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Impact of living mulch on arthropod fauna: analysis of pest and beneficial dynamics on organic cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis) in different European scenarios

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 June 2016

L. Depalo ,
G. Burgio ,
P. von Fragstein ,
H.L. Kristensen ,
M. Bavec ,
M. Robačer ,
G. Campanelli  and
S. Canali
L. Depalo*
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Area Entomologia, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
G. Burgio
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Area Entomologia, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
P. von Fragstein
Affiliation:
Peter von Fragstein – University of Kassel, D-37213 Witzenhausen, Germany.
H.L. Kristensen
Affiliation:
Department of Food Science, Aarhus University, Kirstinebjergvej 10, DK-5792 Aarslev, Denmark.
M. Bavec
Affiliation:
Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Maribor, Hoče, Slovenia.
M. Robačer
Affiliation:
Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Maribor, Hoče, Slovenia.
G. Campanelli
Affiliation:
Consiglio per la Ricerca e la Sperimentazione in Agricoltura–Unità di Ricerca per l'Orticoltura (CREA-ORA), Monsampolo del Tronto (AP), Italy.
S. Canali
Affiliation:
Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l'analisi dell'economia agraria. Centro per lo studio delle Relazioni tra Pianta e Suolo (CREA-RPS), Via della Navicella, 2–00184, Roma (RM), Italy.
*
*Corresponding author: laura.depalo@unibo.it
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Abstract

The effect of a ‘cover crop–vegetable cash crop’ intercropping system on arthropod dynamics and biodiversity, was investigated in four different European countries (Italy, Denmark, Germany, and Slovenia), by means of two-seasonal experiments. The soil arthropod fauna was used to compare the ecosystem services of living mulched systems with sole crop ones. The living mulch (LM) technique did not affect the infestation of cabbage caterpillar Pieris spp., showing no detrimental effect of this technique on this key pest of cabbage. In Denmark, aphid populations were higher in the sole crop system than in the LM system. In Italy, a very high level of larval parasitization was detected and in 1 year the percentage of parasitization was higher in LM (88%) than in sole crop (63%). Overall, the LM positively affected the activity density of Carabid beetles, also increasing diversity and evenness of species (Italy and Slovenia) or activity density of some taxa (Slovenia and Denmark). Our results indicate a general positive influence of LM techniques on arthropods in plant/soil systems, as shown by a high level of soil biodiversity and a general lack of negative effects on the density of canopy pests.

Keywords

Pieris spp. infestationAphidsecosystem servicesparasitizationsoil bioindicatorsCarabidae (Coleoptera)Staphylinidae (Coleoptera)
Type
Themed Content: Living Mulch
Information
Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems , Volume 32 , Special Issue 3: Living Mulch , June 2017 , pp. 240 - 247
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Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2016 

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