Preceding crop affects soybean aphid abundance and predator–prey dynamics in soybean |
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| Authors: | J. G. Lundgren L. S. Hesler R. L. Anderson |
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| Affiliation: | USDA‐ARS, North Central Agricultural Research Laboratory, Brookings, SD, USA |
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| Abstract: | Crop rotations alter the soil environment and physiology of the subsequent crop in ways that may affect the abundance of herbivores and their natural enemies. Soybean aphids are a consistent pest of soybean throughout North America, but little work has focused on how preceding crops may affect pest–predator dynamics. In a replicated experiment over three years, we examined how two preceding crops (spring wheat or an oat/pea mixture) affected seasonal soybean aphid pressure and the ratio of aphids to their predator community. Peak aphid populations were reduced by 40% and 75% in years 1 and 2 by planting spring wheat before soybeans (relative to the oat–pea mixture). Aphid densities were unaffected by preceding crop in the third year of study (aphids were at threshold in this year). Predators responded positively to aphid population increases and were unaffected by preceding crops. Additional research on how crop rotations can be used as a tool to manage soybean aphids warrants further attention. |
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| Keywords: |
Aphis glycines
cover crops crop rotation
integrated pest management
predator rotation effect |
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