Trap cropping
Trap cropping is the planting of a trap crop to protect the main cash crop from a certain pest or several pests. The trap crop can be from the same or different family group, than that of the main crop, as long as it is more attractive to the pest. There are two types of planting the trap crops; perimeter trap cropping and row intercropping. Perimeter trap cropping (border trap cropping) is the planting of trap crop completely surrounding the main cash crop. It prevents a pest attack that comes from all sides of the field. It works best on pests that are found near the borderline of the farm. Row intercropping is the planting of the trap crop in alternating rows within the main crop.
Advantages of trap cropping
- Lessens the use of pesticide
- Lowers the pesticide cost
- Preserves the indigenous natural enemies
- Improves the crop’s quality
- Helps conserve the soil and the environment
| Trap crop | Main crop | ||
| Alfalfa (Meyer, 2003) |
Cotton | ||
| Basil and marigold (MMSU, 2003) |
Garlic | ||
| Castor plant (Hasse, 1986; 1987) |
Cotton | ||
| Chervil (Ellis; Bradley, 1996) |
Vegetables Ornamentals |
||
| Chinese cabbage, mustard, and radish (Facknath, 1997; Muniappan; Lali, 1997) |
Cabbage | ||
| Beans and other legumes | Corn | ||
| Chick pea (Grundy; Short, 2003) |
Cotton | ||
| Collards (Boucher; Durgy, 2003) |
Cabbage | ||
| Corn (Hasse, 1986; 1987) |
Cotton | ||
| Cowpea (CIKS, 2000) |
Cotton | ||
| Desmodium (ICIPE, 2003) |
Corn Cowpea Millet Sorghum |
||
| Dill and lovage (Ellis; Bradley, 1996) |
Tomato | ||
| Green beans (Ellis; Bradley, 1996) |
Soybean | ||
| Horse radish (DA, Philippines, 1997) |
Potato | ||
| Hot cherry pepper (Boucher; Durgy, 2003) |
Bell pepper | ||
| Indian mustard (Cornell University, 1995) |
Cabbage | ||
| Marigold (French and African marigold) (Vann; Kirkpatrick; Cartwright, 2004) (Dofour; Guerena; Earles, 2003) |
Solanaceous Crucifers Legumes Cucurbits |
||
| Medic, Medicago littoralis (Miles, C.; et al., 1996) |
Carrot | ||
| Napier grass (ICIPE, 2003) |
Corn | ||
| Nasturtium (Ellis; Bradley, 1996) |
Cabbage | ||
| Okra (Hasse, 1986; 1987) |
Cotton | ||
| Onion and garlic | Carrot | ||
| Radish (Ellis; Bradley, 1996) |
Cabbage family | ||
| Rye (OIKOS, 2003) |
Soybean | ||
| Sesbania (Naito, 2001) |
Soybean | ||
| Sickle pod (OIKOS, 2003) |
Soybean | ||
| Soybean | Corn | ||
| Sudan grass (ICIPE, 2003) |
Corn | ||
| Sunflower (CIKS, 2000) |
Cotton | ||
| Tansy (DA, Philippines, 1997) |
Potato | ||
| Tobacco (Hasse, 1986; 1987) |
Cotton | ||
| Tomato (Makumbi, 1996) |
Cabbage | ||
| Vertiver grass (van de Berg, Undated) |
Corn |
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