Steyn, J. N.Joubert, E.Nengovhela, Ndoweni Mary2020-10-072020-10-072020-08-13Nengovhela, Ndoweni Mary (2020) The use of cover crops to increase yield and reduce pest pressure in a commercial avocado orchard at Levubu, Limpopo Province. University of Venda, South Africa.<http://hdl.handle.net/11602/1599>.http://hdl.handle.net/11602/1599MENVSCDepartment of Ecology and Resource ManagementThe study investigated the impact of cover crops (Medicago sativa, Lotus corniculatus, Trifolium pratense, Melilotus alba and Phacelia tanacetifolia), bare soil and natural ground cover on pest and beneficial arthropods, soil health, crop yield, pest damage and weed suppression in avocado orchards. The trial plots were sited within established commercial avocado orchards with trees of similar cultivar (‘Hass’), soil-type and age, located in Levubu, Limpopo, South Africa. Mixtures of cover crops were planted in the alleys of avocado orchards and the effects were compared to that of a control (other half of the orchard). Mechanical clearing of vegetation in half of the alleys of different avocado orchards were compared to the other half that was left undisturbed. Data were collected during the flowering and fruit set stages of the avocado trees in the months of September - November 2019. Results revealed that there was higher abundance and diversity of flowering plants in the orchard alleys of the cover crop treatment compared to the control comprising of natural vegetation. Cover crops had a significantly positive effect on the soil health of the orchard but little or no effect on beneficial arthropods within the orchard nor any positive effect on the pests of avocados. However, the number of thrips scouted on the fruit were significantly less where cover crops were established. Avocado scale infection rates were also significantly lower where cover crops were established. There were significantly less arthropods, and specifically pests, pollinators and herbivores where the topsoil was removed mechanically. The yield resulting from the orchard half where cover crops were established were significantly higher. More research still needs to be done about the use, management and impact of cover cropping on not only commercial avocado orchards but on other fruit crops. This study shows good evidence for the benefits for using cover crops and the negative effects in having no vegetation cover in the orchards.1 online resource (72 leaves : color illustrations)enUniversity of VendaAvocadoUCTDCover cropsBiodiversityPestsPollinatorsPredators631.4520968257Cover crops -- South Africa -- LimpopoCatch crops -- South Africa -- LimpopoGreen manuring -- South Africa -- LimpopoAvocado -- South Africa -- LimpopoLupines-- South Africa -- LimpopoCookery (Avocado) -- South Africa -- LimpopoLupinus perennis -- South Africa -- LimpopoDissertationNengovhela NM. The use of cover crops to increase yield and reduce pest pressure in a commercial avocado orchard at Levubu, Limpopo Province. []. , 2020 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11602/1599Nengovhela, N. M. (2020). <i>The use of cover crops to increase yield and reduce pest pressure in a commercial avocado orchard at Levubu, Limpopo Province</i>. (). . Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11602/1599Nengovhela, Ndoweni Mary. <i>"The use of cover crops to increase yield and reduce pest pressure in a commercial avocado orchard at Levubu, Limpopo Province."</i> ., , 2020. http://hdl.handle.net/11602/1599TY - Dissertation AU - Nengovhela, Ndoweni Mary AB - The study investigated the impact of cover crops (Medicago sativa, Lotus corniculatus, Trifolium pratense, Melilotus alba and Phacelia tanacetifolia), bare soil and natural ground cover on pest and beneficial arthropods, soil health, crop yield, pest damage and weed suppression in avocado orchards. The trial plots were sited within established commercial avocado orchards with trees of similar cultivar (‘Hass’), soil-type and age, located in Levubu, Limpopo, South Africa. Mixtures of cover crops were planted in the alleys of avocado orchards and the effects were compared to that of a control (other half of the orchard). Mechanical clearing of vegetation in half of the alleys of different avocado orchards were compared to the other half that was left undisturbed. Data were collected during the flowering and fruit set stages of the avocado trees in the months of September - November 2019. Results revealed that there was higher abundance and diversity of flowering plants in the orchard alleys of the cover crop treatment compared to the control comprising of natural vegetation. Cover crops had a significantly positive effect on the soil health of the orchard but little or no effect on beneficial arthropods within the orchard nor any positive effect on the pests of avocados. However, the number of thrips scouted on the fruit were significantly less where cover crops were established. Avocado scale infection rates were also significantly lower where cover crops were established. There were significantly less arthropods, and specifically pests, pollinators and herbivores where the topsoil was removed mechanically. The yield resulting from the orchard half where cover crops were established were significantly higher. More research still needs to be done about the use, management and impact of cover cropping on not only commercial avocado orchards but on other fruit crops. This study shows good evidence for the benefits for using cover crops and the negative effects in having no vegetation cover in the orchards. DA - 2020-08-13 DB - ResearchSpace DP - Univen KW - Avocado KW - Cover crops KW - Biodiversity KW - Pests KW - Pollinators KW - Predators LK - https://univendspace.univen.ac.za PY - 2020 T1 - The use of cover crops to increase yield and reduce pest pressure in a commercial avocado orchard at Levubu, Limpopo Province TI - The use of cover crops to increase yield and reduce pest pressure in a commercial avocado orchard at Levubu, Limpopo Province UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11602/1599 ER -