Viticultural Information

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Subject

Cover Crop Effects on Pest Management

Description

Adult Trachelas pacificus feeding on a grape leafhopper nymph.

Many grape growers are managing floor vegetation, either in the form of sown cover crops or resident vegetation, as one component of their integrated pest management (IPM) program. In vineyards and other perennial agricultural systems, the use of cover crops is popularly associated with attracting beneficial insects and lowering pest densities. However, diversification of the cropping system can increase or decrease beneficials as well as pests, and sowing cover crops does not automatically lead to lower pest densities. The role of cover crops in vineyard IPM is not well understood, and the use of cover crops to help manage vineyard pests is a controversial practice. This is due, in part, to the wide variety of cover crops and cover crop management practices used, to differences in the arthropod community among vineyards, and to annual fluctuations in pest and natural enemy populations.

People

Robert Bugg
Ed Caswell-Chen
Kent Daane
Dean Donaldson
Clyde Elmore
Gregory Giusti
Chuck Ingels
Rhonda Smith
Becky Westerdahl
Desley Whisson

Publications

Costello, M.J. and Daane, K. 1998. Arthropods (PDF). Pages 93-106 in Cover Cropping in Vineyards: A Grower's Handbook. Ingels et al, editors. University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Publication 3338. Oakland, CA. Buy Book

Elmore, C.L., Donaldson, D.R., and Smith, R. 1998. Weed Management (PDF). Pages 107-112 in Cover Cropping in Vineyards: A Grower's Handbook. Ingels et al, editors. University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Publication 3338. Oakland, CA. Buy Book

Westerdahl, B., Caswell-Chen, E.P., and Bugg, R. 1998. Nematodes (PDF). Pages 113-125 in Cover Cropping in Vineyards: A Grower's Handbook. Ingels et al, editors. University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Publication 3338. Oakland, CA. Buy Book

Whisson, D.A. and Giusti, G.A. 1998. Vertebrate Pests (PDF). Pages 126-131 in Cover Cropping in Vineyards: A Grower's Handbook. Ingels et al, editors. University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Publication 3338. Oakland, CA. Buy Book

This website is a work in progress of the University of California (UC) Division of Agricultural and Natural Resources (ANR) Integrated Grape Production Workgroup. It is designed to increase accessability to the work of UC researchers, including faculty, Cooperative Extension (CE) specialists, CE advisors, and staff. UC Researchers interested in contributing content are invited to contact Deborah Golino dagolino@ucdavis.edu to discuss possible contributions.