Survey of current crop management practices in a mixed-ricefield landscape, Mekong Delta, Vietnam — potential of habitat manipulation for improved control of citrus leafminer and citrus red mite

• Published in: Agriculture, ecosystems & environment Vol. 88; no. 1; pp. 35 - 48
• Main Authors: Van Mele, P., van Lenteren, J.C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 2002; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; Biological control; Citrus; coconut; Conservation biological control; Control; diversity; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agroecology; General agroecology. Agricultural and farming systems. Agricultural development. Rural area planning. Landscaping; General agronomy. Plant production; Generalities. Agricultural and farming systems. Agricultural development; Gracillariidae; Oecophylla smaragdina; orchards; Oryza sativa; Panonychus citri; pest-management; Pesticides; Phyllocnistis citrella; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; Phytoseiidae; plants; Protozoa. Invertebrates; Weed management; Asia; South east Asia; Vietnam; Panonychus citri; Weed management; Phyllocnistis citrella; Conservation biological control; Oecophylla smaragdina; Pesticides; Citrus sinensis; Citrus fruit; Insecta; Citrus reticulata; Biological control; Rutaceae; Compositae; Fiber crop; Dwelling plant; Pest; Sustainable agriculture; Acari; Pest management; Bombacaceae; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Myrtaceae; Habitat; Anacardiaceae; Cultural practice; Weed control; Weed; Tetranychidae; Mangifera indica; Eucalyptus tereticornis; Gracillariidae; Acariformes; Arachnida; Mixed cropping; Parasitoid; Spondias dulcis; Actinedida; Arthropoda; Crop management; Lepidoptera; Spermatophyta; Predator; Invertebrata; Infestation; Environmental protection
• ISSN: 0167-8809; 1873-2305
• DOI: 10.1016/S0167-8809(01)00159-1

In the Mekong Delta, Vietnam, the citrus leafminer Phyllocnistis citrella (CLM) and the citrus red mite Panonychus citri are major pests in both sweet orange ( Citrus sinensis) and Tieu mandarin ( C. reticulata). Survey data indicate that these pest problems might be aggravated after farmers have completely destroyed the weed flora in their orchard. As citrus farmers only perceive the larger predators such as the weaver ant Oecophylla smaragdina and spiders, and have no idea about the existence of predatory mites or parasitoids, they do not know about potential positive attributes of weeds in pest management which sustain populations of natural enemies and their alternative food. IPM training programmes could use the weaver ant as an introduction to educating farmers about predatory mites and parasitoids, and should likewise emphasise the importance of beneficial asteraceous weeds such as Ageratum conyzoides. Non-crop trees such as Spondias dulcis, Mangifera indica, Eucalyptus tereticornis and Ceiba pentandra are commonly known to offer good refuge for the weaver ant. These trees should be further studied for their temporal contribution as food resource for other natural enemies of CLM and mites. Small adjustments of current weed management techniques are suggested to improve availability of pollen and nectar for beneficials at crucial moments in the cropping season, with due respect to implications at the landscape level.