Insect populations in cotton produced under conservation tillage

Michael J. Gaylor; S. J. Fleischer; D. P. Muehleisen; J. V. Edelson

ABSTRACT:

Insect populations were monitored in cotton in one conventional and four conservation tillage systems. A damaging population of variegated cutworm [Peridroma saucia (Hubner)] developed in one cotton crop in conservation tillage with crimson clover [Trifclium incarnatum L.] used as a cover crop. Tarnished plant bug [Lygus lineoloris Palisot de Beauvois] and bollworm-budworm [Heliothis spp.] populations found in cotton grown under conservation tillage with legume cover crops were related to the stressed condition of cotton. Yields were reduced by the clover cover crop; yields were not reduced by conservation tillage using no winter cover or rye [Secale cereale L.] as a cover.

Footnotes

Michael J. Gaylor is an assistant professor and S. J. Fleischer is a research associate, Department of Zoology-Entomology, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama 36849. D. P. Muchleisen is a graduate research assistant and J. V. Edelson is an assistant professor, Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, 77840. Alabama Experiment Station Journal No. 15-83384. This study was funded in part by a grant from Cotton Incorporated.
Copyright 1984 by the Soil and Water Conservation Society

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