Influence of fertigation and plastic covering in cultivation of winter squash ‘Amazonka’ on the insect occurence

key words: squash plants, insects, fertigation, plastic cover

Summary:

Beneficial and phytophagous insects of winter squash ‘Amazonka’ culti-vated under various fertigation regimes and plastic cover were investigated. The entomological experiments were conducted in 2006 and 2007. The largest group of insects were Homoptera, Heteroptera and Thysanoptera. Number of these in-sects was significantly larger on plants with fertigation conducted once a week. The least of all insects were in combinations with topdressing nitrogen fertiliza-tion and drip irrigation. Homoptera were represented by: Cicadellidae, Delpha-cidae and Aphididae. From Cicadellidae the most abundant was Empoasca pteridis Dahlbom. Macrosteles laevis Ribaut and Eupteryx atropunctata Goeze were significantly less numerous. Beneficial insects appeared as less abundant in comparison to pest insects and were represented by Aelothripidae, Anthocoridae, and Nabidae families. The usage of fertigation and plastic covering in open field cultivation of winter squash ‘Amazonka’, affected on numerous of phytophagous insects such as: Lygus rugulipennis Popp. and Trigonotylus coelestialium Kirk. The two species mentioned above willingly raven on the plants from the black plastic covered plots. The usage of the black plastic covering in open field cultiva-tion of squash, influenced on accumulation of water in the soil, reduced of weed infestation and decreased humidity in plant canopy.

Citation:

Lamparski R., Rolbiecki R., Piesik D., Weltrowska-Medzińska B. 2009, vol. 6. Influence of fertigation and plastic covering in cultivation of winter squash ‘Amazonka’ on the insect occurence. Infrastruktura i Ekologia Terenów Wiejskich. Nr 2009, vol. 6/ 06