Impact of years in bahiagrass and cultivation techniques in organic vegetable production on epigeal arthropod populations
Abstract
Plantings of perennial grasses have been shown to be an effective means to enhance soil qualities for organic production. Similarly, tillage methods can significantly impact production in organic crop production systems. We have previously examined direct effects of these practices on crop yields, profitability, and soil quality for rotations of organic vegetables in a 4-yr study in northern Florida, but less is known about the effects of these treatments on arthropods. We report here on experiments that used large fields of Argentine bahiagrass, Paspalum notatum Flügge (Poaceae) ‘Tifton 9,’ converted to seasonal vegetable rotations of oat/rye, bush beans, soybeans, and broccoli in a nested design using 4 levels (yr) of continuous bahiagrass production prior to vegetable rotations and 2 tillage methods (conventional and strip tillage). During the fourth yr of the study, we conducted pitfall trapping on a subset of plots involving all 8 treatments (4 bahiagrass treatments and 2 tillage treatments) to examine effects on epigeal arthropods. Over 10,000 organisms and 48 species were identified with 36 arthropod species comprising greater than 97% of the collected specimens. Fields with increasing yr in bahiagrass significantly increased the number of carabid beetles, whereas there was a decline in total herbivores. Tillage treatments impacted arthropod abundance with a noted decline in total carabids collected in strip tilled plots. Pest management implications of these treatments are discussed.
Resumen
Las plantaciones de pastos perennes han demostrado ser un medio efectivo para mejorar las cualidades del suelo para la producción orgánica. De manera similar, los métodos de labranza pueden impactar significativamente la producción en los sistemas de producción de cultivos orgánicos. Hemos examinado previamente los efectos directos de estas prácticas sobre los rendimientos de los cultivos, la rentabilidad y la calidad del suelo para las rotaciones de vegetales orgánicos en un estudio de 4 años en el norte de la Florida, pero se sabe poco sobre los efectos de estos tratamientos sobre los artrópodos. Presentamos aquí los experimentos que utilizaron grandes campos de pasto de Bahía argentina, Paspalum notatum Flügge (Poaceae) Tifton 9, convertidos en rotaciones vegetales estacionales de avena/centeno, frijoles, soya y brócoli en un diseño anidado con 4 niveles (año) de producción continua de pasto de bahía antes de las rotaciones de vegetales y 2 métodos de labranza (labranza convencional y en franjas). Durante el cuarto año del estudio, realizamos trampas de caída en un subconjunto de parcelas que involucraban los 8 tratamientos (4 tratamientos del pasto bahía y 2 tratamientos de labranza) para examinar los efectos sobre los artrópodos epigéneos. Se identificaron más de 10,000 organismos y 48 especies con 36 especies de artrópodos que sumaron más del 97% de los especímenes recolectados. Los campos con años crecientes en pasto de bahia aumentaron significativamente el número de escarabajos carabidos, mientras que hubo una disminución en el total de herbívoros. Los tratamientos de labranza impactaron la abundancia de artrópodos con una disminución notable en el total de los carabidos recolectados en parcelas labradas en franjas. Se discuten las implicaciones del manejo de plagas en estos tratamientos.
Key Words: Carabidae; perennial grasses; rotations; pitfall traps; tillage
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