Effect of Cover Crops on Aphids, Whiteflies, and Their Associated Natural Enemies in Organic Squash

Abstract

Field experiments conducted in fall 2006 and 2007 evaluated the effects of monoculture and diculture cover crops on aphids, whiteflies and beneficials in organic squash. Insect populations were assessed using in situ and leaf disc counts, blue pan traps and unbaited yellow sticky traps. High levels of parasitoids and coccinellids were found in sorghum sudangrass (SSG) plots. The grass monoculture pearl millet had lower aphid populations than other treatments in 2006. The diculture sunnhemp/pearl millet treatment and the grass cover crop SSG had low whitefly populations in 2006. Therefore, the potential use of cover crops in organic agriculture is discussed.