Biodiversity and Pest Management in Agroecosystems

About this book

Focuses on the ways in which biodiversity can contribute to the design of pest-stable agroecosystems. Contains new and updated information on the agroecology of pest management; plant diversity and pest outbreaks within agroecosystems; diversification strategies for pest management; and how sustainable farming systems are designed.

Contents

Preface to the Second Edition Acknowledgments Introduction Chapter 1. The Ecological Role of Biodiversity in Agriculture Traditional Agroecosystems As Models of Biodiverse Farms The Ecological Role of Biodiversity The Nature of Biodiversity in Agroecosystems Chapter 2. Agroecology and Pest Management The Nature of Agricultural Habitats and its Relation to Pest Buildup Crop Diversification and Biological Control Chapter 3. Plant Diversity and Insect Stability in Agroecosystems Ecological Theory Theory Dilemmas Chapter 4. Insect Manipulation Through Weed Management Weeds As Sources of Insect Pests in Agroecosystems The Role of Weeds in the Ecology of Natural Enemies Insect Dynamics in Weed-Diversified Crop Systems Isolating the Ecological Effects of Weed Diversity Crop-Weed Management Considerations Chapter 5. Insect Management in Multiple-Cropping Systems Patterns of Insect Abundance in Polycultures Herbivore Trends in Polycultures Case Study 1: Maize Intercrops and Pest Attack Case Study 2: Cassava Intercrops and Pest Incidence Case Study 3: Reducing Stemborers in Africa Living Mulches: A Special Type of Intercrop Methodologies to Study Insect Dynamics in Polycultures Management Considerations Chapter 6. Insect Ecology in Orchards Under Cover-Crop Management Selecting and Managing Cover Crops in Orchards Case Study 1: Apple Orchards in California Case Study 2: Pecan Orchards in Georgia Case Study 3: Summer Cover Crops in Vineyards Chapter 7. The Influence of Adjacent Habitats on Insect Populations in Crop Fields Crop Edges and Insect Pests Field Boundaries and Natural Enemies Designing and Managing Borders Case Study 1: Exchange of Arthropods at the Interface of Apple Orchards and Adjacent Woodlands Manipulating Crop-Field Border Vegetation Case Study 2: Biological Corridors in Vineyards Case Study 3: Strip Management to Augment Predators Chapter 8. The Dynamics of Insect Pests in Agroforestry Systems The Effects of Trees in Agroforestry on Insect Pests Designing Natural Successional Analog Agroforestry Systems The Need for Further Research Chapter 9. Designing Pest-Stable Vegetationally Diverse Agroecosystems Monocultures and the Failure of Conventional Pest-Control Approaches Towards Sustainable Agriculture Requirements of Sustainable Agroecosystems Designing Healthy Agroecosystems Healthy Soils Healthy Plants Restoring Diversity in Agricultural Systems Enhancing Surrounding Biodiversity Case Study 1: Diversification of an Onion Agroecosystem in Michigan Case Study 2: A Diversified Small Farming System in Chile Conclusion References Index

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