Region: North America > USA
Categorized: Cultural control and agro-ecology management
Tagged: #CABI #fallarmyworm
Cowpea and sunnhemp are the two potential cover crops to reduce #fallarmyworm population in maize field.
Two potential cover crops such as cowpea and sunnhemp have the potential to reduce the larval population of #fallarmyworm by lengthening the developmental time and increasing larval mortality. The other cover crops such as either corn or sorghum-sudangrass are two more preferred crops for the fall armyworm. Hence there is a potential to design a ‘push-pull’ strategy of FAW management by planting cowpea or sunnhemp inside the maize field as a ‘push’ crop, and ‘sorghum’ in the perimeter of maize field as a ‘pull’ crop. However, substantial additional research is needed to determine the influence of these crops on the population dynamics of fall armyworm in the maize field.
An interesting concept Sundar. What is the primary use of cowpea/ sunnhemp – is it mainly for human consumption or animal consumption? I always like intercropping – the benefits are often more than simply for armyworm, but also relate to better soil health, better plant diversity and so better soil microbial diversity.
Thank you, Aislinn. Cowpea primarily can be used as human (as a vegetable ) and animal consumptions (fodder) both. But secondarily, it has multiple benefits as you said. Both cowpea and sunnhemp can help to enrich the soil health, better air circulation, OM add etc. These flowering plants can also provide shelter, nectar and pollen to the beneficial organisms and increase the activity and fitness of predators, pollinators and parasitoids and finally improve ecosystem services in a maize field.