Obanyi, Janet, Nyaanga, Jane, Mulwa, Richard MS, Ogendo, Joshua, Bett, Philip K, Cheruiyot, Erick, Arnold, Sarah EJ, Belmain, Steven R. ORCID: 0000-0002-5590-7545 and Stevenson, Philip ORCID: 0000-0002-0736-3619 (2024) Flowering margins support natural enemies between cropping seasons. Frontiers in Agronomy, 6:1277062. pp. 1-13. ISSN 2673-3218 (Online) (doi:https://doi.org/10.3389/fagro.2024.1277062)

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Abstract

Here we investigated how agricultural landscapes support natural pest regulating insects between cropping seasons; an important
challenge in Pest Management by Small-Holder Farmers so aligns with this special issue. Smallholders in East Africa clear margins to provide fodder for cattle or livestock or simply to reduce the ingression of weeds into crop fields. We show that there was a significant seasonal variation in plant species richness and diversity around crops and the abundance of margin plants was strongly linked to abundance of natural enemies in the off season. The time since harvesting was also a significant factor influencing the overall abundance of natural enemies. Our paper reinforces our understanding of the importance flowering plants in agricultural systems as a refuge for natural enemies and other beneficial insects but uniquely emphasising the time between cropping seasons. Improving agricultural landscapes between crops to better support invertebrates will lead to more effective natural pest regulation early in the following crop with positive outcomes for the farmers and their families.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	natural enemies; field margins; off-season; smallholder farming systems; sustainable pest management
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences S Agriculture > S Agriculture (General) S Agriculture > SB Plant culture
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group:	Faculty of Engineering & Science Faculty of Engineering & Science > Natural Resources Institute Faculty of Engineering & Science > Natural Resources Institute > Agriculture, Health & Environment Department Faculty of Engineering & Science > Natural Resources Institute > Chemical Ecology Research Group
Related URLs:	Publisher
Last Modified:	22 Jan 2024 09:34
URI:	http://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/45237

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