Does intercropping encourage increase in population of natural enemies in corn field?

Issue Date

10-2008

Abstract

The study was conducted to determine whether change in microclimatic variables through intercropping, can influence natural enemies' presence and abundance in the agroecosystem. The results showed that a significant level of light intensity prevailed from 0700h to 1500h outside the plant canopy. With intercropping, this climatic variable is significantly increased, creating a favorable environment for survival of crops and beneficial insects within the area. The natural enemies found in the intercrop plots were significantly more abundant than those in the monocrop. Intercropping and refugia have similar subtle effects on the microclimate, favoring the increase in number of some beneficial species, particularly the parasitic flies and predatory beetles. The low number of beneficial species under a monocrop can probably be increased with refugia around the field boundaries. However; this will require further evaluation.

Source or Periodical Title

Philippine Entomologist

ISSN

0048-3753

Volume

22

Issue

2

Page

202

Document Type

Article

Frequency

semi-annually

Language

English

En – AGROVOC descriptors

ZEA MAYS; INTERCROPPING; NATURAL ENEMIES; MICROCLIMATE; POPULATION

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS