ARS | Publication request: Insect population dynamics in different tillage systems of dryland and irrigated cotton

Submitted to: National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings/Symposium
Publication Acceptance Date: March 7, 2008
Publication Date: July 5, 2008
Citation: Greenberg, S.M., Bradford, J.M., Adamczyk Jr, J.J., Smart, J.R., Liu, T.X. 2008. Insect population dynamics in different tillage systems of dryland and irrigated cotton. National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference.

Technical Abstract: This study was conducted during 2000 - 2005 in the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) at experimental plots of the USDA-ARS-KSARC (North and South Farms). Also, privately-owned cotton fields (Brownsville, Hargill, and Santa Rosa, Texas) were used as additional sites. Cotton producers are incorporating significant changes in production systems in an effort to decrease production costs and improve profits. Conservation tillage practices have been adopted across the majority acreage in the southern United States. Agronomic practices and production technologies used in conservation tillage systems have a significant impact on insect pest diversity and density under influence changes of microclimate in investigated agrobiocenosis (soil temperatures and moisture, light interception) and plant canopy structure. This manuscript discusses changes in pest sectrum and severity of pest problems associated with conservation vs. conventional tillage in irrigated and non-irrigated cotton.