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Title: PRECISION FARMING TOOLS HELP EVALUATE SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF CORN PESTS

Author
item WESTRA, P. - CSU DEPT OF BIOAG&PESTMGT
item WYSE, PESTER - CSU GRAD STUDENT
item Wiles, Lori

Submitted to: Western Society of Weed Science Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/11/1999
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: Westra, P., Wyse, P.D., Wiles, L. 2000. Precision farming tools help evaluate spatial distribution of corn pests. Western Society of Weed Science Meeting Proceedings.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Knowledge of the spatial distribution of corn pests within fields will be required if management inputs are going to be applied to selected field areas. In 1997 and 1998, two center pivot irrigated corn fields in eastern Colorado were sampled for weed seedling, triazine resistant pigweed, nematode and western corn rootworm egg populations. Three grid systems were established across each field. The first grid consisted of a regular square grid with 122 sample positions spaced 76 m apart covering the entire field. A second sampling grid with 110 positions was imbedded in the regular coarse grid. Also, three 7.6 m grid systems were established, each with 150 sampling units, at random locations in each field. Pest composition and density differed by field, sampling time, and year. Fifteen weed species were detected in the fields with the primary species being pigweed and nightshade. As much as 70% of the samples were weed-free for individual species. Spatial dependence was detected for selected samples of field sandbur, pigweed, nightshade and common lambsquarters. This dependence appeared aligned with field mechanical tillage or prevailing winds. Spatial dependence was detected from 22 to 140 m depend- ing on species and direction. Field sandbur was the only species where spatial-dependence was detected across years in the same field.