Crop rotation as a management tool for wireworms in potatoes

Abstract: Wireworm damage to potato tubers can result in serious economic losses forproducers. The lack of efficacious insecticides in Canada and increasing wireworm pressure hasintensified the need to evaluate other management strategies. The effectiveness of a three-yearcrop rotation on tuber damage was evaluated, with buckwheat, alfalfa, brown mustard or thestandard barley/clover grown in years one and two, and potato in year three. Results showed asignificant decrease in tuber damage and an increase in marketable tuber yield following thebrown mustard and buckwheat rotations when compared to the alfalfa and barley/cloverrotations.