Guard Crops (Trap Crop) is a scientific method of irrigation and pest management and is useful as a quality pest control.
Accordingly, in such a situation, the farmer can adopt those scientific methods, which are effective in protecting the major crop. Farmers can also protect their crops to a great extent by planting insect repellent protector crops. Basically in this method, for the protection of the main crop, grow protective crops like a fence, which does not allow the insects to reach the main crop.
Once monsoon has arrived, the farmers of the state are busy sowing. Thus, to protect the crop from pests, they should plan about insect-attracting crops. It is a safe strategy based on the scientific method. Besides, you can use plants that attract insects in this system.
Being that, these plants attract insects and prevent them from reaching the main crop, which increases production along with crop protection. Apart from this, there is also a combination of protector and insect repellent, which provides protection to the crop. This system is effective on caterpillars, stem borers, beetles, sucking insects etc.
Short Summary
Up to a third more production
Insects play an important role in reducing crop production. In such a situation, you can find more production from the affected condition by planting protector crops. With a good strategy, you can even increase the production of pesticides by one-third. These crops increase biodiversity and reduce the amount of pesticide use.
List of trap crops for different plants
- Soybean
Tobacco caterpillars affect this crop. To protect it, plant sunflower in a row on the border around soybean. Also, the beans are useful as protection against Mexican bin beetles.
- Tur
To protect it from worms, plant marigolds in a row around the tur crop.
- Peanut
Groundnut crop is more prone to leaf twisting thrips and mites. Cowpea is helpful to protect against them.
- Cotton
To protect the crop from illi, plant cowpea after five rows of cotton or two rows of tobacco after 20 rows of cotton.
- Maize and Jowar
The stem borer pest is a challenge for both crops. It is protected in two ways. It is ideal to plant Napier or Sudan grass around the maize or sorghum crop as a protector crop. As for interspersed rows of desmodium, planting them act as a deterrent.
- Eggplant
The stem and fruit borers affect this crop. After two rows of brinjal, take the coriander crops in one row.
- Tomato
African marigolds are helpful in protecting it from fruit borers or nematodes. Plant every two rows of marigolds after 14 rows of tomatoes.
Protective crops are important
In adopting this scientific process, it is necessary for the farmer to have in-depth knowledge about the main crop, protector crop, and pest. Under the guidance of the agricultural scientist, the farmer should first make a plan that when and where to grow the protected crops in the field. He should also be able to identify insects.
Take note of regular field care, so that in case of excessive presence of pests on the guard crop, you can prune and spray insecticide for those plants.
Different ways to use the method
There are a few methods applicable in this process depending on the specialty of the crop and the nature of the pest. The first method is circumferential crops, involving growing guard crops around the main crop. In addition, a few rows of the guard crop are planted along with a few rows of the main crop.
At the same time, some main crops are planted before or after the protector crops. Several protective crops are grown simultaneously to protect against more than one type of pest. In the same push-pull method, both protective and preventive crops are planted. In this, the protector crop works to keep the insect repellent away.
If you love reading this article, we suggest following it by reading: Application of Biopesticides in Agriculture.