Native Vegetation and Profitable Perennials to Ameliorate Salinity, and Enhance Biodiversity, Beneficial Insects and Pest Control
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Native Vegetation and Profitable Perennials to Ameliorate Salinity, and Enhance Biodiversity, Beneficial Insects and Pest Control A report for the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation By Peter D Taverner and Glenys M Wood December 2006 RIRDC Publication No 06/129 RIRDC Project No SAR- 49A © 2006 Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. All rights reserved. ISBN 1741513928 ISSN 1440-6845 Native Vegetation and profitable perennials to ameliorate salinity, and enhance biodiversity, beneficial insects and pest control Publication No. 06/129 Project No.SAR-49A. The information contained in this publication is intended for general use to assist public knowledge and discussion and to help improve the development of sustainable industries. The information should not be relied upon for the purpose of a particular matter. Specialist and/or appropriate legal advice should be obtained before any action or decision is taken on the basis of any material in this document. The Commonwealth of Australia, Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, the authors or contributors do not assume liability of any kind whatsoever resulting from any person's use or reliance upon the content of this document. This publication is copyright. However, RIRDC encourages wide dissemination of its research, providing the Corporation is clearly acknowledged. For any other enquiries concerning reproduction, contact the Publications Manager on phone 02 6272 3186. Researcher Contact Details Glenys M Wood Dr Peter Taverner Research Officer Principal Investigator SARDI SARDI Box 397 GPO Box 397 GPO Adelaide SA 2001 Adelaide SA 2001 Phone: 08 83039660 Phone: 08 83039660 Fax: 08 83039542 Fax: 08 83039542 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] In submitting this report, the researcher has agreed to RIRDC publishing this material in its edited form. RIRDC Contact Details Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Level 2, 15 National Circuit BARTON ACT 2600 PO Box 4776 KINGSTON ACT 2604 Phone: 02 6272 4819 Fax: 02 6272 5877 Email: [email protected]. Web: http://www.rirdc.gov.au Published in December 2006 Printed on environmentally friendly paper by Canprint ii Foreword Increasing pest pressure on the Northern Adelaide Plains (NAP) remains a real threat to horticulture in the region. One of the major problems is Tomato Spotted wilt virus (TSWV) that is vectored by three introduced pest thrips Western Flower Thrips (WFT) Frankliniella occidentalis, tomato thrips F. schultzei and onion thrips Thrips tabaci. Pest and virus damage has cost the industry up to $20million a year in lost crops and overheads. This study was conducted to determine whether indigenous perennial native species are less suitable hosts of invertebrate pests, particularly of WFT, than common weeds, when grown near horticulture on the NAP. This report evaluates invertebrate populations on different native plants and grasses for revegetation to replace weeds and suppress agricultural pest populations and disease on the NAP. Emphasis was placed on plant species that benefit Natural Resources Management (NRM), maintain populations of beneficial insects and have the potential to generate profit. Overall, the results suggest that a reduction in the key thrips species may be possible, but the replacement of weeds by native plants should not be left to chance. This study will assist landholders to make informed decisions about plant selection, which we collectively refer to as ‘revegetation by design’ and move towards improved integrated pest management (IPM) strategies. This project funded by Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) was part of a larger program funded by Department of Transport and Regional Services Sustainable Regions Programme and Horticulture Australia Limited (HAL) with additional finance and in-kind provided by the Australian Government ENVIROFUND, City of Playford, Virginia Horticulture Centre and South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI). This report, an addition to RIRDC’s diverse range of over 1500 research publications, forms part of our Environment and Farm Management R&D program, which aims to support innovation in agriculture and the use of frontier technology to meet market demands for accredited sustainable production. Most of our publications are available for viewing, downloading or purchasing online through our website: • downloads at www.rirdc.gov.au/fullreports/index.html • purchases at www.rirdc.gov.au/eshop Peter O’Brien Managing Director Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation iii Acknowledgments Dr Nancy Schellhorn developed the original concepts, design and funding base for the project and guided the early stages as principal investigator. For taxonomy and field work, thanks to; Dr Richard Glatz, Mr Kym Perry, Mr Nathan Luke, Ms Susan Ivory, Ms Nola Lucas, Ms Karen Geyer and Dr Claire Stephens. In addition, to Ms Julie Lindner and Ms Judy Bellati who also made countless pollen Scanning Electron Microscopy images and Ms Sue Gerhig for data analysis. Thanks to Ms Dijana Jevremov, the project Communication Officer and consultants Mr Bill Doyle, Botanist and revegetation provider and Mr John Stafford, (Revegetation Services) for advice and direct seeding of native grasses. We would also like to thank members of the Revegetation by Design management team Tony Burfield, Domenic Cavallaro, Bill Doyle, John Stafford, Van Le, Kylie Robinson, Glenn Christie and Mike Redmond for their considerable knowledge, advice and practical support towards the delivery of the project on the Northern Adelaide Plains. Thank you also to the vegetable growers and their families Mr Thien Vu and Mr Minh Phan who kindly hosted two of our on-farm trials in Virginia. To the City of Playford revegetation staff, Green Corps and the Youth Conservation Council for planting native plants “ by design”. Special thanks go to Lawrence Mound and Murray Fletcher for their valued advice. To the SARDI Entomology Unit staff for a diverse range of support and to the team at Adelaide Microscopy, The University of Adelaide for SEM advice and assistance. iv Contents Foreword...............................................................................................................................iii Acknowledgments................................................................................................................iv Executive summary............................................................................................................viii 1. Introduction .....................................................................................................................10 2. Abundance and diversity of pest and beneficial invertebrates on weeds and remnant native vegetation on the Northern Adelaide Plains, South Australia..............12 Introduction...................................................................................................................................... 12 Materials and Methods..................................................................................................................... 12 Study Area ................................................................................................................................... 12 Sampling...................................................................................................................................... 13 Statistical analysis........................................................................................................................ 14 Results.............................................................................................................................................. 15 Method 1...................................................................................................................................... 15 Pests............................................................................................................................................. 15 Beneficials ................................................................................................................................... 18 Sub sample for evaluation of parasitic wasps.............................................................................. 18 Discussion........................................................................................................................................ 20 Pest thrips .................................................................................................................................... 20 Beneficials ................................................................................................................................... 21 3.1. Survey of invertebrates on brassica weeds, native plants and native grasses in the Virginia horticulture area on the Northern Adelaide Plains......................................22 Introduction...................................................................................................................................... 22 Materials and methods ..................................................................................................................... 22 Study area .................................................................................................................................... 22 Sampling.....................................................................................................................................