The increasing ecological and economic costs of synthetic pesticide dependency in Solanum crop systems necessitate the development of sustainable pest management strategies. Botanical diversion strategies, including trap cropping, companion planting, and intercropping with bioactive plant species such as Tagetes spp., represent a viable alternative grounded in ecological intensification. This study evaluates the mechanisms, efficiency, and systemic implications of integrating botanical diversion strategies for managing insect pests and soil-borne pathogens.

The research synthesizes agronomic, microbiological, and biochemical evidence to establish a multi-layered framework of pest suppression. Botanical diversion operates through behavioral manipulation of pests, alteration of rhizosphere microbial communities, and activation of plant defense pathways. Trap cropping systems have demonstrated significant reductions in pest incidence by diverting herbivorous insects away from the primary crop (Shelton and Badenes-Pérez, 2006; Sarkar et al., 2018). Simultaneously, root exudates and secondary metabolites from plants such as marigold exhibit nematicidal and antifungal properties, suppressing soil-borne pathogens (Siddiqui and Alam, 1988; Saha et al., 2012).

At the soil level, intercropping and mulching practices influence microbial diversity and suppressiveness, enhancing resistance against pathogens such as Fusarium and Rhizoctonia (Bongiorno et al., 2019; Legrand et al., 2019). The integration of organic and plastic mulches further modifies soil temperature, moisture, and microbial activity, contributing to improved plant health and reduced disease incidence (Kader et al., 2017; Steinmetz et al., 2016).

The findings indicate that botanical diversion strategies significantly improve pest control efficiency while enhancing soil health and crop productivity. However, their effectiveness is influenced by environmental conditions, system design, and management practices. The study concludes that integrating botanical diversion strategies within Solanum systems offers a scalable and sustainable approach to pest management, aligning with agroecological principles and reducing reliance on chemical inputs.

Botanical diversion, trap cropping, Tagetes, intercropping, soil suppressiveness

Ai, C.; Liang, G.; Sun, J.; Wang, X.; He, P.; Zhou, W. Different roles of rhizosphere effect and long-term fertilization in the activity and community structure of ammonia oxidizers in a calcareous fluvo-aquic soil. Soil Biol. Biochem. 2013, 57, 30–42.

Amare, G.; Desta, B. Coloured plastic mulches: Impact on soil properties and crop productivity. Chem. Biol. Technol. Agric. 2021, 8, 4.

Amaral-Zettler, L.A.; Zettler, E.R.; Mincer, T.J. Ecology of the plastisphere. Nat. Rev. Microbiol. 2020, 18, 139–151.

Andres, C.; Comoé, H.; Beerli, A.; Schneider, M.; Rist, S.; Jacobi, J. Cocoa in Monoculture and Dynamic Agroforestry. In Sustainable Agriculture Reviews; Springer International Publishing: Cham, Switzerland, 2016; pp. 121–153.

Bai, Y.; Wang, G.; Cheng, Y.; Shi, P.; Yang, C.; Yang, H.; Xu, Z. Soil acidification in continuously cropped tobacco alters bacterial community structure and diversity via the accumulation of phenolic acids. Sci. Rep. 2019, 9, 12499.

Bailey, K.L. Diseases under conservation tillage systems. Can. J. Plant Sci. 1996, 76, 635–639.

Bisset, N.G. and Wichtl, M. 2001. Stuttgart, Germany: Medpharm Scientific Publishers. Herbal drugs and phyto pharmaceuticals, pp. 118-20.

Bi, Y.; Qiu, L.; Zhakypbek, Y.; Jiang, B.; Cai, Y.; Sun, H. Combination of plastic film mulching and AMF inoculation promotes maize growth, yield and water use efficiency in the semiarid region of Northwest China. Agric. Water Manag. 2018, 201, 278–286.

Bongiorno, G.; Postma, J.; Bünemann, E.K.; Brussaard, L.; de Goede, R.G.; Mäder, P.; Tamm, L.; Thuerig, B. Soil suppressiveness to Pythium ultimum in ten European long-term field experiments and its relation with soil parameters. Soil Biol. Biochem. 2019, 133, 174–187.

Bowles, T.M.; Jackson, L.E.; Loeher, M.; Cavagnaro, T.R. Ecological intensification and arbuscular mycorrhizas: A meta-analysis of tillage and cover crop effects. J. Appl. Ecol. 2017, 54, 1785–1793.

Brown, J.E.; Dangler, J.M.; Woods, F.M.; Tilt, K.M.; Henshaw, M.D.; Griffey, W.A.; West, M.S.J.H. Delay in mosaic virus onset and aphid vector reduction in summer squash grown on reflective mulches. Hortscience 1993, 28, 895–896.

Campos, S.B.; Lisboa, B.B.; Camargo, F.A.; Bayer, C.; Sczyrba, A.; Dirksen, P.; Albersmeier, A.; Kalinowski, J.; Beneduzi, A.; Costa, P.B.; et al. Soil suppressiveness and its relations with the microbial community in a Brazilian subtropical agroecosystem under different management systems. Soil Biol. Biochem. 2016, 96, 191–197.

Carter, M.R.; Sanderson, J.B. Influence of conservation tillage and rotation length on potato productivity, tuber disease and soil quality parameters on a fine sandy loam in eastern Canada. Soil Tillage Res. 2001, 63, 1–13.

Castellano-Hinojosa, A.; Strauss, S.L. Impact of cover crops on the soil microbiome of tree crops. Microorganisms 2020, 8, 328.

Chalker-Scott, L. Impact of Mulches on Landscape Plants and the Environment—A Review. J. Environ. Hortic. 2007, 25, 239–249.

Chen, M.; Zhang, J.; Liu, H.; Wang, M.; Pan, L.; Chen, N.; Wang, T.; Jing, Y.; Chi, X.; Du, B. Long-term continuously monocropped peanut significantly disturbed the balance of soil fungal communities. J. Microbiol. 2020, 58, 563–573.

Gkoutselis, G.; Rohrbach, S.; Harjes, J.; Obst, M.; Brachmann, A.; Horn, M.A.; Rambold, G. Microplastics accumulate fungal pathogens in terrestrial ecosystems. Sci. Rep. 2021, 11, 13214.

García-Orenes, F.; Guerrero, C.; Roldán, A.; Mataix-Solera, J.; Cerdà, A.; Campoy, M.; Zornoza, R.; Bárcenas, G.; Caravaca, F. Soil microbial biomass and activity under different agricultural management systems in a semiarid Mediterranean agroecosystem. Soil Tillage Res. 2010, 109, 110–115.

Huang, F.; Liu, Z.; Mou, H.; Li, J.; Zhang, P.; Jia, Z. Impact of farmland mulching practices on the soil bacterial community structure in the semiarid area of the loess plateau in China. Eur. J. Soil Biol. 2019, 92, 8–15.

Huang, L.F.; Song, L.X.; Xia, X.J.; Mao, W.H.; Shi, K.; Zhou, Y.H.; Yu, J.Q. Plant-Soil Feedbacks and Soil Sickness: From Mechanisms to Application in Agriculture. J. Chem. Ecol. 2013, 39, 232–242.

Kader, M.A.; Senge, M.; Mojid, M.A.; Ito, K. Recent advances in mulching materials and methods for modifying soil environment. Soil Tillage Res. 2017, 168, 155–166.

Kasiram, K., Sakharkar, P.R. and Patil A.T. 2000. Antifungal activity of Calendula officinalis. Indian J Pharm Sci., 62(6): 464.

Katan, J. Solar Heating by Polyethylene Mulching for the Control of Diseases Caused by Soil-Borne Pathogens. Phytopathology 1976, 66, 683–688.

Kumar, N.U.S., K. Krishnappa, B.M.R. Reddy, N.G. Ravichandra and K. Karuna. 2005. "Intercropping for the Management of Root-Knot Nematode, Meloidogyne incognita in Vegetable-Based Cropping Systems." Journal of Nematology, 35(1): 46-49.

Kumar, V., Mahla, M.K., Lal J. and Singh, B. 2015-16. Effect of abiotic factors on the seasonal incidence of fruit borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hub.) on tomato with and without marigold as a trap crop. Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies, 5(2): 803-807.

Kurm, V.; Schilder, M.T.; Haagsma, W.K.; Bloem, J.; Scholten, O.E.; Postma, J. Reduced tillage increases soil biological properties but not suppressiveness against Rhizoctonia solani and Streptomyces scabies. Appl. Soil Ecol. 2022, 181, 104646.

Legrand, F.; Chen, W.; Cobo-Díaz, J.F.; Picot, A.; Le Floch, G. Co-occurrence analysis reveal that biotic and abiotic factors influence soil fungistasis against Fusarium graminearum. FEMS Microbiol. Ecol. 2019, 95, fiz056.

Li, H.; Li, C.; Song, X.; Liu, Y.; Gao, Q.; Zheng, R.; Li, J.; Zhang, P.; Liu, X. Impacts of continuous and rotational cropping practices on soil chemical properties and microbial communities during peanut cultivation. Sci. Rep. 2022, 12, 2758.

Li, X.G.; Ding, C.F.; Zhang, T.L.; Wang, X.X. Fungal pathogen accumulation at the expense of plant-beneficial fungi as a consequence of consecutive peanut monoculturing. Soil Biol. Biochem. 2014, 72, 11–18.

Loh, S.K.; Asubonteng, K.O.; Adanu, S.K. Effects of Monocropping on Land Cover Transitions in the Wet Evergreen Agro-Ecological Zone of Ghana. Land 2022, 11, 1063.

Marles, R.J., J.B. Hudson, E.A. Graham, C.S.-Breau, P. Morand, R.L. Compadre, C.M. Compadre, G.H.N. Towers and J.T. Arnason. 1992. Structure-activity studies of photoactivated antiviral and cytotoxic thiophenes. Phytochemistry and Phytobiology, 56: 479-487.

Mwakilili, A.D.; Mwaikono, K.S.; Herrera, S.L.; Midega, C.A.O.; Magingo, F.; Alsanius, B.; Dekker, T.; Lyantagaye, S.L. Long-term maize-Desmodium intercropping shifts structure and composition of soil microbiome with stronger impact on fungal communities. Plant Soil 2021, 467, 437–450.

Njeru, N.K.; Midega, C.A.O.; Muthomi, J.W.; Wagacha, J.M.; Khan, Z.R. Impact of push–pull cropping system on pest management and occurrence of ear rots and mycotoxin contamination of maize in western Kenya. Plant Pathol. 2020, 69, 1644–1654.

Ofuya, T.I., Okunlola, A.I. and Mbata, G.N. 2023. A Review of Insect Pest Management in Vegetable Crop Production in Nigeria. Insects, 14: 111.

Oguwike, F.N., Onubueze, D.P.M. and Ughachukwu, P. 2013. Evaluation of activities of marigold extract on wound healing of albino wister rat. IOSR J Dent Med Sci., 8(5): 67-70.

Ortiz-Cornejo, N.L.; Romero-Salas, E.A.; Navarro-Noya, Y.E.; González-Zúñiga, J.C.; Ramirez-Villanueva, D.A.; Vásquez-Murrieta, M.S.; Verhulst, N.; Govaerts, B.; Dendooven, L.; Luna-Guido, M. Incorporation of bean plant residue in soil with different agricultural practices and its effect on the soil bacteria. Appl. Soil Ecol. 2017, 119, 417–427.

Panwar, L., Devi, S. and Singh, Y. 2021. Insect pest management in vegetable crops through trap cropping: Review. Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 91(10): 1433-7.

Paulitz, T.C.; Schroeder, K.L.; Schillinger, W.F. Soilborne pathogens of cereals in an irrigated cropping system: Effects of tillage, residue management, and crop rotation. Plant Dis. 2010, 94, 61–68.

Peng, Z.; Guo, X.; Xiang, Z.; Liu, D.; Yu, K.; Sun, K.; Yan, B.; Wang, S.; Kang, C.; Xu, Y.; et al. Maize intercropping enriches plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria and promotes both the growth and volatile oil concentration of Atractylodes lancea.

Percival, G. Influence of pure mulches on suppressing Phytophthora root rot pathogens. J. Environ. Hortic. 2013, 31, 221–226.

Qi, Y.; Ossowicki, A.; Yergeau, É.; Vigani, G.; Geissen, V.; Garbeva, P. Plastic mulch film residues in agriculture: Impact on soil suppressiveness, plant growth, and microbial communities. FEMS Microbiol. Ecol. 2022, 98, fiac017.

Qi, Y.; Yang, X.; Pelaez, A.M.; Huerta Lwanga, E.; Beriot, N.; Gertsen, H.; Garbeva, P.; Geissen, V. Macro- and micro-plastics in soil-plant system: Effects of plastic mulch film residues on wheat (Triticum aestivum) growth. Sci. Total Environ. 2018, 645, 1048–1056.

Rondón, M., Judith, V., Johanna, H., Mariana, P., Janne, R., Antonio, M., Juan, C. and Tulia, D. 2006. Chemical composition and antibacterial activity of the essential oil of Tagetes patula.

Russo, S., S.M. Rodriguez, S. Delfino and M. Badiola. 2005. Effect of Tagetes spp. on two pests' aphids of Lactuca sativa (L.). Revista de la Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, 37(1): 55-59.

Saha, S., Walia, S., Kundu, A., Kumar, B. and Joshi, D. 2012. Antifungal Acetylinic Thiophenes from Tagetes minuta: Potential Biopesticide. Journal of Applied Botany and Food Quality. 85: 207-211.

Sarkar, S.C., Wang, E., Wu, S. and Lei, Z. 2018. Application of Trap Cropping as Companion Plants for the Management of Agricultural Pests: A Review. Insects, 9: 128.

Shelton, Anthony and Badenes-Pérez, Francisco. 2006. Concepts and applications of trap cropping in pest management. Annual review of entomology. 51: 285-308.

Siddiqui, M.A. and M.M. Alam. 1988. Toxicity of different plant parts of Tagetes lucida to plant parasitic nematodes. Indian Journal of Nematology, 18: 181-185.

Singh, D. and Singh, A.K. 2005. Evaluation of French marigold (Tagetes patula L.) and wild marigold (Tagetes minuta L.) under submountainous tarai conditions. Journal of Ornamental Horticulture. 8(2): 134-136.

Sintim, H.Y.; Flury, M. Is Biodegradable Plastic Mulch the Solution to Agriculture’s Plastic Problem? Environ. Sci. Technol. 2017, 51, 1068–1069.

Srinivasan, K., P.N. Krishna Moorthy and T.N. Raviprasad. 1993. Evaluation of different trap crops for the management of fruit borer, Helicoverpa armigera on tomato.

Srinivasan, K., P.N., Krishna Moorthy and T.N., Raviprasad. 1994. African marigold as a trap crop for the management of the fruit borer Helicoverpa armigera on tomato. International Journal of Pest Management, 40(1): 56-63.

Stapleton, J.J.; DeVay, J.E. Soil solarization: A non-chemical approach for management of plant pathogens and pests. Crop Prot. 1986, 5, 190–198.

Steinmetz, Z.; Wollmann, C.; Schaefer, M.; Buchmann, C.; David, J.; Tröger, J.; Muñoz, K.; Frör, O.; Schaumann, G.E. Plastic mulching in agriculture. Sci. Total Environ. 2016, 550, 690–705.

Sujayanand, G.K., R.K. Sharma, K. Shankarganesh, Supradip Saha and R.S. Tomar. 2015. Crop Diversification for Sustainable Insect Pest Management in Eggplant. Florida Entomologist, 98(1): 305-14.

Summers, C.G.; Mitchell, J.P.; Stapleton, J.J. Management of aphid-borne viruses and Bemisia argentifolii in zucchini squash by using mulches. Environ. Entomol. 2004, 33, 1447–1457.

Sun, A.; Jiao, X.Y.; Chen, Q.; Trivedi, P.; Li, Z.; Li, F.; Zheng, Y.; Lin, Y.; Hu, H.W.; He, J.Z. Fertilization alters protistan consumers and parasites in crop-associated microbiomes. Environ. Microbiol. 2021, 23, 2169–2183.

Sun, A.; Jiao, X.Y.; Chen, Q.; Wu, A.L.; Zheng, Y.; Lin, Y.X.; He, J.Z.; Hu, H.W. Microbial communities in crop phyllosphere and root endosphere are more resistant than soil microbiota to fertilization. Soil Biol. Biochem. 2021, 153, 108113.

Sun, X.; Ye, Y.; Guan, Q.; Jones, D.L. Organic mulching masks rhizosphere effects on carbon and nitrogen fractions.

Sun, X.; Ye, Y.; Liao, J.; Tang, Y.; Wang, D.; Guan, Q. Organic mulching alters the composition of rhizosphere communities.

Taylor, J.M. 2011. The Marigold: History and Horticulture. Chronica Horticulturae, 51: 24-28.

Tian, L.; Yu, S.; Zhang, L.; Dong, K.; Feng, B. Mulching practices manipulate microbial diversity. Soil Tillage Res. 2022, 223, 105476.

Varljen, J., Lipták, A. and Wagner, H. 1989. Structural analysis of arabinogalactans from Calendula officinalis. Phytochemistry. 28(9): 2379-83.

Vasudevan, P., Suman, K. and Sharma, S. 1997. Tagetes: a multi-purpose plant. Bioresource Technology, 62: 29-35.

Wang, K.H., Hooks, C. and Ploeg, A. 2007. Protecting crops from nematode pests using marigold.

Wan, P.; Zhang, N.; Li, Y.; Li, S.; Li, F.M.; Cui, Z.; Zhang, F. Reducing plant pathogens could increase crop yields after mulching. Sci. Total Environ. 2022, 861, 160615.

Yang, N.; Sun, Z.X.; Feng, L.S.; Zheng, M.Z.; Chi, D.C.; Meng, W.Z.; Hou, Z.Y.; Bai, W.; Li, K.Y. Plastic film mulching for water-efficient agriculture. Mater. Manuf. Process. 2015, 30, 143–154.

Yang, Y.; Li, Y.; Mei, X.; Yang, M.; Huang, H.; Du, F.; Wu, J.; He, Y.; Sun, J.; Wang, H. Antimicrobial Terpenes Suppressed Infection in intercropping system. Front. Plant Sci. 2022, 13, 890534.

Zhang, H.; Yang, Y.; Mei, X.; Li, Y.; Wu, J.; Li, Y.; Wang, H.; Huang, H.; Yang, M.; He, X. Phenolic acids inhibit plant disease in intercropping. Front. Plant Sci. 2020, 11, 886.

Zaman, M.I., Bhattacharya, M. and Mukhopadhyay, A.K. 2018-19. Impact of trap crops on hadda beetle population. Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies, 8(2): 1840-1843.