Influence of partridge pea on arthropods and grain quality in organic field corn

Monoculture cropping systems generate favorable conditions for the occurrence of pest outbreaks. These conditions may be exacerbated by the use of synthetic pesticides in conventional systems. Alternatively, organic growers generally rely on preventive measures such as crop rotation and other ecology-based practices to help manage pests. Previous studies have suggested that the presence of alternative vegetation may increase the number of natural enemies in nearby cropping systems, which in turn, may prevent pest outbreaks. Given that many beneficial species use plant nectar as a food source, the maintenance of nectar producing plants near cornfields should enrich the community of beneficial arthropods within. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of bordering corn plots with partridge pea, Chamaecrista fasciculata (Michx.), on parasitism and predation rates of stink bugs, arthropod density and diversity, and corn quality and yield, compared with monoculture corn plots. Data were collected on predator and pest numbers, rates of stink bug egg parasitism, and corn ear damage and yield. Data on arthropods were collected for 6 weeks by visual counts, sticky card traps, and vacuum samples at research plots in Keedysville, Maryland. We hypothesize increased parasitism rates, reduced damage, and an influx of beneficial arthropods will be observed in plots with the provision of nectar. The analysis of this data is ongoing. Findings from this research may provide valuable information to growers with respect to the use of flowering plants to help manage stink bugs and other field corn pests.