Methods to increase diversity.

It has been standard practice in macadamias to keep the plantations "clean" and park like. This has a visual appeal but may not be the best practice for pest management.

Methods to increase plant growth and diversity that are likley to provide a better environment for natural enemies:

• Reduce mowing when possible.

• Alternate mowing, not mowing the whole blochk at once.

• Half row at a time mowing,

• Leave Mohawk nature strips when possible

• Cultivation of strips will allow seed bank to germinate

• Aerator alone may enable seed bank seeds to germinate

• Discs to disturb soil

• Ripping and cultivating tynes

• Rotary Hoe to prepare seed bed

• Rotary Tillerto prepare seed bed

This ground has cultivated with a 900 mm rotary hoe providing a very good seed bed.