
Vol 94 (6) ◽  
pp. 509-516 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian-hua Lu ◽  
Shu-sheng Liu ◽  
A.M. Shelton

AbstractThe term ‘dead-end trap cropping’ has recently been proposed to identify a plant that is highly attractive for oviposition by an insect pest, but on which offspring of the pest cannot survive. The potential of the wild crucifer Barbarea vulgaris R. Br. to allure and serve as a dead-end trap crop for the diamondback moth Plutella xylostella (L.), an important pest of cruciferous crops worldwide, was examined in laboratory experiments. When P. xylostella adults were provided with a dual-choice of plants of B. vulgaris, and Chinese cabbage Brassica campestris (L.), in one arena, adult moths laid 2.5–6.8 times more eggs on the former than on the latter. When P. xylostella adults were provided with a dual-choice of plants of B. vulgaris and common cabbage Brassica oleracea L., adult moths laid virtually all their eggs on the former and ignored the latter. Nearly all P. xylostella eggs laid on the three species of plants hatched successfully, but nearly all individuals on plants of B. vulgaris died as neonates or early instar larvae, while 87–100% of the larvae on Chinese cabbage and common cabbage survived to pupation. Dual choice tests with a Y-tube olfactometer showed that volatiles from B. vulgaris were much more attractive to P. xylostella adults than those from common cabbage. The results demonstrate that B. vulgaris has a great potential as a dead-end trap crop for improving management of P. xylostella. Factors that may influence the feasibility of using B. vulgaris as a trap crop in the field are discussed, and ways to utilize this plant are proposed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 113 (4) ◽  
pp. 1864-1871
Author(s):  
S Sherbrooke ◽  
Y Carrière ◽  
J C Palumbo

Abstract Trap cropping, in which a trap crop is planted near a cash crop, has been used successfully for reducing pest damage in some agricultural systems. We used a meta-analysis of extensive data on two trap cropping systems, diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus), exploiting cabbage and Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) exploiting maize, to show that oviposition preference for, and high larval mortality on trap crops are important indicators of effectiveness of trap cropping systems. We then evaluated Indian mustard (Brassica juncea var. juncea L. Czern.) (Capparidales: Brassicaceae) and yellow rocket (Barbarea vulgaris W. T. Aiton) (Brassicales: Brassicaceae) as trap crops for protecting broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica Plenck) (Capparidales: Brassicaceae) against diamondback moth in Yuma, AZ, using planting configurations compatible with current practices for commercial production and without use of insecticides. In oviposition choice tests, both yellow rocket and Indian mustard were highly preferred over broccoli in the field. Furthermore, the number of larvae and pupae was significantly lower on yellow rocket and Indian mustard compared to broccoli, indicating relatively high mortality on these trap crops. Nevertheless, during the fall and spring growing seasons, no significant differences in the number of individuals on broccoli or proportion of broccoli crowns infested at harvest occurred between plots with trap crops relative to plots exclusively planted to broccoli. Thus, with the plant density and planting patterns used and without use of insecticides, there was no evidence that trap cropping was effective for reducing diamondback moth infestation of broccoli.


2006 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 646-650 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan S. Boyd ◽  
Eric B. Brennan

Weed management is often difficult and expensive in organic production systems. Clove oil is an essential oil that functions as a contact herbicide and may provide an additional weed management tool for use on organic farms. Burning nettle, purslane, and rye responses to 5, 10, 20, 40, and 80% v/v clove oil mixture applied in spray volumes of 281 and 468 L/ha were examined. Log-logistic curves were fitted to the nettle and purslane data to determine the herbicide dose required to reduce plant dry weight 50% (GR50) and 90% (GR90). A three-parameter Gaussian curve was fitted to the rye data. The GR50 and GR90 were largely unaffected by spray volume. Nettle dry weight was reduced by 90% with 12 to 61 L clove oil/ha, whereas 21 to 38 L clove oil/ha were required to reduce purslane biomass to the same level. Rye was not effectively controlled by clove oil. Clove oil controls broadleaf weeds at high concentrations, but its cost makes broadcast applications prohibitive, even in high-value vegetable production systems.


Insects ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabrice Lamy ◽  
Laura Bellec ◽  
Amélie Rusu-Stievenard ◽  
Pauline Clin ◽  
Claire Ricono ◽  
...  

The development of integrated pest management strategies becomes more and more pressing in view of potential harmful effects of synthetic pesticides on the environment and human health. A promising alternative strategy against Delia radicum is the use of trap crops. Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa subsp. pekinensis and subsp. chinensis) is a highly sensitive Brassicaceae species previously identified as a good candidate to attract the cabbage root fly away from other crops. Here, we carried out multi-choice experiments both in the laboratory and in field conditions to measure the oviposition susceptibilities of different subspecies and cultivars of Chinese cabbages as compared to a broccoli reference. We found large differences among subspecies and cultivars of the Chinese cabbage, which received three to eleven times more eggs than the broccoli reference in field conditions. In laboratory conditions, the chinensis subspecies did not receive more eggs than the broccoli reference. We conclude that D. radicum largely prefers to lay eggs on the pekinensis subspecies of Chinese cabbage compared to the chinensis subspecies or broccoli. Some pekinensis cultivars, which received over ten times more eggs than broccoli in the field, appear especially promising candidates to further develop trap crop strategies against the cabbage root fly.


2019 ◽  
Vol 112 (4) ◽  
pp. 298-301 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayanava Majumdar ◽  
Matthew Price

Abstract Vegetable production in the Southeast is always at high risk from insect pests. Alternative integrated pest management (IPM) systems have to be effective in small plot as well as at the farming scale. This article explores the recent studies on large-scale trap crops using single or multiple cultivars and innovative layouts for long-term pest reduction. Trap crops must be planned carefully under high pest pressure and drought conditions along with an insecticide use strategy that minimizes external inputs and conserves natural enemies. Through participatory research approach, trap crop systems continue to evolve into practical solutions for the vegetable producers.


2004 ◽  
Vol 94 (6) ◽  
pp. 481-486 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.R. Grundy ◽  
R.V. Sequeira ◽  
K.S. Short

AbstractMounting levels of insecticide resistance within Australian Helicoverpa spp. populations have resulted in the adoption of non-chemical IPM control practices such as trap cropping with chickpea, Cicer arietinum (L.). However, a new leaf blight disease affecting chickpea in Australia has the potential to limit its use as a trap crop. Therefore this paper evaluates the potential of a variety of winter-active legume crops for use as an alternative spring trap crop to chickpea as part of an effort to improve the area-wide management strategy for Helicoverpa spp. in central Queensland's cotton production region. The densities of Helicoverpa eggs and larvae were compared over three seasons on replicated plantings of chickpea, Cicer arietinum (L.), field pea Pisum sativum (L), vetch, Vicia sativa (L.) and faba bean, Vicia faba from the plants after oviposition. Plantings of field pea as a replacement trap crop for chickpea under commercial conditions confirmed the high level of attractiveness of this crop to ovipositing moths. The use of field pea as a trap crop as part of an area-wide management programme for Helicoverpa spp. is discussed.


1996 ◽  
Vol 128 (3) ◽  
pp. 407-412 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.W.A. Hunt ◽  
G. Whitfield

AbstractThe use of potato as a trap crop for the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say), in processing tomatoes was evaluated. The proportion of beetles counted on potato trap rows vs. the tomato crop on a per plant basis was 0.99, 1 week after transplanting, and never fell below 0.93 on any sampling date. In tomato plots that received no insecticides, potato trap rows placed as much as 16 tomato beds apart were effective in reducing beetle numbers on the tomatoes and producing crop yields 61–87% higher than plots without trap rows. Four of six pairs of plots had significantly fewer adult beetles and significantly higher tomato yields when a potato trap crop was present.


HortScience ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 906A-906
Author(s):  
Nicolas Tremblay ◽  
Lucette LaFlamme ◽  
André Gosselin

Angelica (Angelica archangelica) is a tall biennial grown for its root-bound active ingredients. A research was conducted to adapt conventional angelica production methods to organic principles and nordic growing conditions. Seeds should be stratified for 7 to 8 weeks before sowing and transplant production done in multicellular trays filled with compost-peat media and supplemented with organic soluble fertilization. A sequential sampling program was conducted to better-understand the dry matter and active ingredients accumulation patterns over the growing seasons. In light of these results, the recommended production schedule consists of a fall planting and a harvest the following fall. In this manner, both dry matter yield and active ingredient concentration in the root are improved. Root yields increase linearly with planting densities up to 111,111 plants/ha. After 5 years of research, most of the limiting factors have been studied and the problems solved. Our research clearly shows how much yield, quality, and profitability of a newly introduced crop can be improved when a comprehensive research program is implemented.


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