Einflüsse von Minimalbodenbearbeitung und Transfermulch auf den Initialbefall und die Populationsentwicklung des Kartoffelkäfers (Leptinotarsa decemlineata)

The growing economic importance of potatoes in organic agriculture has led to the intensification of potato production and farm specialization. This has in turn increased the occurrence of the Colorado potato beetle, the most important potato insect pest worldwide. The effects of the application of green manure mulch to potatoes, which improves water and nutrient availability were investigated in a long-term field experiment, comparing two potato cultivation systems: conventional ploughing and hilling versus reduced tillage with dead mulch application. There were no differences in the initial degree of potato beetle infestation. However, a significant reduction in the number of potato beetle larvae and eggs was observed. The mechanism behind the effects should examined in future experiments.