Abstract

This study aimed to assess the impacts of intercropping on insect pests and natural enemies in mustard greens (Brassica juncea). It was hypothesized that increasing crop diversity by row-intercropping would lead to a decrease in pest diversity and abundance due to increases in natural enemy diversity and abundances, and ultimately reduce crop damage to mustard greens.. Mustard greens were grown in monoculture and intercropped with marigolds (Tagetes patula), or cilantro (Coriandrum sativum) to assess intercropping as an integrated pest management (IPM) strategy in the Campus Learning Garden at the College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio. Each treatment was replicated twice. Target pests included leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), flea beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), and aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae), while target natural enemies were syrphid flies (Diptera: Syrphidae), braconid and ichneumonid wasps (Hymenoptera: Braconidae, Ichneumonidae), ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae), and arachnids (Arachnida). Pests and natural enemies were sampled using pitfalls, sweep nets, and sticky traps. Crop damage to the mustard greens was assessed based on visible leaf damage (0 = less than 25% of the plant damaged to 3 = more than 75% of the plant damaged). Using analysis of variance (ANOVA), it was found that increasing crop diversity, regardless of intercrop species, increased pest diversity, increased aphid abundance, and decreased leafhopper abundance. Additionally, using analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that treatment had no significant effect on mustard green crop damage. Based on descriptive statistics, changes in crop diversity also influenced the diversity and relative abundance of natural enemies. These findings suggest that intercropping mustard greens with marigolds or cilantro can suppress certain pest species, such as leafhoppers, though this effect does not appear to be the result of increased natural enemy diversity or abundance. Finally, intercropping mustard greens with marigolds or cilantro had no significant effect on reducing mustard green crop damage.

Advisor

Moreno, Carlo

Department

Environmental Studies

Keywords

intercropping, integrated pest management (IPM), entomology, agriculture

Publication Date

2025

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis

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