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Title: Relationship between Russian wheat aphid abundance and edaphic and topographic characteristics of wheat fields

Author
item BACKOULOU, GEORGES - Oklahoma State University
item Elliott, Norman - Norm
item GILES, KRISTOPHER - Oklahoma State University
item CATANA, VASILE - Oklahoma State University
item PHOOFOLO, MPHO - National University Of Lesotho
item PEAIRS, FRANK - Colorado State University
item HEIN, GARY - University Of Nebraska

Submitted to: Southwestern Entomologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/1/2010
Publication Date: 5/1/2010
Citation: Backoulou, G.F., Elliott, N.C., Giles, K.L., Catana, V., Phoofolo, M., Peairs, F.B., Hein, G.L. 2010. Relationship between Russian wheat aphid abundance and edaphic and topographic characteristics of wheat fields. Southwestern Entomologist. 35(1):11-18.

Interpretive Summary: This study explores the spatial relationship between Russian wheat aphid population density and variation in edaphic or topographic factors within wheat fields. Data were taken on Russian wheat aphid population density at 25 geographically referenced locations in each of six wheat fields, and aspect, elevation, slope and percentage of clay, silt, and sand of soil were determined at the same locations. Slope and percent sand explained 24.2% of the variation in Russian wheat aphid population density within wheat fields in a multiple regression model developed using stepwise regression. Understanding of the influence of abiotic factors such as those investigated are important because they lead to greater understanding of factors promoting Russian wheat aphid outbreaks in fields. The knowledge may also lead to improved sampling methodology and control tactics focusing effort on areas of a field most likely to have high densities of the aphid.

Technical Abstract: This study explores the spatial relationship between Russian wheat aphid population density and variation in edaphic or topographic factors within wheat fields. Multiple regression analysis was applied to data collected from six wheat fields located in three States, Colorado, Wyoming, and Nebraska. Data consisted of Russian wheat aphid population density at 25 geographically referenced locations in each field, and aspect, elevation, slope and percentage of clay, silt, and sand of soils at the same locations. Slope and percent sand showed statistically significant correlations to Russian wheat aphid population density. Slope and percent sand explained 24.2% of the variation in Russian wheat aphid population density within wheat fields in a multiple regression model developed using stepwise regression.