Livina mulches suppress aphids in broccoli

Altieri, M; Costello, M

Livina mulches suppress aphids in broccoli

Authors

Miguel A. Altieri
Michael J. Costello

Authors Affiliations

Miguel A. Altieri is Associate Professor, Laboratory of Biological Control, UC Berkeley; Michael J. Costello was Graduate Student and is now Postdoctoral Researcher, Laboratory of Biological Control, UC Berkeley, located at the Kearney Agricultural Center, Parlier.

Publication Information

Hilgardia 48(4):24-28. DOI:10.3733/ca.v048n04p24. July 1994.

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Abstract

A living mulch combines an annual crop with a cover crop to provide pest control and soil protection. Results of a study in the Salinas Valley show cabbage aphid infestation can be lowered on broccoli grown in living mulches compared to clean cultivation, possibly because light reflectance patterns are less attractive to incoming aphids. Early and intense mowing of the cover crop and adequate irrigation maintained broccoli yield in living mulches relative to clean cultivation. Lack of specialized equipment is the main limitation to the commercial application of living mulches at this time.

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