Influence of cover crop planting and termination dates on arthropods in the following corn

Cover crops (CC) can attract both pest and beneficial insects. The abundance and impact of these arthropods to a subsequent cash crop depend on a number of factors such as CC biomass production and weather conditions. Information about CC planting and termination dates as a strategy to increase beneficial arthropods or suppress pests in the following corn is limited. A two-year field study was conducted at the Eastern Nebraska Research and Extension, NE in 2018/19 and 2019/20 as a split-plot randomized complete block design. The objective of the study was to determine the impact of CC planting date and termination timing relative to corn planting as a source for arthropods on the subsequent corn. The treatments consisted of (i) four whole plot CC planting dates; and (ii) two split-plot CC termination dates. Plots with no CC were used as controls. Five pitfall traps and cover crop biomass were taken during the cover crop season and early corn stages. Corn damage assessments were made at V3 and V6 corn stages to identify pest pressure. A total of 40,904 and 54,053 arthropods were collected in the first and second year. A CC planting date x Sample interaction was significant for total arthopod activity in both years. Higher Araneae and lower Arcari and Collembola were found in treatments with more CC biomass. The results of this study contribute to identifying the best CC management strategy to maximize beneficial insects and minimize pest problems, contributing to a more sustainable agriculture.