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Optimized undersowing for pest regulation in cabbage and onion - JKI
Project
Project code: 2818BIJP02
Contract period: 01.01.2019
- 15.04.2022
Budget: 244,648 Euro
Purpose of research: Applied research
Keywords: catch crop, biological plant protection, crop production, cultivation, vegetable production, diversified production, crop protection, plant health
Undersowing, including companion plants and/or insectary plants, has several positive functions in agro-ecosystems. The addition of non-crop plants can protect the ground from heat, fixate nitrogen, increase structural diversity and support carrying ability for vehicles. Another important factor is the influence on pest population densities due to reduced detection of the host crop, a physical barrier function against dispersal and the increase of natural enemies. Field vegetables like onion and cabbage are important crops in Japan and Germany. Their cultivation requires intensive pest management, often relying only on chemical pesticides. More sustainable, low-input management options are required. Diversification of the agro-ecosystem by introducing non-crop plants may reduce pest pressure. Careful selection of these plants for undersowing as well as crop varieties which may attract and sustain natural enemies may improve pest control. The project aims to identify such plants and varieties in both countries, to study the effect of key natural enemies in both countries and to test the best combination in field trials under the different conditions in Germany and Japan. The work plan comprises a holistic approach from the molecular detection of prey and pollen in predators, their behavior on selected plants, the functional traits of different plant species and crop varieties up to field level testing with assessment of damage, pest densities and management requirements for the diversified agroecosystems (onion, cabbage). Due to the close cooperation and exchange of knowledge and experience between experts of the two countries working on the same topic, the results will hopefully offer a solution for a broad range of agricultural conditions.
Section overview
Subjects
- Vegetable Gardening
- Agroecology
- Soil science
- Organic Farming
Funding programme
Excutive institution
Research Center for agricultural remote sensing at the Julius Kühn-Institut (FLF)
