The influence of agricultural land use types on insect pollinators diversity and abundance in Seeta, Namuganga dub county,Mukono district

Abstract

In Uganda, various cropping systems dominate the rural landscape. The consequences of the different cropping systems for insect pollinator diversity is not well known and yet it is important in land use planning that aims at simultaneously conserving biodiversity and improving agricultural productivity. The objective of this study was to assess the influence of the various cropping systems on the abundance and diversity of insect pollinators. Three dominant cropping patterns in Mukono district (maize / beans, coffee / banana and coffee / trees) were investigated. Sweep nets along line transects were used to capture insects. A one way ANOVA to ascertain the influence of the three cropping systems on the abundance and diversity of insect pollinator species was used. Flies were the most dominant (312) followed by bees (305), butterflies (300), wasps (207), and beetles (101). Coffee / banana cropping system was significantly more pollinator diverse as compared to maize/ beans and coffee / trees. Therefore Coffee / banana cropping system should be promoted if the objective is to preserve a diversity of insect pollinators.