Sustainable Conservation in Maize Fields: Analysing the Impact of Cosmos caudatus Refugia on Natural Enemy Diversity
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64690/agrones.v2i3.949Keywords:
Carabidae, Insect Diversity, Predator, Pitfall Trap, Sweep NetAbstract
Maize (Zea mays L.) cultivation is frequently affected by pest infestations that can reduce crop productivity. The use of refugia plants may support arthropods that provide ecological services in agricultural ecosystems. This study investigated the association between king’s salad (Cosmos caudatus) refugia and the diversity and abundance of arthropods in maize fields. The study was conducted at the Field Laboratory of the Faculty of Agriculture, Halu Oleo University, Indonesia, from November 2025 to March 2026. A randomized block design with two treatments maize without refugia (R0) and maize with C. caudatus refugia (R1) and three replications was used. Arthropods were observed weekly from 1 to 6 weeks after planting using direct observation, sweep nets, and pitfall traps. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and t-tests. The results indicated higher arthropod abundance and Shannon–Wiener diversity index (H′) values in R1 than in R0. The recorded arthropods represented four orders Araneae, Coleoptera, Orthoptera, and Hymenoptera—and included predatory taxa and pollinators. Carabidae was reported as the most abundant family. The final total abundance and statistical significance should be reported only after the counts have been reconciled across the results tables and the analyses have been verified. Overall, the findings suggest that C. caudatus refugia may be associated with differences in arthropod community abundance and diversity in maize fields.
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