Potential of weed for Acrididae pest control in a maize agroecosystem

Abstract

In a rainfed maize crop agroecosystem, the effects of weeds on acridid pests were evaluated. There were three types of vegetation namely tithonia (T), grassland (Z), and maize crop (M). Sampling of plants/acridids was conducted weekly in 33 quadrants, from September to October 2021. The data were standardized to compare abundances, diversity (H’), and species composition (SC). Correlation coefficients between abundance and diversity of acridids, and vegetation and environment factors, were calculated. Vegetations did not differ in abundance, but SC indicated T (H’= 1.88) as the most diverse, and diversity was the highest in M (D = 0.38). The Acrididae differed in abundance, diversity, and dominance, being the highest in Z and T (5.0 ±2.2; T 5.0 ±2.9); Z (H’ = 1.56); and T (D = 0.77), respectively, and also SC was different. M and T had positive correlations for acridids-abundance-vegetation dominance, but Z with t°-RH. The weeds have potential for use in a strategy to control acridids in crops.

Keywords

• acridids
• agricultural landscape
• agrobiodiversity
• agroecology
• weeds