Intercropping Cabbage with Clover: Effects on Ground Beetles
Year: 1997
Type: article
Abstract: Intercropping is used to reduce pests and diseases by decreasing their establishment or performance on the crop, and by enhancing antagonist activity. The effect of intercropping cabbage with white and subterranean clover on epigeic predator activity-density was studied in two successive years in the Netherlands. The presence of clover as an intercrop resulted in significantly higher predator activity-densities and diversity, especially early during the growing season. Several carabid species, in particular Pterostichus melanarius, Agonum dorsale, and Amara similata, were affected, whereas in the staphylinids, Philonthus spp. showed a strong preference for intercropped plots. The contribution of these predators and their larvae to pest suppression and the effect of scale in determining the final result of intercropping is discussed.
Authors: C. J.H. Booij, J. Noorlander, J. Theunissen
Language: English
Subfield: Insect Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDGs: Zero hunger, Life on land
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2104048724