ARS | Publication request: A Killed-Cover Crop Production System For Sweetpotatoes: Effects on Pests and Beneficial Insects

Submitted to: Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: December 10, 2007
Publication Date: January 15, 2008
Citation: Jackson, D.M., Harrison Jr, H.F. 2008. A killed-cover crop production system for sweetpotatoes: effects on pests and beneficial insects. Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting, Dec 9-12, 2007, San Diego, CA (poster uploaded to ESA internet page http://esa.confex.com/esa/2007/techprogram/program.htm).

Technical Abstract: Three sweetpotato genotypes were grown in either conventionally tilled plots (CT) or in a killed-cover crop (KCC) tillage system. In general, injury to sweetpotato roots by soil insect pests was significantly lower in the KCC plots than in the CT plots. Also, injury by sweetpotato weevils was significantly less in the weedy than in the hand-weeded plots. Pitfall traps and fire ant sampling indicated that more beneficial predators were present in the killed cover crop plots.