The effect of perimeter trap crop system using insectary plant for enhancing arthropod natural enemies at tobacco plantations (Nicotiana tabacum Linnaeus)

Abstract

The effect of perimeter trap crop system of Arthropod natural enemies was studied by determining and measuring the composition, abundance, and diversity of natural enemies on Nicotiana tabacum L. (tobacco) plantations and the influence of natural enemy abundance on herbivores. The sunflower plants (Helianthus annuus) were used to form perimeter system around the main crop on the tobacco plantation. The result showed that Shannon-Wiener’s diversity index in each tobacco growth phase (vegetative, generative, and reproductive phases) was high. However, Morishita-Horn’s community index among tobacco growth phases was closer to one. It means that the natural enemy communities among tobacco growth phases were similar in species composition. The correlation analysis between the abundance of the natural enemy (predator or parasitoid) to herbivores showed that the habitat modifications was significantly positive influenced to predator and herbivore (P = 0.004). However, the effect for the predator and herbivore at the MC (main crop field without perimeter trap crop system), and parasitoid and herbivore at both MC and TC (main crop field surrounded by perimeter trap crop system) was less significant. It could be concluded that habitat modification using insectary plant sunflower was less attraction to parasitoid arthropods, and finally, the parasitoid were less in controlling and decreasing the number of herbivorous arthropods.