Effects of free-range chickens and geese on insect pests and weeds in an agroecosystem

• Published in: American journal of alternative agriculture 1996-03, Vol.11 (1), p.39-47
• Main Authors: Clark, M. Sean, Gage, Stuart H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: AGRICULTURA ALTERNATIVA; AGRICULTURA DE BAJO INSUMO; Agricultural and farming systems; AGRICULTURE ALTERNATIVE; AGRICULTURE FAIBLE NIVEAU INTRANTS; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Animal productions; Beetles; Biological and medical sciences; biological control; Chickens; CONTROL BIOLOGICO; CONTROL DE INSECTOS; CRIA DE AVES DE CORRAL; CRIANZA LIBRE; CULTIVO INTERCALADO; CULTURE INTERCALAIRE; DESHERBAGE; Dung beetles; DURABILITE; ELEVAGE DE VOLAILLES; ELEVAGE EN LIBERTE; ESCARDA; Fruits; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; GANSO; Geese; General agroecology. Agricultural and farming systems. Agricultural development. Rural area planning. Landscaping; General agronomy. Plant production; Generalities, botany, ecology, damages, economic importance; Generalities. Agricultural and farming systems. Agricultural development; Infestation; Insect larvae; insect management; Insect pests; INSECTE NUISIBLE; INSECTOS DANINOS; LUTTE ANTIINSECTE; LUTTE BIOLOGIQUE; MALEZAS; MALUS; MAUVAISE HERBE; MICHIGAN; OIE; Parasitic plants. Weeds; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; PLANTAS DE COBERTURA; PLANTE DE COUVERTURE; Plants; POLLO; POULET; Protozoa. Invertebrates; Records, symptoms, damages, economic importance, population surveys; SISTEMAS DE EXPLOTACION; SOLANUM; SOSTENIBILIDAD; SYSTEME D'EXPLOITATION AGRICOLE; Terrestrial animal productions; Vertebrates; Waterfowl; weed management; Weeds
• ISSN: 0889-1893; 1478-5498
• DOI: 10.1017/S0889189300006718

We evaluated the effects of free-range chickens and geese on insect pests and weeds in an experimental, nonchemical agroecosystem consisting of an apple orchard with intercropped potatoes. The objective was to assess the potential of these domestic bird species as biological control agents. Four insect pests were studied: plum curculio, apple maggot, Japanese beetle, and Colorado potato beetle. Chickens fed on several potential crop pests, including Japanese beetle. Although Japanese beetles were less abundant on apple trees when chickens were present, the proportion of damaged fruit was not reduced. Furthermore, chickens did not affect weed abundance or crop productivity. In contrast, geese were effective weeders. Their activities reduced weed abundance and increased potato plant growth and yields compared with a minimally weeded control. In addition, the activities of geese indirectly reduced apple fruit damage by plum curculio and increased the proportion of pest-free fruit, possibly because removal of vegetation by the geese reduced humidity at the soil surface and therefore reduced the activity of plum curculio.