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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Florence, South Carolina » Coastal Plain Soil, Water and Plant Conservation Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #420771
Research Project: Advancing Cotton Genetics and Innovative Cropping Systems for Improved Quality and Production

Location: Coastal Plain Soil, Water and Plant Conservation Research

Title: Perennial cover crops as an IPM practice to manage thrips and enhance arthropod diversity in cotton

Author
item REAY-JONES, FRANCIS - Clemson University
item Billman, Eric

Submitted to: National IPM Symposium
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/30/2024
Publication Date: 3/5/2025
Citation: Reay-Jones, F., Billman, E.D. 2025. Perennial cover crops as an IPM practice to manage thrips and enhance arthropod diversity in cotton [abstract]. National IPM Symposium.

Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract Only

Technical Abstract: Perennial groundcover cover crops are being investigated as an alternative to the use of pesticides in cotton. Because ground cover resulting from annual planting of cover crops has previously been shown to decrease thrips densities in cotton, the goal of this research was to examine how a perennial cover crop may reduce the incidence of thrips and increase arthropod diversity in cotton agroecosystems. Treatments included combinations of white and red clover, annual ryegrass, and tall fescue, in addition to fallow control plots. Averaged across two years and compared to a mixture of clovers and annual ryegrass, fallow plots had 1.8-, 4.6-, and 3.4-fold greater immature thrips densities in cotton at the cotyledon, 1st and 3rd true leaf stage, respectively. Cover crops also reduced injury from thrips feeding compared to fallow plots. Higher densities of arthropod predators and herbivores were sampled in sweep nets in plots with a clover cover crop compared to fallow and ryegrass cover crop plots. Perennial cover crops with clover have potential in reducing thrips incidence in cotton while also promoting arthropod diversity.