scholarly journals Effects of cover crops on beetle assemblages in tea plantations

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li-Lin Chen ◽  
Gabor Pozsgai ◽  
Xiang-Yu Li ◽  
Lei Li ◽  
Gadi V.P. Reddy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Pest Management ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Paspalum Notatum ◽  
Bare Ground ◽  
Tea Plantations ◽  
Beetle Assemblages ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
Species Richness And Abundance

AbstractBeetles are visible members of food webs in tea plantations, with high species richness and abundance. Many tea pests, as well as natural enemies, are members of this order, so a knowledge of how groundcovers affect beetles can aid pest management. We collected beetles in a replicated field experiment in the Wuyi Mountains, Fujian Province China. Tea was intercropped with Paspalum notatum or Chamaecrista rotundifolia, or rows were cleared to bare ground, or in the control they were left unmanaged to allow weeds to grow naturally. Sampling, done by sweep netting and vegetation beating, was conducted monthly, between May 2006 and April 2008, and Coleoptera abundance, biomass, species richness and assemblage structures were compared between groundcover treatments. Total beetle abundance and species richness were significantly higher in tea intercropped with C. rotundifolia and bare ground than in naturally grown weedy control. Whilst there was no difference between predator assemblages among treatments for any measure, herbivores were more abundant, weighed more, and were more diverse in C. rotundifolia treatments than in weedy control. Biomass and species richness were also greater in plots with P. notatum groundcover than those in weedy control. We found that beetle assemblages varied both seasonally and with ground cover treatment, but the potential pest control impact of more species-rich beetle assemblages was mixed, and further work is needed to gain information on trophic groups with potential benefits for use in non-insecticidal pest management.

The diversity of beetle assemblages in different habitat types in Sabah, Malaysia

2000 ◽  
Vol 90 (6) ◽  
pp. 475-496 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.Y.C. Chung ◽  
P. Eggleton ◽  
M.R. Speight ◽  
P.M. Hammond ◽  
V.K. Chey
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Oil Palm ◽  
Trophic Structure ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Oil Palm Plantation ◽  
Beetle Assemblages ◽  
Logged Forest ◽  
Species Richness And Abundance

AbstractThe diversity of beetle assemblages in different habitat types (primary forest, logged forest, acacia plantation and oil palm plantation) in Sabah, Malaysia was investigated using three different methods based on habitat levels (Winkler sampling, flight-interception-trapping and mist-blowing). The overall diversity was extremely high, with 1711 species recorded from only 8028 individuals and 81 families (115 family and subfamily groups). Different degrees of environmental changes had varying effects on the beetle species richness and abundance, with oil palm plantation assemblage being most severely affected, followed by acacia plantation and then logged forest. A few species became numerically dominant in the oil palm plantation. In terms of beetle species composition, the acacia fauna showed much similarity with the logged forest fauna, and the oil palm fauna was very different from the rest. The effects of environmental variables (number of plant species, sapling and tree densities, amount of leaf litter, ground cover, canopy cover, soil pH and compaction) on the beetle assemblage were also investigated. Leaf litter correlated with species richness, abundance and composition of subterranean beetles. Plant species richness, tree and sapling densities correlated with species richness, abundance and composition of understorey beetles while ground cover correlated only with the species richness and abundance of these beetles. Canopy cover correlated only with arboreal beetles. In trophic structure, predators represented more than 40% of the species and individuals. Environmental changes affected the trophic structure with proportionally more herbivores (abundance) but fewer predators (species richness and abundance) in the oil palm plantation. Biodiversity, conservation and practical aspects of pest management were also highlighted in this study.

Cover Crops Enhance Natural Enemies While Help Suppressing Pests in a Tea Plantation

2019 ◽  
Vol 112 (4) ◽  
pp. 348-355 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li-Lin Chen ◽  
Pei Yuan ◽  
Min-Sheng You ◽  
Gabor Pozsgai ◽  
Xu Ma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Beneficial Arthropods ◽  
Vigna Sinensis ◽  
Free Products ◽  
Tea Plantation ◽  
Tea Plantations ◽  
Trifolium Repens L ◽  
Arthropod Biodiversity ◽  
Sustainable Pest Control

Abstract Tea is an economically important crop, consumed by billions of people. Despite the increasing market for pesticide-free products, the use of pesticide in tea is still high. In order to investigate whether intercropping promotes biological control organisms, Chamaecrista rotundifolia (Pers.) Greene, Indigofera hendecaphylla Jacq., Trifolium repens L., and Vigna sinensis (L.) were separately intercropped with free weeding as control in a tea plantation at Yangli, China. Arthropods were collected by taking sweep-net samples, and treatment effects on assemblages were investigated. The combined species richness of all arthropods and that of parasitoids was significantly increased in intercropped treatments while the species richness of herbivores and predators was only greater in C. rotundifolia and I. hendecaphylla intercropped treatments. Compared with control, the combined abundance of all arthropods, and that of herbivores was lower, while the abundance of parasitoids and its taxa was greater in all intercropped treatments. The abundance of predators and its taxa was greater only in tea plantations intercropped with C. rotundifolia or I. hendecaphylla. Of the herbivores, the abundance of Empoasca onukii Matsuda, Sternorrhyncha, Aleyrodidae, and Pentatomidae was greater in the areas intercropped with C. rotundifolia in comparison with the control, but the abundance of Thysanoptera and Geometridae caterpillars was lower. The recorded increase in the abundance of beneficial arthropods may explain the lower abundance of Thysanoptera or Geometridae caterpillars detected in the intercropped tea plantations. Our results indicate that intercropping has the potential to enhance arthropod biodiversity, and to provide an option for sustainable pest control in tea plantations.

scholarly journals Factors influencing the appearance of spider (Araneae) and beetle (Coleoptera) assemblages in nests of great reed warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus

Biologia ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 69 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Mérő ◽  
Maja Janjatović ◽  
Roland Horváth ◽  
Katarina Mrkobrad ◽  
Antun Žuljević
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Great Reed Warbler ◽  
Acrocephalus Arundinaceus ◽  
Reed Warbler ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Beetle Assemblages ◽  
Potential Factors ◽  
Spider Abundance ◽  
Species Richness And Abundance

AbstractThe appearance of spider (Araneae) and beetle (Coleoptera) assemblages found in nests of great reed warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus was studied, firstly to investigate breeding success and the amount of precipitation as potential factors which might affect the abundance and species richness of both groups. In addition, we compared the diversity of spider and beetle assemblages between nests found in different reed habitats, and considered the position of nests (above water or dry ground). In this study we selected five different randomly chosen reed habitats: two mining ponds, two small canals and one large canal. Great Reed Warbler nests were collected either shortly after fledging, or after the clutch had failed. Altogether, 12 species of spider and 19 species of beetle were collected. In both groups there was no significant difference in abundance between successful, lost and cuckoo-parasitized nests; however, there was a significant difference in species richness between the three nest categories in spider assemblages, which was not the case in beetle assemblages. The amount of precipitation did not affect beetle or spider abundance; only the species richness of spiders showed significant growth. Furthermore, we found no significant relationship between vegetation cover and the species richness and abundance of spiders and beetles. The diversity of both groups differed significantly according to reed habitat: beetle assemblages were most diverse by the large canal and spiders at the mining ponds.

scholarly journals Effects of cover crops on beetle assemblages in tea plantations

2021 ◽  
pp. 105783
Author(s):  
Li-Lin Chen ◽  
Gabor Pozsgai ◽  
Xiang-Yu Li ◽  
Lei Li ◽  
Gadi V.P. Reddy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Tea Plantations ◽  
Beetle Assemblages

scholarly journals Evaluation of Winter-killed Cover Crops Preceding Snap Pea

2004 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 349-355 ◽  
Author(s):  
Orion P. Grimmer ◽  
John B. Masiunas
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Spring Barley ◽  
Chenopodium Album ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
White Mustard ◽  
Bare Ground ◽  
Ground Treatment ◽  
Herbicide Use

Winter-killed cover crops may protect the soil surface from erosion and reduce herbicide use in an early planted crop such as pea (Pisum sativum). Our objective was to determine the potential of winter-killed cover crops in a snap pea production system. White mustard (Brassica hirta) produced the most residue in the fall but retained only 37% of that residue into the spring. Barley (Hordeum vulgare) and oats (Avena sativa) produced less fall residue but had more residue and ground cover in the spring. Greater ground cover in the spring facilitated higher soil moisture, contributing to higher weed numbers and weight and lower pea yields for oat and barley compared with a bare ground treatment. White mustard had weed populations and pea yields similar to the bare ground treatment. Within the weed-free subplot, no differences in pea yields existed among cover crop treatments, indicating no direct interference with pea growth by the residues. In greenhouse experiments, field-grown oat and barley residue suppressed greater than 50% of the germination of common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album) and shepherd's-purse (Capsella bursapastoris), while in the field none of the cover crop provided better weed control than the fallow.

scholarly journals Effect of Weed Management on the Parasitoid Community in Mediterranean Vineyards

Biology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 7
Author(s):  
Gabriella Möller ◽  
Tamar Keasar ◽  
Idan Shapira ◽  
Daniella Möller ◽  
Marco Ferrante ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Weed Management ◽  
Soil Conservation ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Parasitoid Species ◽  
Parasitoid Community ◽  
Growing Seasons ◽  
Conservation Biocontrol ◽  
Suction Sampling

Enriching agroecosystems with non-crop vegetation is a popular strategy for conservation biocontrol. In vineyards, the effects of specific seeded or planted cover crops on natural enemies are well-studied, whereas conserving spontaneously developing weeds received less attention. We compared parasitoid communities between matched pairs of vineyard plots in northern Israel, differing in weed management practices: “herbicide”, repeated herbicide applications vs. “ground cover”, maintaining resident weeds and trimming them when needed. Using suction sampling, we assessed the parasitoids’ abundance, richness, and composition during three grape-growing seasons. Ground cover plots had greater parasitoid abundances and cumulative species richness than herbicide-treated plots, possibly because of their higher vegetation cover and richness. Dominant parasitoid species varied in their magnitude and direction of response to weed management. Their responses seem to combine tracking of host distributions with attraction to additional vegetation-provided resources. Parasitoid community composition was mildly yet significantly influenced by weed management, while season, year, and habitat (weeds vs. vine) had stronger effects. Vineyard weeds thus support local biocontrol agents and provide additional previously demonstrated benefits (e.g., soil conservation, lower agrochemical exposure) but might also attract some crop pests. When the benefits outweigh this risk, weed conservation seems a promising step towards more sustainable agricultural management.

scholarly journals Salinity and freshwater discharge determine rotifer distribution at the Mossoró River Estuary (Semiarid Region of Brazil)

2010 ◽  
Vol 70 (3) ◽  
pp. 551-557 ◽  
Author(s):  
AMA. Medeiros ◽  
JEL. Barbosa ◽  
PR. Medeiros ◽  
RM. Rocha ◽  
LF. Silva
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Rainy Season ◽  
Salinity Gradient ◽  
River Estuary ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Freshwater Discharge ◽  
The Other ◽  
Semiarid Region ◽  
Inverse Estuary ◽  
Species Richness And Abundance

The present study aimed at evaluating differences in rotifer distribution in three estuarine zones in an inverse estuary located in the Semiarid Region of Brazil. Zones were chosen based on their proximity to the ocean and river border as a means of reflecting a horizontal salinity gradient. High freshwater discharge during the rainy season was the major determinant of rotifer composition. On the other hand, due to higher salinity values during the dry season, very low values of species richness and abundance were observed in all zones. Therefore, the study highlights the constraints of salinity and the positive influence of seasonality and river proximity on rotifer species in a semiarid estuarine environment.

Relationships between cover performance and date of fall-seeding where winter rye was broadcast into a standing potato crop

1992 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 269-274
Author(s):  
Linnell M. Edwards ◽  
John M. Sadler
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Potato Crop ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Dry Mass ◽  
Winter Survival ◽  
Winter Rye ◽  
Winter Ground ◽  
Post Harvest

Winter rye was broadcast into a potato crop just after topkilling with the object of avoiding post-harvest delays in establishing a winter ground cover. Rye treatments were interseeded (i) at intervals of 1 d for up to 10 d before potato digging, without post-harvest tillage and (ii) just after digging and preparatory seedbed tillage as a comparative standard. Generally, cover performance of rye, measured as plant count, tiller count or dry mass of plants showed significant (P < 0.05) increase with decreasing days to potato digging up to 3 or 4 d before digging. There was no sacrifice of rye cover using this inter-seeding approach compared with traditional post-(potato) harvest seeding in a prepared seedbed. Seeding 3–4 d before potato harvest is recommended on the basis of superior fall plant count, spring tiller count and shoot dry mass, and winter survival indices on either of these days.Key words: Cover crops, winter rye, winter survival, companion cropping

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