Pest attacks can be prevented by growing trap crops along with main crop. Trap cropping is the method of growing most favored crop of insect along with main crop so that the insect feed on trap crop and the main crop remains unaffected. Protection is achieved either by preventing the pest from reaching main crops or by concentrating pests on an area where it can be destroyed economically. Principle of trap crop is preference of pest to certain cultivars , plant species or a crop stage. Manipulation technique ranges from using an early or late trap crop of the same cultivar as main crop to planting a completely different plant species. Chemical compounds such as insect pheromones and insect-food supplements are used to enhance the attractiveness of trap crops.
What are trap crops ?
