Competitiveness of Thirty-Eight Ecotype Species in Sown Perennial Flower Strip Within Apple Orchards in Belgium ...

Flower strips in orchards using native plants and local adapted ecotype has shown to be a promising approach to boost natural enemies of fruit pests and pollinators, providing shelter, nectar, alternative prey and pollen. Flower strips within the grass alleys, between fruit tree rows, allow to enhance natural enemies without spend additional area for fruit production. However, the key issue in habitat manipulation such flower strips so set within between tractor wheels in the orchard alley ways, concern adaptation to orchard design and practices. The aim of the study is to assess, during three... Mehr ...