How Can Spiders Help Farmers?
WouterSpiders are a valuable part of the agricultural landscape. They prey on flies and insects and can help control pests in crop fields. However, spiders’ ability to do so can be greatly diminished by conventional tillage and other land management practices.
Agricultural research has shown that the best way to control insects is by promoting the growth of predatory species. One approach is to use artificial diets for beneficial insects. Some of these include vitamins, sugar, and water.
Another method involves using insect egg sacs to increase spider populations in nearby fields. The result is a reduction in the risk of health hazards and a boost in crop yields.
A new generation of Chinese farmers is reclaiming biological pest control, including the importance of spiders. Research has found that one percent of the earth’s population consists of spiders. Several species of orb spiders are beneficial insects, but others are threatened by habitat loss.
In southern Africa, little is known about biodiversity in agronomic systems. But the Chinhoyi University of Technology in Zimbabwe has conducted an experimental farm to examine the effects of a variety of factors on spider diversity.
For example, the study found that no-tillage enhanced the number of spider species in a field. This is because it supports the development of stable microhabitats. No-tillage reduces the likelihood of soil erosion, increases biodiversity, and protects the nesting sites of spiders.
It has also been shown that no-tillage enhances the amount of biomass produced by arthropods. It is the only farming practice that supports 30% of the soil’s residual nitrogen, which helps plants grow and increases biological activity.
