This is a new presentation on trap cropping developed by Dr. Rammohan Balusu of Auburn University, Alabama. Please contact a Regional Extension Agent for more information.
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Trap cropping in vegetables 2012
1. TRAP CROPPING FOR VEGETABLE
INSECT PEST MANAGEMENT
Rao Balusu1
Ayanava Majumdar2
Henry Fadamiro1
1Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology
Auburn University, Tel: (334) 844-1457, balusrr@auburn.edu
2GulfCoast Research & Ext. Center
8300 State Hwy 104, Fairhope AL 36532
1
6. Importance of Trap Cropping
Heavy use of insecticides (28 chemistries)
Use of insecticides resulted in
Insecticide resistance
Non-target effects (environment, natural enemies)
Need to look at alternative pest management tactics
Trap cropping is one of those valuable pest
management techniques
7. What is Trap Cropping?
Trap cropping is the planting of an attractive
host plant to lure insect pests away from main
crop.
Trap crop may or may not be harvestable.
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8. Major Principle of Trap Cropping
Insects have differential host preference
Insects may feed and reproduce on preferred host
9. Major Principle of Trap Cropping
Main crop and trap crop are same species
(used for squash production)
Main crop and trap crop are different
species (commonly used)
10. Key Factors to Consider
Different insects attracted to different trap crops:
If trap crop is not sufficiently attractive to the pest
then it will not work
Lay out of the trap crop:
For some insects it is sufficient to plant the trap
crop around the border of main crop- Perimeter Trap
Cropping
Others are harder to stop and may need to
interplant trap crop to draw them off the main crop
11. Key Factors to Consider
Timing:
Important to have well established trap crop at right
stage at the time of insect invasion
Scouting:
Control the pests immediately in the trap crop
Be ready to sacrifice your trap crop
Keep farm records
Keep learning and use what you learn in next season
Don’t expect trap crop to provide perfect control with
extreme pest populations
12. Trap cropping layout
Perimeter Trap Cropping (PTC)
Trap crop (squash) • Trap crop = early planted
squash, apply insecticide on
borders
• Squash lured 66% cucumber
Main crop
beetles and 90% squash bugs
(watermelon, canta
loupe, cucumber) • Crop losses reduced by 18%
Boucher & Durgy (2004)
14. University of CA Research
Successes:
• >50% reduction of lygus bugs (vacuum + wasp
parasite)
• 75% saving on tractor time with trap crop
Sean Swezey et al., 2007 (CA Agriculture)
15. Managing Yellow margined leaf beetle
(YMLB) Population with Trap crop
YMLB is a serious pest of cruciferous crops
• Cabbage
• Turnips
• Mustard
• Radish etc.
Migrates into vegetable field in early October
Damage: October – May
17. Damage
Both adults and larvae feed on foliage by first making
small holes; later serious defoliation
Defoliation of larvae on turnip Mass attack of adults on napa cabbage
18. Field Trials-Managing YMLB with Trap crop
Spring 2011
Trap crop: Turnip and Napa cabbage
Main crop: Cabbage
Location: E. V. Smith Research Center, Shorter, AL
Trap crop: planted 2
weeks in advance
5 ft
20. Field Trials-Managing YMLB with Trap crop
Spring 2011
6
Mean ( SE) beetles/ plant
Control
5
Cabbage (main crop)
4
Turnip (trap crop)
3
2
1
0
April 15, 2011 April 25, 2011
26. Results:Aphid infestations on okra trap crop
vs. tomato main crop, Fairhope.
Observation date OKRA Trap Crop TOMATO Main Crop
Aphids per sample* Aphid incidence** Aphid incidence**
May 23 0 0 1%
May 31 0 0 1%
June 7 0.6 30% 0
June 14 0.9 20% 0
June 20 6.7 30% 0
June 27 0.4 7% 0
July 5 7.9 35% (neem) 0
July 11 3.1 21% (malathion) 0
July 18 5.4 7% 0
Average 0.9 16% <1%
*Average aphid numbers on 10 top leaves.
**Aphid incidence is the percentage of top 10 leaves with at least one aphid on it.
Major findings:
OKRA very attractive to aphids
Neem oil (Molt-X) and synthetic insecticides can be rotated
27. Advantages of trap cropping
Reduces pest incidence to manageable levels
Reduces overuse of insecticides
Save $$
Conserves or attracts natural enemies
Allows small startup without investing in large
equipment
May pay for itself if trap crop is harvestable
Can be integrated with insect monitoring
systems, insecticides
28. Disadvantages of trap cropping
Growers need knowledge of insect
behavior & migration
Need for additional planning and
resources
Insecticide may still be needed
Timely management of insects in trap
crop: otherwise you have a “pest nursery”
TC work best one or few related pest BUT
NOT ALL PESTS!!
29. If you use trap cropping then…
Choose trap crops that have rapid
growth…
Plant trap crop on good land…
Proportion of land in traps ~10-20%…
Plant many rows of trap
crop, staggered…
Notas do Editor
The traditional way of managing these insect pests is use of broad spectrum, highly toxic insecticides
Which trap crop you choose depends on the pests you trying trap.