苦李山茱萸或板栗与茶间作增进昆虫多样性的效应

为探讨间作对于茶园昆虫群落多样性和群落结构的影响,遂于皖南山区石台县选苦李-茶、山茱萸-茶、板栗-茶间作茶园,邻近每类间作茶园、选择相同品种和同样立地条件的纯茶园作为对照,2007年1月-2009年1月,每月上旬调查这6块茶园昆虫、蜘蛛和捕食螨种数和个体数。结果表明:①与对照茶园相比,间作茶园昆虫的总物种数、总多样性指数稍大,间作茶园的天敌个体数稍多、益害生物的个体数量比值稍大;②间作对茶园昆虫的总个体数有影响。结果表明茶园间作可在一定程度上增加昆虫多样性。     

太湖洞庭山十种茶果间作茶园节肢动物群落组成的异同性

为揭示茶园间作果树对于节肢动物群落数量、空间格局的影响,2009年夏茶期间,于具有悠久茶-果间作历史、名茶洞庭碧螺春原产地的太湖东洞庭山选10种间作茶园,2010年春茶时节于西洞庭山选10种同类型间作茶园,调查果树的树丛之间、茶丛上层、茶丛中层、茶丛下层、地表和土壤层中各种节肢动物数量。发现:(1)两次调查结果具有较好的重现性;(2)每种供试茶园优势种害虫都是假眼小绿叶蝉Empoasca vitis Gthe和黑刺粉虱Aleurocanthus spiniferus(Quaintance)、其它主要害虫种类相同,东、西洞庭山优势种天敌相同;(3)10种茶园中茶丛上层、茶丛中层物种数多于其它层次;茶丛下层的个体数最大,主要是粉虱类和蚧类等小型同翅目昆虫;茶丛中层多样性指数稍高;(4)茶-桔、茶-板栗间作茶园物种较多;茶-腊梅间作茶园物种数、个体数较少。研究结果表明:茶园中合理地间作果树,可以增大生物多样性,即使在果树树丛之间、地表和土壤层中也拥有一定数量的节肢动物,间作明显地影响节肢动物群落的组成。     

茶园间作柑桔杨梅或吊瓜对叶蝉及蜘蛛类群数量和空间格局的影响

为评价茶园间作几种常见经济作物对重要害虫假眼小绿叶蝉及其主要天敌蜘蛛类群数量和空间格局的影响,遂选乌牛早品种纯茶园、乌牛早分别与柑桔、杨梅和吊瓜的间作茶园、以及安吉白茶与吊瓜间作茶园,2007年9月上旬—2008年12月下旬,每旬1次调查茶丛上、中、下层叶蝉和各种蜘蛛的数量。结果表明:(1)与纯茶园相比,间作茶园叶蝉种群数量和蜘蛛类群个体数量显著地增加,间作茶园蜘蛛种数显著地增加;(2)间作茶园茶丛上、中、下层叶蝉、蜘蛛个体数量分布明显区别于纯茶园茶丛上、中、下层叶蝉、蜘蛛个体数量分布;(3)茶丛上层的嫩梢是制作高档茶的原料,而纯茶园茶丛上层叶蝉虫口百分率为54.16%,间作茶园茶丛上层叶蝉虫口百分率皆减小,并且叶蝉高峰期间蜘蛛的跟随效应增强;(4)间作增加了经济收入并减少了防治次数。认为:(1)间作可在一定程度上调控叶蝉种群、蜘蛛类群的数量和空间格局;(2)间作可减轻叶蝉为害造成的产值损失,增强了茶园群落对于叶蝉的自然控制潜能。     

茶稻间作系统的生态结构特征及生理特性研究

茶稻间作系统叶面积指数高于单作茶园,且上、下２ 层空间分布合理,水稻生长前期形成上部茶冠和下部水稻的生态边界层,生长后期则形成上部水稻和下部茶冠的生态边界层,有利于系统对光、热、水、气资源的充分利用．比之于单作茶园,茶稻间作系统内盛夏期相对光强减弱３５７ ％ ,午后温度降低０９ ～１９ ℃,相对湿度增加７ ％ ,为茶树生长提供了较适宜的生态环境条件,新梢生长速率有所提高．茶稻间作系统中的水稻比水田水稻水分利用率高,边际效应显著,有效穗数增加,结实率提高     

茶园间作不同绿肥对节肢动物群落结构和多样性的影响

【目的】研究在茶园中合理间作绿肥对茶园节肢动物群落结构和多样性的影响。【方法】本文在茶园中分别设间作铺地木兰+罗顿豆、圆叶决明+白三叶、白三叶+平托花生3种不同绿肥组合处理,并设不间作绿肥、常规除草的茶园为对照。【结果】间作不同绿肥均能提高茶园节肢动物群落的物种丰富度和群落多样性,提高茶园捕食性天敌昆虫、蜘蛛和寄生性天敌在茶园冠层群落的比率;不同处理茶园冠层节肢动物Shannon-wiener多样性指数(H)、Simpson指数(D)和均匀度指数变化趋势基本一致;茶冠层的节肢动物群落多样性指数在4类不同处理茶园间差异显著;间作绿肥增加了茶园的生物多样性,4类不同处理茶园茶冠层群落相似性系数在0.741~0.892之间,表明4类不同处理茶园冠层群落在物种组成上有较高的相似性。4类不同处理茶园害虫与天敌两类群功能团的丰盛度之间成显著的正相关,表明天敌对害虫的空间数量跟随效应强,主要表现为二者数量间的相互作用。灰色关联度分析表明在4类不同处理茶园中的群落节肢动物物种数/个体数、天敌物种数/害虫物种数、害虫丰富度与多样性指数和均匀度指数的关联系数较高,反应了群落的多样性和稳定性。【结论】间作增强了茶园群落的生物多样性,提高害虫天敌的种类和个体数,有利有效发挥天敌对有害生物的生态控制。     

色彩对茶园昆虫的引诱力

为评估色板用于监测和诱捕茶园害虫的可能性,于10月份茶园昆虫盛发期在绍兴和杭州分别选有机、无公害茶园,同时使用10种粘性色板大面积诱捕茶园昆虫和蜘蛛.每种色彩重复10次.结果表明:(1)在两片供试茶园捕获的目、科和种类基本相同.蜘蛛很少.24 h后,绍兴茶园中10种色板共捕获9目53科10200个昆虫和蜘蛛;72 h 后杭州茶园中捕获10目63科21526个昆虫和蜘蛛.(2)同翅目为优势类群.绍兴茶园中,纯白色板诱捕的同翅目种数占该色板捕获的总物种数的15.2%、同翅目个体数占该色板捕获的总个体数的34.1%;其它9种色板诱捕同翅目种数占各自捕获总种数的21.2%～31.0%、同翅目个体数占各自捕获总个体数的45.8%～75.4%.杭州茶园中,纯白、湖蓝和天蓝色板诱捕同翅目种数小于各自捕获的总种数的20%、同翅目个体数小于各自捕获的总个体数的51%;其它7种色板诱捕同翅目种数大于各自捕获的总种数的22.7%,果绿和墨绿诱捕的同翅目个体数占各自诱捕的总个体数的48.6%和49.8%,桃红、素馨黄、土黄、芽绿和桔黄诱捕的同翅目个体数占各自诱捕的总个体数的55.5%～78.1%.绍兴茶园中,素馨黄和芽绿诱捕的粉虱、假眼小绿叶蝉和广翅蜡蝉分别占两种色板诱捕的总个体数的67.7%和50.1%;杭州茶园中,素馨黄和芽绿诱捕的这几种害虫总数分别占二者诱捕的总个体数的70.7% 和59.2%.(3) 捕获的主要是害虫,绍兴茶园中诱捕的害虫数是天敌的1.63倍,杭州茶园中诱捕的害虫数是天敌的2.23倍.(4)色板之间引诱的种数和个体数差异显著.素馨黄和芽绿诱捕的种数和个体数最多、被捕昆虫的群落多样性指数很小,对叶蝉、粉虱和蜡蝉的引诱力最强;土黄和桔黄诱捕的种数和个体数较多、多样性指数较小,对同翅目昆虫的引诱力较强;纯白色诱捕的种数和个体数居中、多样性指数最大,即诱捕的各种昆虫的个体数差别小;果绿、桃红、墨绿和湖蓝诱捕的种数和个体数明显较少、多样性指数也较小;天蓝色诱捕的种数和个体数最少.(5) 寄生蝇类偏嗜蓝色,缨小蜂类、茧蜂类和小蜂类偏嗜芽绿色.建议将素馨黄和芽绿色板与信息素组合,分别用于监测和诱捕叶蝉和粉虱.     

合肥郊区春季菜园和茶园昆虫群落的组成及差异

20 0 0年春对合肥郊区菜园和茶园进行了 5天 1次的系统调查 ,共发现菜园有 3 7科 49种昆虫和蜘蛛 ,主要害虫为小菜蛾、菜粉蝶、几种蚜虫和潜叶蝇 ;茶园有 3 1科 44种。重要害虫是茶蚜和黑刺粉虱等。菜园和茶园中主要天敌是黑带食蚜蝇、七星瓢虫、蚜茧蜂和斜纹猫蛛。自 4月中旬 ,菜园物种数、个体数和多样性指数明显增大。茶园物种数、个体数和多样性指数波动性稍小。菜园害虫种数较多 ,个体数波动较大。茶园中益害物种数之比是 1 0 0 ,菜园中则为 0 5 8。主成分分析显示茶园群落的稳定性稍强。     

间作牧草对茶园螨类群落多样性的影响

螨类是茶园生态系统中重要且复杂的类群之一.为了了解不同植物问作后对茶园螨类群落的组成结构和多样性的影响,2006年3月至2008年4月,在武夷山市星村镇大坪洲茶园通过间作百喜草(Paspalum notatum)或圆叶决明(Cassia rotundifolia)、留养杂草和除杂草4种不同处理,对茶园茶冠层(采用盆拍法及剪枝条法)和凋落层(采用捡取凋落物法)的螨类进行系统采样、标本鉴定和统计分析.结果表明:与留养杂草对照相比,间作百喜草或圆叶决明均显著增加了茶冠层和凋落层捕食螨的物种丰富度(S)、有效多样性指数(eH')、个体数(M和绝对丰度(-/n).与留养杂草和除杂草这两种对照相比,间作百喜草或圆叶决明均显著增加了茶冠层和凋落层优势种圆果大赤螨(Anystis baccarum)的个体数(N).荼冠层植食螨和腐食螨及凋落层腐食螨的所有群落指标在不同处理茶园间均无显著差异.茶冠层和凋落层螨类群落物种丰富度(S)和个体数(N)季节性变化明显,物种组成相似性高.间作茶园和留养杂草茶园茶冠层的螨类总个体数与其对应的凋落层螨类总个体数呈显著正相关.多样化茶园有利于保护和利用捕食螨,从而对茶园有害生物进行生态控制,促进有机茶叶可持续生产.     

8个茶树品种上节肢动物群落结构、多样性及差异

对皖南丘睖品种同内临海藤茶、福鼎大白茶、祁门9号、佛手、福建大毫、圆叶种、广东凤凰单丛1号和皖农60号上节肢动物群落．一年内两月1次的调查．发现14目、39科共140种昆虫、蜘蛛、捕食蜻及其它节肢动物。约占全省茶园中的已记录种数的17％。品种间,节肢动物群落的组成有相似性,优势目相同;植食昆虫种数≥50%、个体数接近或大于80%。但植食昆虫个体数、益害物种数比(Ns/Ps)、益害个体数比(Nn/Pn)有差异;物种数,个体数、多样性指数H^3、均匀度指数、优势度指数、Nn/Ps和Nn/Pn的差异未达显水平;H^1的渡动趋势不同。     

盛夏西湖龙井茶园色板诱杀的昆虫类群的组成及其趋色性差异

探讨减免施药,代之以诱虫板有效诱杀西湖龙井茶园重要害虫,并避免误伤天敌。遂选一大片西湖龙井茶园,于茶园昆虫类群繁盛的7月下旬,连续72 h用芽绿和素馨黄等12种诱虫板诱捕昆虫,解析被捕昆虫的类群组成及其趋色性差异。结果：（1）捕获253870头昆虫,隶属于147种57科8目,半翅目、膜翅目和双翅目是优势类群,依次占总个体数的98.8%、0.6%和0.5%;害虫、天敌和中性昆虫种数分别为61、54和32;（2）黑刺粉虱和茶小绿叶蝉占总个体数94.1%和2.0%;（3）平均每块芽绿、素馨黄色板诱捕茶小绿叶蝉和黑刺粉虱分别是86头和10410头;（4）平均每块墨绿、桃红、天蓝、湖蓝、紫色和纯白色板诱杀的个体数< 400、诱杀的种数≤10、天敌/害虫个体数之比在1/10和1/40之间,被捕昆虫的群落多样性指数H''>1.0;平均每块大红、果绿色板诱杀的个体数 > 450且 < 800、诱杀的种数 > 9且 < 10,天敌/害虫个体数之比值介于1/85和1/45间,0.5 < H'' < 0.7;平均每块桔黄、土黄、芽绿和素馨黄色板诱杀的个体数>3700头、诱捕的种数≥10、天敌/害虫个体数之比<1/100,多样性指数H''<0.5;（5）芽绿、素馨黄、土黄和桔黄诱杀害虫个体数极显著大于其它8种色板诱杀的害虫个体数。认为：在西湖龙井茶园盛夏3日就可诱杀极多昆虫,既说明茶园昆虫种类多且个体数大,又揭示茶园优势种害虫茶小绿叶蝉和黑刺粉虱具有显著趋黄绿色习性,可分别使用芽绿、素馨黄色板诱杀之,还能尽量减少天敌和中性昆虫被误杀,部分地替代化学防治。     

小麦行距配置对套种花生生理特性和产量的影响

以大花生品种早熟型‘山花108’和晚熟型‘780-15’为试验材料,设置小麦3种行距配置(25 cm、30 cm、大小行40 cm+20 cm)和2种花生种植方式(麦套、夏直播),探讨不同种植模式对夏花生产量构成、光合特性、抗氧化活性和干物质积累与分配的调控作用.结果表明: 适当扩大小麦行距、相同平均行距下选用大小行种植,可提高套种花生荚果产量和籽仁产量,增大叶面积指数和干物质积累量,增强光合能力,同时提高超氧化物歧化酶、过氧化物酶和过氧化氢酶活性,降低丙二醛含量.麦套花生产量高于夏直播花生并且以大小行处理产量最高.与小麦行距30 cm相比,大小行处理山花108和780-15两品种花生荚果产量和籽仁产量分别提高6.3%、13.3%和7.7%、16.5%.表明大小行种植有助于扩大光合面积,提高净光合速率,增加干物质积累量,同时缓解花生植株个体与群体间的矛盾,延缓衰老,从而提高麦套花生产量.     

High productivity of wheat intercropped with maize is associated with plant architectural responses

Mixed cultivation of crops often results in increased production per unit land area, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Plants in intercrops grow differently from plants in single crops; however, no study has shown the association between plant plastic responses and the yield advantage. Here, we assessed the productivity of wheat–maize intercropping as compared to sole wheat and sole maize, and the associated differences in wheat shoot and leaf traits. In two field experiments, intercrop wheat and maize were both grown in alternating strips consisting of six rows of wheat and two rows of maize. The traits of wheat plants in border rows of the strips were compared to the traits of plants in the inner rows as well as those in sole wheat. Leaf development, chlorophyll concentration and azimuth, as well as the final leaf and ear sizes, tiller dynamics of wheat and yield components of both crops were determined. The relative densities of wheat and maize in the intercrop were 0.33 and 0.67, respectively, but the corresponding relative yields compared to the respective monocultures were 0.46 for wheat and 0.77 for maize. Compared to wheat plants in the inner rows of the intercrop strips as well as in the monoculture, border‐row wheat plants in the intercrop strips had (a) more tillers owing to increased tiller production and survival, and thus more ears, (b) larger top leaves on the main stem and tillers, (c) higher chlorophyll concentration in leaves, (d) greater number of kernels per ear and (e) smaller thousand‐grain weight. Grain yield per metre row length of border‐row wheat was 141% higher than the sole wheat, and was 176% higher than the inner‐row wheat. The results demonstrate the importance of plasticity in architectural traits for yield advantage in multispecies cropping systems.     

Efficacy of intercropping and harvest time modification for reducing field infestation of maize by Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Most management practices of Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky, a field-to-post-harvest insect pest of cereals, have focused on post harvest control methods. This experiment was designed to investigate the potential of cropping system and modification of time of harvest to control S. zeamais. Intercropping and harvest time modification had significant (P < 0.05) effect on the number of S. zeamais emerging 42 days post-harvest. For the early harvest (15 weeks after planting (WAP)), the mean number of S. zeamais recorded from a maize monoculture (7.39) was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than the mean numbers of weevils emerging from a maize–soybean intercrop (2.31), but not significantly higher than the number recorded in maize–groundnut (3.87) intercrop. For the late harvest (18 WAP), the mean number of emerged adult observed in the maize–soybean intercrop (6.13) was significantly lower than the mean number of adult emerging from the monocrop maize (13.24). Maize–groundnut intercrop did not significantly reduce field infestation of S. zeamais compared with monocrop maize. Percentage weight loss observed in early harvested maize was significantly (P < 0.0001) lower than what was observed in late-harvested maize. Percentage weight loss was highest in stored maize harvested from monocrop maize plots for the early harvest, whereas intercropping maize with soybean reduced percentage weight loss when harvest was delayed.     

川西北高寒沙地不同生态治理模式下土壤碳氮磷储量及生态化学计量特征

选取单植牧草、单植灌木、灌草间作、灌药间作4种生态模式治理5年后的川西北高寒沙地为研究对象,以未治理裸沙地为对照,分析了土壤碳氮磷含量及生态化学计量比特征。结果表明: 生态治理能显著提升土壤有机碳(SOC)、总氮(TN)、总磷(TP)含量和储量以及C/N、C/P、N/P,其中灌草间作提升效果最显著,其0～10和10～20 cm土层的SOC、TN含量均显著高于其他模式,且0～40 cm土层SOC储量分别比单植牧草、单植灌木、灌草间作、对照高13.4%、15.6%、17.1%、43.2%。0～10和10～20 cm土层土壤碱解氮、速效磷、速效钾、含水量与SOC、TN和TP含量呈显著正相关,土壤容重则与SOC、TN和TP含量呈显著负相关;土壤碱解氮、速效磷、速效钾和含水量与C/N、C/P在10～20 cm土层呈显著正相关。川西北高寒沙地土壤碳氮磷及其化学计量比受生态治理措施和土层深度的影响,本研究条件下灌草间作模式最有利于改善沙地土壤环境质量。     

The influence of crop management on banana weevil,Cosmopolites sordidus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) populations and yield of highland cooking banana (cv. Atwalira) in Uganda

A field study was undertaken in Uganda using highland cooking banana (cv. Atwalira) to test the hypothesis that bananas grown under stressed conditions are more susceptible to attack by Cosmopolites sordidus (Germar). Four banana treatments were employed to create different levels of host-plant vitality: (1) high stress: intercrop with finger millet; (2) moderate stress: monoculture without soil amendments; (3) low stress: monoculture with manure; (4) high vigour: monoculture with continuous mulch and manure. Adult C. sordidus were released at the base of banana mats 11 months after planting and populations were monitored for three years using mark and recapture methods. Cosmopolites sordidus density was greatest in the mulched plots which may have reflected increased longevity and/or longer tenure time in moist soils. Lowest C. sordidus numbers were found in intercropped banana. Damage, estimated as percentage corm tissue consumed by larvae, was similar among treatments. However, the total amount of tissue consumed was greater in mulched banana than in other systems. Plants supporting the heaviest levels of C. sordidus damage displayed bunch size reductions of 40-55%. Banana yield losses ranged from 14-20% per plot with similar levels in the intercropped and mulched systems. Yield reductions, reported as t ha-1, were twice as high in the mulched system as in the intercrop. The results from this study indicate that C. sordidus problems are not confined to stressed banana systems or those with low levels of management, but that the weevil can also attain pest status in well-managed and productive banana stands.     

种植茼蒿对蚕豆苜蓿蚜的田间控制作用

[目的] 探讨不同生育期和不同种植方式的茼蒿对蚕豆蚜虫的诱集作用,为利用茼蒿控制蚕豆蚜虫提供理论依据。[方法] 在蚕豆田四周种植不同生育期（幼苗期、现蕾期、开花期）和不同行数（1行、2行）的茼蒿,观察不同处理的蚕豆田有蚜株率和蚜害等级,各处理设在互不干扰的小区内进行。[结果] 蚕豆四周种植不同生育期茼蒿后,蚕豆上有蚜株率和蚜害等级比例存在显著差异,且与茼蒿的生育期有明显的相关性,各处理有蚜株率从低到高分别为茼蒿开花期（28.33%） < 现蕾期（41.67%） < 幼苗期（55.00%）,并均显著低于对照（63.33%）;种植不同生育期茼蒿后,各处理蚕豆蚜害等级也不同,5级蚜害在种植开花期茼蒿处理后仅为5.00%,现蕾期为23.33%,幼苗期为33.33%,对照蚕豆上蚜害最高,达40.00%。分别种植1行（33.33%）和2行（23.33%）茼蒿后,最高有蚜株率均显著低于对照（66.67%）,低蚜害等级比例明显增高,高蚜害比例明显下降,且种植2行的效果更佳。[结论] 开花期的茼蒿对蚕豆蚜虫诱集作用最强,种植2行开花期茼蒿可以有效降低蚕豆蚜虫为害。在蚕豆生产上,种植茼蒿可以作为蚕豆蚜虫生态防控的重要手段之一。     

Dynamic analysis of competition and complementarity for light and N use to understand the yield and the protein content of a durum wheat–winter pea intercrop

In a previous paper [Bedoussac L, Justes E (2009) Plant Soil, doi: 10.1007/s11104-009-0082-2], we showed that intercropping of durum wheat and winter pea increased the yield and protein concentration of durum wheat when early N availability was less than 120 kg N ha^?1. The aim of the present work was to understand these results by analysing intercrop species dynamics for growth, light and N acquisition. A 2-year field experiment was carried out in southwest France with different fertilizer-N levels in order to compare wheat (Triticum turgidum L.) and pea (Pisum sativum L.) grown as sole crops and as an intercrop in a row substitutive design. The advantages of intercropping in low N conditions were due mainly to: (1) better light use (up to 10%), thanks to species dynamic complementarity for leaf area index and height; (2) growth complementarity over time (higher growth rate of wheat until pea flowering and then of pea until wheat flowering); and (3) dynamic complementary N acquisition associated with better wheat N status throughout growth. Disadvantages, underlining poorer complementarity within the intercrop stand, were observed with ample available N in early growth. This induced higher cereal growth during winter, which led to increase interspecies competition by reducing pea light absorption and, consequently, its biomass production.     

Incidence and severity of foliar diseases of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) intercropped with maize (Zea mays L.)

This study evaluates the effects of different row arrangements on incidence and severity of Cercospora leaf spot (CLS) and Alternaria leaf blight (ALB) diseases and seed health of sesame intercropped with maize. Row arrangements were: sesame intercropped with maize in alternate pair of rows (2:2), two rows of sesame intercropped with one row of maize (2:1), sesame intercropped with maize in single alternate rows (1:1) with sole sesame as control. Intercropping maize with sesame reduced the incidence and severity of diseases. Sesame intercropped with maize in a (1:1) ration recorded a significantly lower number of infected leaves by CLS and ALB incidence than other row arrangements. ALB lesion number was between 17 and 20 in the (1:1) arrangement relative to 65–104 and 28–43 in the sole crop and other row arrangements, respectively. ALB lesion size was also reduced in the (1:1) than other row arrangements. Fungal infection of harvested sesame seeds was significantly reduced in the intercrop relative to the sole crop. CLS incidence was significant and negatively correlated with seed weight while defoliation was significant and positively correlated with ALB or CLS incidence. Rainfall was significant and positively correlated with CLS or ALB incidence while intercropping induced microclimatic effects that influenced disease incidence. Grain yield, weight of 1000-seed, number of capsules/plant and weight of seed/plant were significantly higher in the (1:1) row arrangement than the sole crop or other row arrangements. The study demonstrates that intercropping sesame with maize in a single alternate row (1:1) arrangement can be used to reduce foliar diseases of sesame.     

Row spacing effects of N2-fixation,N-yield and soil N uptake of intercropped cowpea and maize

In the tropics, cowpea is often intercropped with maize. Little is known about the effect of the intercropped maize on N₂-fixation by cowpea or how intercropping affects nitrogen fertilizer use effiency or soil N-uptake of both crops. Cowpea and maize were grown as a monocrop at row spacings of 40, 50, 60, 80, and 120 cm and intercropped at row spacing of 40, 50, and 60 cm. Plots were fertilized with 50 kg N as (NH₄)₂SO₄; microplots within each plot received the same amount of¹⁵N-depleted (NH₄)₂SO₄. Using the¹⁵N-dilution method, the percentage of N derived from N₂-fixation by cowpea and the recovery of N-fertilizer and soil N-uptake was measured for both crops at 50 and 80 days after planting.Significant differences in yield and total N for cowpea and maize at both harvest periods were dependent on row spacing and cropping systems. Maize grown at the closer row spacing accumulated most of its N during the first 50 days after planting, whereas maize grown at the widest row spacing accumulated a significant portion of its N during the last 30 days before the final harvest, 80 days after planting.Overall, no significant differences in the percentage of N derived from N₂-fixation for monocropped or intercropped cowpea was observed and between 30 and 50% of its N was derived from N₂.At 50 DAP, fertilizer and soil N uptake was dependent on row spacing with maize grown at the narrowest row spacing having a higher fertilizer and soil N recovery than maize grown at wider spacings. At 50 and 80 DAP, intercropped maize/cowpea did not have a higher fertilizer and soil N uptake than monocropped cowpea or maize at the same row spacing. Monocropped maize and cowpea at the same row spacing took up about the same amount of fertilizer or soil N. When intercropped, maize took up twice as much soil and fertilizer N as cowpea. Apparently intercropped cowpea was not able to maintain its yield potential.Whereas significant differences in total N for maize was observed at 50 and 80 DAP, no significant differences in the atom %¹⁴N excess were observed. Therefore, in this study, the atom %¹⁴N excess of the reference crop was yield independent. Furthermore, the similarity in the atom %¹⁴N excess for intercropped and monocropped maize indicated that transfer of N from the legume to the non-legume was small or not detectable.     

Intercrop movement of convergent lady beetle,Hippodamia convergens (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), between adjacent cotton and alfalfa

A 2‐year study was conducted to characterize the intercrop movement of convergent lady beetle, Hippodamia convergens Guerin‐Meneville (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) between adjacent cotton and alfalfa. A dual protein‐marking method was used to assess the intercrop movement of the lady beetles in each crop. In turns field collected lady beetles in each crop were assayed by protein specific ELISA to quantify the movement of beetles between the crops. Results indicated that a high percentage of convergent lady beetles caught in cotton (46% in 2008; 56% in 2009) and alfalfa (46% in 2008; 71% in 2009) contained a protein mark, thus indicating that convergent lady beetle movement was largely bidirectional between the adjacent crops. Although at a much lower proportion, lady beetles also showed unidirectional movement from cotton to alfalfa (5% in 2008 and 6% in 2009) and from alfalfa to cotton (9% in 2008 and 14% in 2009). The season‐long bidirectional movement exhibited by the beetles was significantly higher in alfalfa than cotton during both years of the study. The total influx of lady beetles (bidirectional and unidirectional combined) was significantly higher in alfalfa compared with that in cotton for both years. While convergent lady beetles moved between adjacent cotton and alfalfa, they were more attracted to alfalfa when cotton was not flowering and/or when alfalfa offered more opportunities for prey. This study offers much needed information on intercrop movement of the convergent lady beetle that should facilitate integrated pest management decisions in cotton utilizing conservation biological control.