EFFECT OF ASSOCIATED CROPS CUCUMBER (<i>Cucumis sativus</i> L.), SQUASH (<i>Cucurbita pepo</i> L.) AND COWPEA (<i>Vigna unguiculata</i> L. Walp) ON THE POPULATION OCCURRENCE OF INSECT PESTS: BENEFITS AND PERFORMANCE IN TISMA, MASAYA

Abstract

This study was carried out with the aim of comparing the effect of associated crops on the population occurrence of insect pests, beneficial insects and the equivalent land use. The study was established on the farm called "Berlin", located in the municipality of Tisma - Masaya, between the months of December 2006 to February 2007. For the establishment of the experiment, four plots were planted, one plot was planted on the basis of associated crops such as cucumber, squash and Chinese bean, and three plots were planted as single crops of cucumber, squash and Chinese bean. During the development of the experiment, weekly sampling was performed, and the following variables were taken: the number of insect pests and beneficial insects per plant per crop, and during the harvest, the yield of each crop was taken and the equivalent land use was calculated (UET). In general there was a trend of fewer insect pests and an increased number of beneficial insects in the associated crops compared with the single crops. The associated crops made the best use of land because it obtains yields of 31 cucumber, 40 squash and 11 Chinese bean % respectively over that of production of single crops, making the associated crops better use of land per unit area.

Keywords: Associated crop, Insect pest, Beneficial insects, Equivalent land use.

DOI: 10.5377/calera.v10i14.23