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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Mississippi State, Mississippi » Crop Science Research Laboratory » Genetics and Sustainable Agriculture Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #168844
Title: REMOTE SENSING, SAMPLING AND SIMULATION APPLICATIONS IN ANALYSES OF INSECT DISPERSION AND ABUNDANCE IN COTTON

Author
item Willers, Jeffrey
item McKinion, James
item Jenkins, Johnie

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/5/2005
Publication Date: 8/1/2006
Citation: Willers, J.L., McKinion, J.M., Jenkins, J.N. 2006. Remote sensing, sampling and simulation applications in analyses of insect dispersion and abundance in cotton. USDA Forest Service Proceedings RM RS-P-42. CD-ROM.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Simulation is employed to create stratified simple random samples of different sample unit sizes to represent tarnished plant bug abundance at different densities within various habitats of simulated cotton fields. These samples also can be used to investigate dispersion patterns of this cotton insect. It is found that the assessment of spatial pattern varies as a function of sample unit size and ultimately is independent of pest density. Using this knowledge, it is next demonstrated how remote sensing assists field scouts in estimating pest management decisions in commercial fields, both the simulation data and field results support the robust assumption these cotton pests are randomly dispersed at different densities within homogenous habitats. Therefore, since the pest is randomly dispersed within these various habitats, it is possible to estimate the boundaries of different pest densities by mapping habitat variability within cotton fields using high resolution, geo-referenced, remotely sensed imagery. Once boundaries for various densities of the pest are established site-specific prescriptions of pesticides can be implemented. Site-specific pesticide applications reduce pest management costs and the amount of pesticide applied to the environment.