Flowering Chamaecrista fasciculata borders enhance natural enemy populations and improve grain quality in field corn

Abstract

Plants with floral resources are advocated to enhance natural enemy density and efficacy in conservation biological control systems. Field experiments were conducted to examine the ability of partridge pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata) planted along two borders of organic field corn (Zea mays) plots to attract natural enemies and enhance biological control, yield and profit. Partridge pea significantly increased natural enemy abundances, including parasitoid and predators; however, some key natural enemy and target pest abundances within field corn were unaffected. Crop damage was reduced, and grain quality improved significantly in corn adjacent to partridge pea compared with corn plots without partridge pea. Despite these benefits, there was no economic gain with respect to improved corn yields or increased profits.