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peer-reviewed research article

Hedgerows enhance beneficial insects on farms in California's Central Valley

authors

Lora Morandin, UC Berkeley
Rachael F. Long, UC Cooperative Extension
Corin Pease, UC Davis
Claire Kremen, UC Berkeley

publication information

California Agriculture 65(4):197-201. DOI: 10.3733/ca.v065n04p197. October-December 2011.

abstract

Hedgerows of native California shrubs and perennial grasses bordering field crops were examined for the abundance of beneficial and pest insects compared with adjacent weedy areas. During 2 years of sampling in the Sacramento Valley, hedgerows attracted more beneficial than pest insects, while weedy areas showed the opposite trend, attracting significantly more pest than beneficial insects. We conclude that replacing weedy areas at field crop edges with managed hedgerow plantings will sustain or increase beneficial rather than pest insects on farms.

author affiliations

L. Morandin is Postdoctoral Fellow, UC Berkeley; R.F. Long is Farm Advisor, UC Cooperative Extension, Yolo County; C. Pease is former Staff Research Associate, UC Davis, and currently Agronomist, Oregon Vineyard Supply, McMinnville, Ore. C. Kremen is Associate Professor, UC Berkeley.

author notes

We thank the UC Davis Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program, Yolo County growers, the Yolo County Resource Conservation District and Irene Wibawa for assistance with this study.

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