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

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 October 2009

M. Sean Clark  and
Stuart H. Gage
M. Sean Clark
Affiliation:
Graduate assistant, Department of Entomology and the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-1115.
Stuart H. Gage
Affiliation:
Professor, Department of Entomology and the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-1115.
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Abstract

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.

Keywords

chickensgeesebiological controlinsect managementweed management
Type
Articles
Information
American Journal of Alternative Agriculture , Volume 11 , Issue 1 , March 1996 , pp. 39 - 47
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1996

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