Trap cropping: Principles and possibilities of application in root vegetable production

Vegetable production is one of the most intensive parts of agricultural production in Serbia. There are several different classifications of vegetable species, but the most common is based on the edible part of the plant. This classification emphasizes root vegetables as a special and very important category. During the entire vegetation period, root vegetables are exposed to numerous pests, which reduce the value and quality of the final product. In addition to insects, which represent the most numerous group of animals, vegetables are also damaged by mites, nematodes, snails, rodents and some species of birds. One of the ecologically acceptable methods in the protection of vegetables is trap cropping, whereby certain plant species, the so-called trap plants are used to attract pests, in order to reduce the damage of the main crop. In modern agricultural production, trap crops are used as a common tool in Integrated Pest Management. Rising interest of agricultural producers for trap cropping is primarily attributed to the public concern about the potential negative effects of pesticides to human and environmental health, as well as to the increasing problem of pest resistance to insecticides. Since root vegetables intended for the market are primarily in fresh condition, an important segment of production is the effective protection of vegetable crops, which implies production of healthy and safe food. In that sense, the consideration of trap crops application in protection of root vegetables is more than justified, because trap cropping represents an environmentally friendly method and an effective alternative to conventional protection of vegetables from economically important pests.