Effect of Cosmos, Crotalaria, Foeniculum, and Canavalia species, single-cropped or mixes, on the community of predatory arthropods

Abstract

Some plants can attract natural enemy by offering resources such as alternative food and refuge. However, studies need to be conducted before agricultural landscape diversification is implement. Our objective was to determine the best floristic compositions of cosmos (Cosmos sulphureus—Asteraceae), showy rattlepod (Crotalaria spectabilis—Fabaceae), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare—Apiaceae), and jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis—Fabaceae) to attract and maintain predatory arthropods, and know the potential of these treatments for future use in diversifying agricultural systems. The experimental design consisted in seven treatments of four species in single-crop, intercrops in three densities called mix1, mix2, and mix3, and the control (weeds). For the arthropod families classified as very frequent and constant, population dynamics in intercropping treatments was plotted according to the plant phenology. We conclude that all plants cultivated in single-cropping and intercropping treatments showed high predator richness and can potentially be used to diversify cultivated areas. Sulfur cosmos as a single crop and three mixes attracts higher numbers and greater family richness. Spider families—Oxyopidae, Araneidae and Thomisidae—and insects—Chrysopidae and Coccinellidae are more frequents. The dynamics of the predator populations varied according to the mixes treatment.

Stand age and soil organic matter management as driven factors of soil biota community composition and soil chemical properties in a subtropical Acrisol

“…Conversely, the highest abundance of Araneidae (predators), Staphylinidae (litter transformers), and Termitidae (ecosystem engineers) was observed in the soil ecosystem without any organic residue inputs (control treatment). It is important to consider the prey–predator relationships among these families (Staphylinidae‐Araneidae and Termitidae‐Araneidae) as standard relationships (Barros et al., 2022), given that the organic matter content does not increase as rapidly as in systems managed with organic residues like mulching and compost. In our study, the input of organic residues determined the abundance of specific functional groups (habitat‐dependent vs. resource‐dependent), as well as the dynamics of prey–predator relationships and feedback interactions among soil, P. pyrifolia stands, soil organisms, and their environment (Maillard et al., 2023; Rodriguez‐Ramos et al., 2022).…”

Crotolaria juncea L., A NEW LEGUME CROP FOR CULTIVATION IN RUSSIA: CHARACTERIZATION AND PROSPECTS (review)

“…В Европу вид был завезен в 1791 году и продемонстрировал широкий потенциал для возделывания в качестве покровной и лубяной культуры (6,17). В настоящее время запущен проект BECOOL (https://www.becoolproject.eu/) для оценки потенциала выращивания нетрадиационных лигноцеллюлозных культур в диверсифицированных севооборотах на территории Европы (18,19).…”

“…Crotalaria has been shown to produce sufficient dry matter to cover and protect the soil from potential erosion, as well as providing nitrogen in amounts useful for subsequent harvests of crops in a diversified crop rotation (D. Scott et al, 2022, A.P. Barros et al, 2022). In the United States, the plant occupies one of the leading places in the list of intermediate cover crops.…”

Impact of Ecological Engineering on Zea mays Plantations to Biodiversity of Insect Pollinators

“…Another plant that supports the habitat of predators and parasitoids is Cosmos. Barros et al [17] found that Cosmos sulphureus was associated with Araneidae, Eutichuridae, Oxyopidae, and Thomisidae. Insect pollinators such as A. cerana, and A. mellifera have also been reported to visit the sulfur cosmos [17].…”