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ARS Home » Plains Area » Brookings, South Dakota » Integrated Cropping Systems Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #158655
Title: WITHIN-FIELD SPATIAL VARIATION OF NORTHERN CORN ROOTWORMS

Author
item Ellsbury, Michael
item CLAY, SHARON - SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIV
item CLAY, DAVID - SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIV
item MALO, DOUGLAS - SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIV

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/24/2004
Publication Date: 2/15/2005
Citation: Ellsbury, M.M., Clay, S.A., Clay, D.E., Malo, D.D. 2005. Within-field spatial variation of northern corn rootworms. In: Vida, S., Kuhlmann, U., and Edwards, R. (eds.). Western Corn Rootworm Ecology and Management. Wallingford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom: CABI International. p. 145-153.

Interpretive Summary: This chapter was written as a summary of a presentation on the current status of scientific research involving global positioning systems (GPS) technology and geographic information systems (GIS) as they are being applied to the on-farm study of spatial variation of corn rootworms. Examples of spatial variability were given for the egg, larval, and adult stages of northern corn rootworms. The goal of this research is the development of new integrated pest management approaches for corn rootworms that utilize site-specific technology. The presentation was one of several at an International Symposium on the Ecology and Management of Western Corn Rootworm. Intensive grid-sampling provided valuable knowledge concerning rootworm distribution in relation to soil properties and landscape, but the usefulness of the information is limited by the complexity of data layer interpretation and by the cost of sampling for corn rootworms. The necessary GIS/GPS capabilities are available but have not yet been effectively combined into systems incorporating map-driven application technology with economical scouting methods or real-time monitoring and mapping of corn rootworm variability.

Technical Abstract: Sampled distributions of pest populations usually are considered as a field mean for the density of insects per unit area or per sample unit for a given field. In reality, the actual distributions vary spatially at any given moment, that is, they are not constant over the entire expanse of a field. Spatial variability in rootworm incidence suggests that a site-specific approach to the management of corn rootworms may be feasible. This concept is attractive because of the environmental benefits from possible reduction in pesticide usage and lower input costs for the grower. Dispersion of a pest also may change through time as the population develops. This temporal variability makes precision corn rootworm management difficult to undertake. Intensive grid-sampling provides potentially valuable knowledge in GIS-managed data layers concerning rootworm distribution in relation to soil properties, fertility, weeds, landscape, and yields in corn fields, but the usefulness of the information is limited by problems related to implementing precision farming programs for corn rootworms. The necessary GIS/GPS capabilities are available but have not yet been effectively combined into systems incorporating map-driven application technology with economical scouting methods or real-time monitoring and mapping of corn rootworm variability.