Impact of composite hedges on natural enemies and pollinators in an organic polyculture system in Québec
Description
This two-year project was conducted on an organic polyculture farm in southern Québec (Ferme des Quatre-Temps).
The first stage of the project focused on describing the polyculture system and how the hedges are planted and maintained. Interactions between the polyculture and the hedges were studied, based on the insects associated with crops in the cabbage family. Insects were sampled on plots to check for parasitism of immature pest stages (caterpillers and pupa) on the crops and in adjacent hedges to determine what natural enemies and pollinators use them as a refuge. This data was used to identify the plant species most used by natural enemies and pollinators. The project also looked at the economic aspects of planting recommended species and the economic benefits of various control strategies for Lepidopteran pests of the cabbage family.
Objective(s)
- Get a better understanding of interactions between a vegetable polyculture system and hedges composed of shrubs and perennials in order to enhance the impact of beneficial insects on vegetable crops in Québec
- Analyze the cost of planting and maintaining the hedges and conduct a comparative cost study of various pest control strategies
- Produce a technical leaflet on how to conserve and increase biodiversity in farming areas, especially for the growing number of organic vegetable farms
From 2017 to 2018
Project duration
Market gardening
Activity areas
Pest, weed, and disease control, Ecosystem protection
Services
Farmers who implement the actions recommended in this project will be contributing to the preservation and enhancement of agricultural biodiversity.
Partners
Ministère de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation du Québec | Ferme des Quatre-Temps | Écomestible agriculteurs-paysagistes
Publications
Poster • Luc Belzile
Boislard, T., L. Belzile, J. Boisclair. 2018. Documentation de la contribution d’aménagements favorisant la faune auxiliaire et les pollinisateurs dans un système de polyculture au Québec - Aperçu du projet. IRDA. Congrès de la société d'entomologie du Québec, Québec, décembre 2018. DownloadResearch report • Laurence Jochems-Tanguay, Sandra Mougeot, Luc Belzile,Annabelle Firlej
Jochems-Tanguay, L., T. Boislard, S. Mougeot, S. Bellerose, J. Boisclair, L. Belzile, A. Firlej. 2020. Documentation de la contribution d'aménagements favorisant la faune auxiliaire et les pollinisateurs dans un système de polyculture au Québec. IRDA. 17 p. DownloadThis may interest you
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