Effect of Breathable Row Covers and Ground Cover on Pest Insect Levels and Cucurbit Yield

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Entomology
• Horticulture

Background:

• Organic control measures are crucial for integrated pest management (IPM) in muskmelon and squash production.
• Current methods like spunbonded fabric row covers have limitations, such as heat retention and removal requirements at anthesis.
• Reducing insecticide use and virus incidence while increasing yield are key goals in sustainable agriculture.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a new farming regime using breathable mesh row covers and ground cover treatments for longer season insect exclusion.
• To assess the impact of these treatments on pest insect abundance and fruit yield in muskmelon and squash.
• To compare the effectiveness of breathable mesh covers against traditional fabric covers and different ground cover types (mulch vs. bare ground).

Main Methods:

• Two growing seasons of field trials were conducted comparing breathable mesh row covers with traditional spunbonded fabric covers.
• Ground cover treatments included mulch and bare ground.
• Pest insect abundance and fruit yield were measured for both muskmelon and squash under different cover and ground treatments.

Main Results:

• Pest insect numbers were generally lower in plots with mesh row covers, with mulch ground cover also contributing to reductions in some cases.
• Melon yield was consistently higher with mesh row covers and mulch ground cover.
• While squash yield also improved with these treatments in 2015, the effect was less consistent in 2014. Fabric row covers led to plant death in 2015 due to heat stress.

Conclusions:

• Breathable mesh row covers provide effective, longer-season insect exclusion for muskmelon and squash compared to traditional fabric covers.
• The combination of mesh row covers and mulch ground cover significantly enhances fruit yield, particularly for muskmelon.
• This integrated pest management strategy is vital for sustainable crop production, reducing reliance on insecticides and mitigating heat-related crop damage.