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The impact of tillage regime and row cover use on insect pests and yield in organic cucurbit production

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 October 2017

Amanda Skidmore ,
Neil Wilson ,
Mark Williams  and
Ricardo Bessin
Amanda Skidmore*
Affiliation:
Department of Entomology, S-225 Ag. Sci. Center North, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40546-0091, USA
Neil Wilson
Affiliation:
Department of Horticulture, N-322 Ag. Sci. Center North, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40546-0091, USA
Mark Williams
Affiliation:
Department of Horticulture, N-322 Ag. Sci. Center North, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40546-0091, USA
Ricardo Bessin
Affiliation:
Department of Entomology, S-225 Ag. Sci. Center North, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40546-0091, USA
*
Author for correspondence: Amanda Skidmore, E-mail: amanda.skidmore@uky.edu
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Abstract

Control of cucurbit pests, such as striped cucumber beetle (Acalymma vittatum), spotted cucumber beetle (Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi) and squash bug (Anasa tristis), in organic systems is difficult due to a lack of effective insecticide options. This has led to the development of many integrated pest management techniques, such as use of row covers, crop rotation and cover crops. This study explored the novel use of strip tillage and row covers to reduce pest pressure in summer squash (Cucurbita pepe) and muskmelon (Cucumis melo) production systems. Results showed that although strip tillage reduced striped cucumber beetle and squash bug numbers, there was a yield reduction in both crops compared with the plasticulture system. Row cover increased marketable yield in both systems, with the highest yield being in the plasticulture system. Unmarketable fruit directly attributed to insect damage was higher in the plasticulture systems, but was not significantly different when compared with the strip tillage system. Although there are many documented positive attributes of strip tillage, results from this study indicate that a combination of plasticulture and row cover may be a superior system for organic cucurbit production.

Keywords

Organic agricultureintegrated pest management (IPM)summer squashmuskmelonspotted cucumber beetle (Acalymma vittatum)striped cucumber beetle (Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi)squash bug (Anasa tristis)
Type
Research Paper
Information
Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems , Volume 34 , Issue 4 , August 2019 , pp. 338 - 348
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2017 

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