Influence of Different Tillage Systems on Abundance and Dynamics of Pests in Maize Crop

Abstract

The abundance and dynamics of pests in maize crop are influenced by the tillage system. The research has been done at Research and Development Station for Agriculture Turda (RDSA Turda) in order to estimation the insect populations in conventional tillage (plowing) and minimum tillage system (with chisel variant). The research consisted of observations and determinations on the monitoring, abundance and dynamics of the most common species pests of maize crop: Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte, Autographa gamma L. and Agrotis segetum Den. & Schiff. The pests monitoring, with economically importance for maize crop was evaluated using F-1 pheromone traps, with synthetic sex pheromones (atraGAM- 9, atraSEG-21 and atraVIRG). By minimizing the tillage, there has been an increase in the pest population, especially in Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte. An almost perfect synchronization of the first generation with the optimal threshold of specific temperatures for insect biology was observed in the three monitored species. This meens even if, these mechanisms were formed over the course of evolution exist a permanent adaptations of insects to climate changes.