BioResEd are several months into trialling inter row cover crops in custard apple orchards in northern NSW. Along with benefits for soil health and insect pest regulation, we are especially interested to see whether improved vegetative diversity in the inter row can assist with pollination of the crop across the full flowering season. Current knowledge indicates that custard apple pollination is especially particular. The trees rely largely on tiny nitidulid beetles for pollination. Adding further complexity is the fact that successful pollination visits must occur across the course of a full day – the flowers open as male in the morning, while they conclude the day as female. Inter rows with vegetative diversity may better support nitidulid beetles, along with a number of other possible pollinators, by providing them with a stable habitat and alternate food sources close to custard apple trees.
