Cropping management on potato field, a strategy to suppress pest by increasing insect diversity and natural enemies

Abstract

Stability of ecosystem and ecological resilience indicate by the spesies composition of arthropods on agro-ecosystem. Intensive agricultural action will cause agroecosystem damage by decrease of biodiversity and disruption of landscaping agricultural. This study aimed to determine the ability of cropping management increasing the diversity of insects and natural enemies of pest on potato field, this method can application as a component on integrated pest management strategy to suppress pest on potato field. Crop management is doing by intercropping, organic farming systems and setting the growing season of potato. The result showed that insect diversity index and natural enemies population on intercropping system is higher than monoculture system, while the pest populations is lower. Insect diversity index and natural enemies population in organic systems on farm is higher than conventional farming systems, in general the pest population was lower in conventional farming systems, but not significant with organic farming system. The intercropping potatoes + cabbage + mustard + celery, potatoes + cabbage, potato + mustard respectively which grown by organic farming systems provide the highest insect diversity on farm. Natural enemies population increase in order to increasing insect diversity and supress population of pest. Management on growing season showed that population of Coccinellidae at May-August more higher than September-Desember. On the other hand, population of Braconid wasp at May-August more lower than September-Desember.