EFFECTS OF RED CLOVER LIVING MULCH ON WEEDS, INSECT PESTS, BENEFICIALS, AND CANTALOUPE YIELD

Abstract

Vegetative diversity in agroecosystems can reduce weed and insect pests, enhance beneficial arthropods, and improve biological control. Field studies in 2023 and 2024 investigated the synergistic use of a living mulch with pesticide inputs compared to plasticulture cantaloupe. Whole plot treatments included a living mulch or plasticulture, while subplots included standard or reduced pesticides. Plasticulture had more weeds than living mulch each growing season respectively. Standard pesticides improved weed suppression for living mulches in 2023. Striped cucumber beetles and aphids were suppressed in living mulch compared to plasticulture. Natural enemies were more abundant in living mulch than plasticulture, and some were greater in reduced pesticide subplots. Predation was higher in living mulch than plasticulture in 2023. However, yield was reduced in living mulch compared to plasticulture. Living mulches manage weed and insect pests but may require mowing or chemical suppression to reduce competition with cantaloupe.