Abstract

Integrated pest management is a pest control approach within agriculture that relies on a holistic evaluation and implementation of multiple pest management strategies. Integrated pest management attempts to minimize the use of inorganic chemical pesticides to an economically and environmentally friendly level. Integrated pest management strategies are often tailored to large-scale farms, which leaves smaller niches such as small-scale urban farms understudied. This study focuses on the implementation of two integrated pest management strategies which are the use of the organic pesticide neem and the companion plant R. sativus. The two integrated pest management strategies are evaluated to see if they are effective in controlling populations of the pest species D. undecimpunctata in the crop species C. pepo. It is also evaluated whether the two strategies provide an economic benefit when being used at a small-scale farm in Akron, Ohio. Populations of D. undecimpunctata were measured using sweep nets in a plot of C. pepo where the two integrated pest management strategies were implemented. The economic benefits of the two integrated pest management strategies were evaluated using the economic injury level equation. It was found that the organic pesticide neem was effective in deterring populations of D. undecimpunctata (P=0.0073275) with the use of R. sativus being ineffective (P>0.05). Neither the use of the organic pesticide neem or the use of R. sativus gave an economic benefit to farmers in comparison to the control (P>0.05). This shows that there are new integrated pest management strategies that can be implemented in small-scale urban farms as it was not previously known that D. undecimpunctata populations could be deterred using the organic pesticide neem.

Advisor

Moreno, Carlo

Department

Environmental Studies

Publication Date

2023

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis

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© Copyright 2023 Owen C. Barnard