The Effect of Cover Crops on the Biodiversity and Abundance of Ground-Dwelling Arthropods in a Mediterranean Pear Orchard
The intensification of agriculture has led to the reduction of the diversity of arthropods in agroecosystems, including that of ground-dwelling species. The aim of our work was to assess the effect of a sown cover crop on the diversity of ground-dwelling arthropods, including key predators for pest...
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MDPI AG
2020-04-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/10/4/580 |
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| author | Luis de Pedro Luis Gabriel Perera-Fernández Elena López-Gallego María Pérez-Marcos Juan Antonio Sanchez |
| author_facet | Luis de Pedro Luis Gabriel Perera-Fernández Elena López-Gallego María Pérez-Marcos Juan Antonio Sanchez |
| author_sort | Luis de Pedro |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The intensification of agriculture has led to the reduction of the diversity of arthropods in agroecosystems, including that of ground-dwelling species. The aim of our work was to assess the effect of a sown cover crop on the diversity of ground-dwelling arthropods, including key predators for pest control in pear orchards. The trial was carried out in a pear orchard divided in three blocks; two treatments (cover-cropping and control) were implemented in each block. A seed mixture of 10 plant species was used in the plots with the sown cover. The densities of ground-dwelling arthropods were sampled using pitfall traps. The ground cover had a significant impact on the diversity and abundance of arthropods. The Shannon–Wiener diversity index was significantly higher for the cover than for the control plots. Several families of spiders (Linyphiidae, Lycosidae), beetles (Carabidae, Staphylinidae) and hymenopterans (Scelionidae) were significantly more abundant in the cover-sown plots. Ants and collembola had a significantly higher abundance in the control plots. Some of these groups arthropods (ants and spiders), are represented by species that may commute between ground and pear trees, having an impact on pest control. The use of cover crops is encouraged to enhance biodiversity in farmlands. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T20:23:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-37110e5ed16c4b7f84e357ac8d25f168 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T20:23:00Z |
| publishDate | 2020-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-37110e5ed16c4b7f84e357ac8d25f1682023-11-19T22:00:23ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952020-04-0110458010.3390/agronomy10040580The Effect of Cover Crops on the Biodiversity and Abundance of Ground-Dwelling Arthropods in a Mediterranean Pear OrchardLuis de Pedro0Luis Gabriel Perera-Fernández1Elena López-Gallego2María Pérez-Marcos3Juan Antonio Sanchez4Department of Crop Protection, Biological Control and Ecosystem Services, Instituto Murciano de Investigación y Desarrollo Agrario y Alimentario, C/Mayor s/n, La Alberca, 30150 Murcia, SpainDepartment of Crop Protection, Biological Control and Ecosystem Services, Instituto Murciano de Investigación y Desarrollo Agrario y Alimentario, C/Mayor s/n, La Alberca, 30150 Murcia, SpainDepartment of Crop Protection, Biological Control and Ecosystem Services, Instituto Murciano de Investigación y Desarrollo Agrario y Alimentario, C/Mayor s/n, La Alberca, 30150 Murcia, SpainDepartment of Crop Protection, Biological Control and Ecosystem Services, Instituto Murciano de Investigación y Desarrollo Agrario y Alimentario, C/Mayor s/n, La Alberca, 30150 Murcia, SpainDepartment of Crop Protection, Biological Control and Ecosystem Services, Instituto Murciano de Investigación y Desarrollo Agrario y Alimentario, C/Mayor s/n, La Alberca, 30150 Murcia, SpainThe intensification of agriculture has led to the reduction of the diversity of arthropods in agroecosystems, including that of ground-dwelling species. The aim of our work was to assess the effect of a sown cover crop on the diversity of ground-dwelling arthropods, including key predators for pest control in pear orchards. The trial was carried out in a pear orchard divided in three blocks; two treatments (cover-cropping and control) were implemented in each block. A seed mixture of 10 plant species was used in the plots with the sown cover. The densities of ground-dwelling arthropods were sampled using pitfall traps. The ground cover had a significant impact on the diversity and abundance of arthropods. The Shannon–Wiener diversity index was significantly higher for the cover than for the control plots. Several families of spiders (Linyphiidae, Lycosidae), beetles (Carabidae, Staphylinidae) and hymenopterans (Scelionidae) were significantly more abundant in the cover-sown plots. Ants and collembola had a significantly higher abundance in the control plots. Some of these groups arthropods (ants and spiders), are represented by species that may commute between ground and pear trees, having an impact on pest control. The use of cover crops is encouraged to enhance biodiversity in farmlands.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/10/4/580ground-dwelling arthropodspitfall trapscover cropsecosystem servicesnatural enemiespear pests |
| spellingShingle | Luis de Pedro Luis Gabriel Perera-Fernández Elena López-Gallego María Pérez-Marcos Juan Antonio Sanchez The Effect of Cover Crops on the Biodiversity and Abundance of Ground-Dwelling Arthropods in a Mediterranean Pear Orchard Agronomy ground-dwelling arthropods pitfall traps cover crops ecosystem services natural enemies pear pests |
| title | The Effect of Cover Crops on the Biodiversity and Abundance of Ground-Dwelling Arthropods in a Mediterranean Pear Orchard |
| title_full | The Effect of Cover Crops on the Biodiversity and Abundance of Ground-Dwelling Arthropods in a Mediterranean Pear Orchard |
| title_fullStr | The Effect of Cover Crops on the Biodiversity and Abundance of Ground-Dwelling Arthropods in a Mediterranean Pear Orchard |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Effect of Cover Crops on the Biodiversity and Abundance of Ground-Dwelling Arthropods in a Mediterranean Pear Orchard |
| title_short | The Effect of Cover Crops on the Biodiversity and Abundance of Ground-Dwelling Arthropods in a Mediterranean Pear Orchard |
| title_sort | effect of cover crops on the biodiversity and abundance of ground dwelling arthropods in a mediterranean pear orchard |
| topic | ground-dwelling arthropods pitfall traps cover crops ecosystem services natural enemies pear pests |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/10/4/580 |
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