Annual legume green manures and their acceptability to grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae).

O. Olfert, C.F. Hinks, V.O. Biederbeck, A.E. Slinkard and R. M. Weiss.

Objectives:
"Determine the feeding response of grasshoppers to several legumes … and wheat."

Status Report:
Complete

Summary:
Chickling vetch, Tangier flatpea, pea, black lentil and wheat were grown in the presence of grasshoppers. Grasshoppers were more abundant on wheat than on lentil or pea. Wheat suffered greater damage than any of the legumes. Chickling vetch and Tangier flatpea lost more leaves than lentil or pea.

Plots of wheat, lentil or pea were caged with grasshoppers. After the season was complete, the number of eggs that hatched from the soil in each plot was counted. In wheat and lentil, grasshopper populations were able to increase; in pea plots grasshopper populations declined dramatically.
Pea was considered suitable as a green manure both because it withstood grasshopper damage, and because it reduced grasshopper potential for succeeding years. The other legumes performed better than wheat, and thus would not act as centres of population growth relative to surrounding cereal fields.

Impact:
Currently, costs of grasshopper damage for organic producers and of grasshopper controls for conventional, are in the millions of dollars. Green manure crops are crucial to organic farmers as part of their soil building program. Green manure crops that do not increase grasshopper populations are highly desirable.

Research Establishment:
Swift Current and Saskatoon Research Stations, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Funding Sources:
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada; Crop Development Centre, University of Saskatchewan; Saskatchewan Research Council; Environmental Sustainability Initiative

Researchers and Contact Information:
O.Olfert, and R.M. Weiss, Saskatoon Research Station, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 107 Science Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 0X2, Canada. [C.F. Hinks, V.O. Biederbeck, A.E. Slinkard, retired]

Citation:
Crop Protection 1995. 14: 349-353.