Articles
THE INFLUENCE OF DIFFERENT MULCHES ON STRAWBERRY YIELD AND BENEFICIAL ENTOMOFAUNA
Article number
567_154
Pages
701 – 704
Language
English
Abstract
The influence of different mulches (black plastic, bed carpet, wooden chips, straw, and unmulched control) and cultivars (Jonsok, Bounty and Senga Sengana) on strawberry yield and on the damages of berries by plant bugs (Lygus spp.) as well as seed beetles (Harpalus spp.) was studied in 1996-1999. The abundance of carabid beetles as natural control agents of pests was estimated with the pitfall trapping during one season in 1997 in all test variants.
The chemical treatment of the plots was avoided.
In the second year of cultivation (first yield) the average production of berries per plant in the variants of black plastic and bed carpet in all three cultivars was significantly higher (p<0.001) than that in the control variant.
The use of black plastic mulch caused the best result in Senga Sengana. The highest total yield over the period of 4 years was collected from the plots of Jonsok. The carabids constituted 91.4 % from fauna caught with pitfall traps.
The species of genera Harpalus, Pterostichus were dominating.
Large predators from genus Carabus (C. cancellatus and C. nemoralis) were also present.
Differences in the abundance of carabids (Harpalus spp., Pterostichus spp.) between unmulched control and some mulched variants were found.
The abundance of carabids was significantly higher in the variants of black plastic, bed carpet and wooden chips.
In comparison with unmulched control, the variant of black plastic had a significantly (p<0.05) higher percentage of berries damage by seed beetles (Harpalus pubescens) and a lower percentage of berries damaged by plant bugs.
The last is probably caused by higher predators the carabids occurrence rate.
The seed beetles preferred the berries of Jonsok but the damage of berries by Harpalus spp. was not remarkable in the mulched variants.
The black plastic and the bed carpet are recommended for mulching of strawberry plants because these materials promote strawberry yield and beneficial insects in strawberry beds.
The chemical treatment of the plots was avoided.
In the second year of cultivation (first yield) the average production of berries per plant in the variants of black plastic and bed carpet in all three cultivars was significantly higher (p<0.001) than that in the control variant.
The use of black plastic mulch caused the best result in Senga Sengana. The highest total yield over the period of 4 years was collected from the plots of Jonsok. The carabids constituted 91.4 % from fauna caught with pitfall traps.
The species of genera Harpalus, Pterostichus were dominating.
Large predators from genus Carabus (C. cancellatus and C. nemoralis) were also present.
Differences in the abundance of carabids (Harpalus spp., Pterostichus spp.) between unmulched control and some mulched variants were found.
The abundance of carabids was significantly higher in the variants of black plastic, bed carpet and wooden chips.
In comparison with unmulched control, the variant of black plastic had a significantly (p<0.05) higher percentage of berries damage by seed beetles (Harpalus pubescens) and a lower percentage of berries damaged by plant bugs.
The last is probably caused by higher predators the carabids occurrence rate.
The seed beetles preferred the berries of Jonsok but the damage of berries by Harpalus spp. was not remarkable in the mulched variants.
The black plastic and the bed carpet are recommended for mulching of strawberry plants because these materials promote strawberry yield and beneficial insects in strawberry beds.
Publication
Authors
A. Kikas, A. Luik
Keywords
strawberry, mulch, yield, plant bug, seed beetle, carabids
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