Comparing the pests and natural enemies fauna and determining the prevailing species in wheat fields under no-tillage and conventional tillage systems in Marvdasht region (Fars Province, Iran)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 MSc Student, Dept of Entomology, Fars Science and Research Branch, Azad Islamic University, Shiraz, Iran

2 Assistant Professor of Research, Dept of Plant Protection, Fars Research Center for Agriculture and Natural Resource, Shiraz, Iran

Abstract

Wheat production using no tillage system has recently gained considerable attention in Fars province, Iran. One of the important disadvantages of this system is providing the favorable condition to increase population of some soil inhabitant pests. The present study was carried out during 2011 to 2012 in Marvdasht region of Fars Province (Iran). Sampling was done using pitfall traps, yellow sticky cards and D-vac machine in various developmental stages of wheat crop including tillering, stem elongation, flowering and grain development. Wheat brown mite, springtails, spiders, and carabid beetles in no tillage system and springtails, crickets and carabid beetles in conventional tillage systems were the dominants soil arthropods respectively. Pests and natural enemies' fauna were same in both systems. Dominant species collected by D-vac in no-tillage system were: Psammotitix alienus, Haplothrips tritici, Chrysopa sp. and Orious albidipenis respectively, while in the conventional tillage system were: P.alienus, Chrysopa sp.and Chlorops pumilionis respectively. Dominant species collected by yellow sticky cards in no- tillage system were: Gonatoceruse sp., H. tritici and Attalus sp. respectively, while in the conventional tillage system were Gonatoceruse sp., H. tritici and Cephus peygmeous respectively. In conclusion, in the no-tillage system population of some soil related pests such as P. latens, H. tritici and C. peygmeous was increased. In contrast, the population of D. noxia and S. graminum was decreased in this system.

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