Organic lettuce growers in California typically use insectary strips of alyssum (Lobularia maritima (L.)
Desv.) to attract hoverflies (Syrphidae) that provide biological control of aphids. A two year study with
transplanted organic romaine lettuce in Salinas, California investigated agronomic aspects of lettuce
monoculture and lettuce-alyssum strip intercropping on beds in replacement intercropping treatments
where alyssum transplants replaced 2 to 8% of the lettuce transplants, and in additive intercropping
treatments where alyssum transplants were added to the standard lettuce density without displacing lettuce
transplants. Alyssum and lettuce dry matter (DM) were determined at lettuce maturity. Alyssum
transplants produced less shoot DM in the additive than in the replacement intercropping treatments.
The number of open inflorescences of alyssum increased with alyssum DM, and among treatments ranged
from 2 to15 inflorescences per lettuce head. Compared with monoculture lettuce, lettuce heads on
intercropped beds were slightly smaller and had lower nitrogen concentrations in the both additive treatments
and in some replacement treatments. This research provides the first information on a novel additive
intercropping approach to provide alyssum floral resources for biological control of lettuce aphids,
and suggests that this approach may be a more land-efficient particularly for producing smaller lettuce
heads for romaine hearts or for markets with less strict size requirements. Additional research is needed
to determine if the increased competition between alyssum and lettuce in additive intercropping would
reduce lettuce yields for wholesale markets with larger head size requirements. Practical aspects of
implementing the various intercropping arrangements and alternatives are discussed.