Intercropping of some Aromatic Plants with Sugar Beet, its Effects on the Tortoise Beetle Cassida vittata Vill. Infestation, Appearance Predators and Sugar Beet Yield

Abstract

These studies were carried out at the Experimental Farm at the Sakha Agriculture Research Station, Kafr El-Sheikh Region and Egypt during the two successive growing seasons; 2017/18 and 2018/19 to investigate the role of intercropping of Sugar Beet with four aromatic plants on the infestation with Cassida. vittata (vill.), the appearance predators and sugar beet yield. The four aromatic plants were Fennel, Dill, Coriander and Marjoram. Results showed that intercropping pattern reduced the infestation percentage with C. vittata (all stages), especially in case of Coriander with Sugar beet. Results showed that intercropping pattern with sugar beet increased the appearance numbers of predators especially in case of Fennel+ sugar beet. Results exhibited that dill intercropping with Sugar beet was highest attractive for Coccinella sp.. Intercropping between Fennel and Sugar beet was highest attractive to Chrysoperla carnea Stephens, as so coriander plants intercropping with sugar beet plants was more attractive to Paederus alfierii Koch. Results indicated that Marjoram intercropping with sugar beet was highest attractive for Scymnus spp.. The highest abundance of true spiders was found on sugar beet plants intercropped with Fennel, followed by sugar beet with Marjoram. The highest sugar beet yield was obtained when sugar beet was intercropped with Fennel, followed by coriander.

Intercropping Perennial Fruit Trees and Annual Field Crops with Aromatic and Medicinal Plants (MAPs) in the Mediterranean Basin

“…In contrast, significantly increased sugar beet yield and quality (sugar percentage), associated with significantly reduced tortoise beetle infestations, were evident in sugar beet intercropped with fennel, followed by dill, coriander and marjoram [84]. Fennel and dill intercropped with sugar beet were also shown to be the most effective MAPs against cotton leafworm and the sugar beet fly [85]. Interestingly, fennel, dill, coriander and marjoram showed distinctive capacities in attracting different predator populations [85], evidencing the need for more field studies on interactions between MAPs and insect predators.…”

“…Although sugar beet yield was significantly lower with garlic intercropping, the gross income from the combined crops was higher at intercrop planting distances of 25 cm and 50 cm. In contrast, significantly increased sugar beet yield and quality (sugar percentage), associated with significantly reduced tortoise beetle infestations, were evident in sugar beet intercropped with fennel, followed by dill, coriander and marjoram [84]. Fennel and dill intercropped with sugar beet were also shown to be the most effective MAPs against cotton leafworm and the sugar beet fly [85].…”

“…Research on sugar beet (three articles) and the most widespread profitable non-food crop, cotton (one article), were primarily centered on insect pest bio-control and improved LUE (Table 4). Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) is subject to numerous insect pests, and the three published papers in Egypt addressed the effects of intercropping with MAPs on selective pest populations and their respective natural predators [83][84][85]. Garlic was shown to significantly reduce larvae of the tortoise beetle (Cassida vittata Vill), beet moth (Scrobipalpa ocellatella Boyd) and the Egyptian cotton leafworm (Spodoptera littoralis Boisduval) over two seasons [83].…”

“…Fennel and dill intercropped with sugar beet were also shown to be the most effective MAPs against cotton leafworm and the sugar beet fly [85]. Interestingly, fennel, dill, coriander and marjoram showed distinctive capacities in attracting different predator populations [85], evidencing the need for more field studies on interactions between MAPs and insect predators. In cotton (Gossypium barbadense L.), sweet basil was used as an intercrop in three different intercropping regimes (absent, low and high basil area fraction) and two row distances (60 and 90 cm).…”