Organic farming supports lower pest infestation, but fewer natural enemies than flower strips

Török, Edina; Zieger, Sinja; Rosenthal, Jacob; Földesi, Rita; Gallé, Róbert; Tscharntke, Teja; Batáry, Péter

doi:10.1111/1365-2664.13946

Cited by 14 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 64 publications

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“…Hence, organically fertilized plants can be the worst host of herbivores, and this might be the cause of lower pest infestation in organic cotton. Many previous studies also reported lower herbivore infestations in organically managed systems as compared to synthetically fertilized systems (Arancon et al, 2005;Birkhofer, Bezemer, et al, 2008;Török et al, 2021). Additionally, manure application augments microbial activity in association with organic matter and provides a buffering capability to maintain nutrients and minerals balance in plants (mineral balance hypothesis), can improve nutrient retention and uptake by plants, which in turn can support the plant growth, vigour and affect the performance of herbivores Phelan et al, 1996).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Organic fertility management in cotton Gossypium hirsutum L. fosters arthropod biodiversity and complements pest suppression

Shahid,

Farooq,

Razaq

et al. 2023

J Applied Entomology

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Research on economic, ecological and relative benefits from organic and conventional farming systems has gained significant importance. Organic farming increases species diversity, enhances biological control services, and thus complements sustainable pest management. However, published literature is scarce on cotton crops grown organically with respect to the abundance and diversity of biological control agents and their effects on herbivore populations, typically from developing nations. To address the question, the non‐transgenic cotton variety CIM‐573 was cultivated under two fertility management systems, that is, organic and conventional in 2019 and 2021, and subsequently, differences in the abundance and diversity of arthropod communities were carried out. We applied cattle manure in organic fields 1 month before planting; however, synthetic fertilizers were used in conventional fields. We sampled arthropods weekly after 7 weeks of sowing from the middle rows of treatments for both types of fields. We recorded 10 herbivores as well as eight natural enemy species. Herbivores were more abundant in conventional cotton. However, natural enemies were higher in organic cotton fields. Principal component analysis of herbivores assemblages depicted that Shannon diversity and abundance were positively correlated in the conventional cotton while Menhinick richness and Simpson dominance index were higher in organic cotton. Likewise, natural enemies' abundance, Shannon diversity, Menhinick richness and Simpson dominance were typically more concentrated in organic cultivated cotton. Regression analysis confirmed that the abundance and diversity of natural enemies played a significant role in lowering herbivores populations. Seed cotton yield was significantly higher in conventional cotton and the yield difference between organic and conventional cotton was 27.98%. Our study clearly demonstrates that organic cotton provides more functional and complementary niches to natural enemies and plays a crucial role in pest suppression. Implications of our results for future pest management with respect to ecosystem services in organically grown cotton crops are also discussed.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Organic fertility management in cotton Gossypium hirsutum L. fosters arthropod biodiversity and complements pest suppression

Shahid,

Farooq,

Razaq

et al. 2023

J Applied Entomology

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“…Predators such as syrphids and lacewings consume flower resources (nectar and pollen) as adults, whereas many other species display facultative consumption of these resources, relying on these as alternative food sources (Lundgren, 2009). Therefore, many studies reported that increasing flowering plants resulted in lower crop damage levels by herbivore arthropods via predator enhancement (Bischoff et al, 2016; Pollier et al, 2018; Török et al, 2021; Zytynska et al, 2021). Many parasitoids also feed on flowers as adults, and although our analysis did not show a significant link between this guild and any vegetation trait, all variables showed a positive trend.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Agroecological transition increases arthropod diversity and decreases herbivore abundance on field margins

Roig

González

Videla

2023

Agri and Forest Entomology

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1. In peri-urban areas, many farmers are transitioning from conventional agriculture to agroecological practices to reduce pesticide input and preserving ecosystem services such as natural pest control. Field margins represent a stable habitat for arthropods, but community structure depends on many factors, including management type and vegetation features.2. We studied the effects of agroecological transitions and vegetation features on arthropods of horticultural field margins, focusing on three feeding guilds (herbivores, predators and parasitoids). We sampled arthropods using the beat-sheet method in five conventional fields and five under agroecological transition. We also measured vegetation height, richness, flower abundance and plant cover.3. Our results showed that arthropod diversity was higher in agroecological fields

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“…However, not all neighboring plants are useful, since certain species enhance the presence of cereal aphids. For instance, flower strips in-between fields increased the abundance of cereal aphids [244]. However, wildflower strips enhanced aphid parasitism and predation [245].…”

Section: Effect Of Agricultural Practices and Environmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cereal Aphid Parasitoids in Europe (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae): Taxonomy, Biodiversity, and Ecology

Tomanović

Kavallieratos

et al. 2022

Insects

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Cereals are very common and widespread crops in Europe. Aphids are a diverse group of herbivorous pests on cereals and one of the most important limiting factors of cereal production. Here, we present an overview of knowledge about the taxonomy, biodiversity, and ecology of cereal aphid parasitoids in Europe, an important group of natural enemies contributing to cereal aphid control. We review the knowledge obtained from the integrative taxonomy of 26 cereal aphid primary parasitoid species, including two allochthonous species (Lysiphlebus testaceipes and Trioxys sunnysidensis) and two recently described species (Lipolexis labialis and Paralipsis brachycaudi). We further review 28 hyperparasitoid species belonging to three hymenopteran superfamilies and four families (Ceraphronoidea: Megaspillidae; Chalcidoidea: Pteromalidae, Encyrtidae; Cynipoidea: Figitidae). We also compile knowledge on the presence of secondary endosymbionts in cereal aphids, as these are expected to influence the community composition and biocontrol efficiency of cereal aphid parasitoids. To study aphid–parasitoid–hyperparasitoid food webs more effectively, we present two kinds of DNA-based approach: (i) diagnostic PCR (mainly multiplex PCR), and (ii) DNA sequence-based methods. Finally, we also review the effects of landscape complexity on the different trophic levels in the food webs of cereal aphids and their associated parasitoids, as well as the impacts of agricultural practices and environmental variation.

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Organic farming supports lower pest infestation, but fewer natural enemies than flower strips

Abstract: This article has been accepted for publication and undergone full peer review but has not been through the copyediting, typesetting, pagination and proofreading process, which may lead to differences between this version and the Version of Record. Please cite this article as

Cited by 14 publications

References 64 publications

Organic fertility management in cotton Gossypium hirsutum L. fosters arthropod biodiversity and complements pest suppression

Organic fertility management in cotton Gossypium hirsutum L. fosters arthropod biodiversity and complements pest suppression

Agroecological transition increases arthropod diversity and decreases herbivore abundance on field margins

Cereal Aphid Parasitoids in Europe (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae): Taxonomy, Biodiversity, and Ecology

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