The impact of cover crops on the predatory mite Anystis baccarum (Acari, Anystidae) and the leafhopper pest Empoasca onukii (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae) in a tea plantation

2019 ◽  
Vol 75 (12) ◽  
pp. 3371-3380 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li‐Lin Chen ◽  
Pei Yuan ◽  
Gabor Pozsgai ◽  
Ping Chen ◽  
Huaiping Zhu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Predatory Mite ◽  
Tea Plantation ◽  
Anystis Baccarum ◽  
The Impact

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.

Pesticide regulation in the European Union and the glyphosate controversy

Weed Science ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 214-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Per Kudsk ◽  
Solvejg Kopp Mathiassen
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Conservation Agriculture ◽  
Farm Income ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Public Attention ◽  
Pesticide Regulation ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Eu

AbstractThe glyphosate controversy before the renewal of the authorization of glyphosate in the European Union (EU) once again turned the spotlight on pesticide regulation in the EU. In the EU, pesticides are attracting more public attention than in other parts of the world, and many nongovernmental organizations specifically target pesticide regulation, trying to influence politicians and other decision makers. Following an overview of the EU pesticide legislation and the impact hitherto on EU agriculture, this paper outlines the glyphosate controversy and presents the outcome of desk studies conducted in Germany, the United Kingdom, France, and Sweden on the potential effects of a glyphosate ban on agricultural productivity and farm income. All studies concluded that the loss of income depends very much on farm type and cropping practice, but they all reached the conclusion that particularly no-tillage farming/conservation agriculture will be facing severe problems without glyphosate to control weeds and terminate cover crops. No-tillage/conservation agriculture is viewed as an effective strategy to prevent soil erosion and loss of nutrients, which could become larger problems without glyphosate. Other issues highlighted in the studies were the impact on resistance management, as glyphosate is largely seen as a “herbicide-resistance breaker.” Without glyphosate, fundamental changes in farming practices in the EU are required, and it is hard to imagine that they will come without a cost, at least in the short term.

scholarly journals The Perceived Benefits, Challenges, and Environmental Effects of Cover Crop Implementation in South Carolina

Agriculture ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 372
Author(s):  
Lucas Clay ◽  
Katharine Perkins ◽  
Marzieh Motallebi ◽  
Alejandro Plastina ◽  
Bhupinder Singh Farmaha
Keyword(s):  
South Carolina ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Management Practice ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Education Level ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Best Management ◽  
Row Crop ◽  
The Impact

Cover crops are becoming more accepted as a viable best management practice because of their ability to provide important environmental and soil health benefits. Because of these benefits, many land managers are strongly encouraging the use of cover crops. Additionally, there is limited information on farmers′ perceptions of the benefits and challenges of implementing cover crops. Many farmers state that they do not have enough money or time to implement cover crops. In an attempt to gather more data about the adoption rate and perceptions of cover crops in South Carolina, a survey was sent to 3000 row crop farmers across the state. Farmers were asked whether they implement cover crops and their perceptions of the benefits and challenges associated with implementation. Furthermore, questions were asked regarding the impact of row cropping on their environment to gauge farmer′s education level on environmental impacts. Responses showed many people are implementing cover crops; however, there are still differences in perceptions about benefits and challenges between those who are adopting cover crops and those who are not. This research assesses these differences and aims to provide a baseline for focusing cover crop programs to tackle these certain challenges and promote the benefits.

A review of economic considerations for cover crops as a conservation practice

2017 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 62-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason S. Bergtold ◽  
Steven Ramsey ◽  
Lucas Maddy ◽  
Jeffery R. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Production Risk ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Conservation Practice ◽  
Farm Business ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Economic Considerations

AbstractOver the past few decades, farmers have increasingly integrated cover crops into their cropping systems. Cover-crop benefits can help a farmer to achieve sustainability or reduce negative environmental externalities, such as soil erosion or chemical runoff. However, the impact on farm economics will likely be the strongest incentive to adopt cover crops. These impacts can include farm profits, cash crop yields or both. This paper provides a review of cover-crop adoption, production, risk and policy considerations from an economic perspective. These dimensions are examined through a review of cover-crop literature. This review was written to provide an overview of cover crops and their impacts on the farm business and the environment, especially with regard to economic considerations. Through increasing knowledge about cover crops, the intent here is to inform producers contemplating adoption and policy makers seeking to encourage adoption.

scholarly journals Spatial and temporal variability in Powell amaranth (Amaranthus powellii) emergence under strip tillage with cover crop residue

Weed Science ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 151-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin R. Haramoto ◽  
Daniel C. Brainard
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Crop Residue ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Planting Date ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Variability ◽  
Natural Rainfall ◽  
Strip Tillage ◽  
The Impact

The objectives of this research were to evaluate temporal and spatial variability in the impact of strip tillage and oat cover crop residue on Powell amaranth emergence and to determine the role of rainfall in mediating these effects. In field experiments conducted in 2010, 2011, and 2012, Powell amaranth seeds were sown in a fully factorial combination of two tillage types (strip tillage [ST] vs. full-width tillage [FWT]) and cover crop residue (oats vs. none) at either 0 d after tillage (DAT) or 7 to 13 DAT to monitor emergence at two timings. In ST plots, seeds were sown both in the tilled zone (“in-row,” IR), and between these tilled zones (“between-row,” BR). In 2011 and 2012, three levels of rainfall were simulated in subplots by either excluding rainfall, allowing natural rainfall, or supplementing rainfall with irrigation. In most cases, ST and oats residue either had no effect on or suppressed emergence of Powell amaranth sown at the early planting date. In contrast, the emergence response to ST and residue at the later planting date was generally smaller and more variable, with increases in emergence observed in several cases. Differences between tillage systems in emergence were most pronounced in the BR zone but also occurred IR in some cases, suggesting that interzonal effects on biotic or abiotic factors influenced emergence. Oat residue effects—but rarely tillage effects—were often mediated by simulated rainfall, with increases in emergence occurring mostly in dry conditions and decreases occurring more commonly in wetter conditions. These results demonstrate that the suppressive effects of cover crops and ST on weed emergence are inconsistent, temporally and spatially variable, and dependent on complex interactions with factors including rainfall.

Influence of Deep Tillage and a Rye Cover Crop on Glyphosate-Resistant Palmer Amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) Emergence in Cotton

2012 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 832-838 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin D. DeVore ◽  
Jason K. Norsworthy ◽  
Kristofor R. Brye
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Palmer Amaranth ◽  
Deep Tillage ◽  
Amaranth Seed ◽  
Soil Seedbank ◽  
Second Year ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Moldboard Plow

Glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth has become a major problem for cotton producers throughout much of the southern United States. With cotton producers relying heavily on glyphosate-resistant cotton, an alternative solution to controlling resistant Palmer amaranth is needed. A field experiment was conducted during 2009 and 2010 at Marianna, AR, in which a rye cover crop and no cover crop were tested in combination with deep tillage with the use of a moldboard plow and no tillage to determine the impact on Palmer amaranth emergence in cotton. To establish a baseline population, 500,000 glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth seeds were placed in a 2-m2area in the middle of each plot and incorporated into the soil, and emergence was evaluated five times during the season. In 2009, both tillage and the cover crop reduced Palmer amaranth emergence in cotton, but the combination of the two reduced emergence 85%. In the second year, only the cover crop reduced Palmer amaranth emergence in cotton, a 68% reduction. Cover crops and deep tillage will not eliminate glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth; however, use of these tools will likely reduce the risks of failures associated with residual herbicides along with selection pressure placed on both PRE- and POST-applied herbicides. Additional efforts should focus on the integration of the best cultural practices identified in this research with use of residual herbicides and greater focus on limiting Palmer amaranth seed production and reducing the soil seedbank.

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