Cover Management Practices Research Articles

Responses of soil organic carbon, microbial biomass carbon, and microbial quotient to ground cover management practices in Chinese orchards: a data synthesis

Responses of soil organic carbon, microbial biomass carbon, and microbial quotient to ground cover management practices in Chinese orchards: a data synthesis

Combined role of ground cover management in altering orchard surface‒subsurface erosion and associated carbon-nitrogen-phosphorus loss.

The combined role of ground cover management in controlling soil erosion and nutrient loss from new orchards is still less understood. In this study, four ground cover management practices, orchard with grass cover (OG), orchard with interplant cover (OI), orchard with straw cover (OS), and orchard with bare ground (OB), were designed to identify their impacts on soil erosion and associated carbon-nitrogen-phosphorus loss in new orchards by rainfall simulation tests with rainfall intensities of 60, 90, and 120mmh-1 and 90min rainfall duration. The results showed that OS had the lowest surface flow coefficient (6.6%) and highest subsurface flow coefficient (32.5%). The highest soil loss rate occurred in the OB plot (65.4gm-2min-1), and the lowest soil loss rate occurred in the OS plot (0.5gm-2min-1). OS plot showed better effectiveness in improving soil erosion. However, the increased infiltration capacity was facilitated in terms of causing non-point source pollution. The C-N-P ratios of surface flow in different cover measures (OB, OI, OG, and OS) were 1.4:1.2:0.9:1, 1.8:1.7:1.2:1, and 2.3:1.9:1.2:1, respectively. The ratios of sediment in different cover measures were 7.3:9:2.3:1, 2:1.5:1.2:1, and 1.2:1:0.8:0.7, respectively. Cover management plots play an active role in reducing nutrient loss in surface flow and sediment, but the increased infiltration in covered management plots is associated with the risk of groundwater contamination in subsurface flow. The C-N-P ratios of subsurface flow in OB and covered managed plots (OI, OG, and OS) were 1:3.3:1.6:2.7, 1:1.5:2.2:2.4 and 1:1.2:1.5:1.3, respectively. Therefore, when managing the phenomenon of soil erosion through ground cover measures, attention should also be focused on the function of cover measures in regulating non-point source pollution underground, such as subsurface flow. This research recommends a combination of cover management measures to further mitigate erosion and the risk of groundwater contamination.

Soil management considerations for water resiliency in a changing climate

AbstractProviding adequate water for crops is a key consideration for agricultural resiliency. Climate change is expected to exert substantial pressure on crop water supplies through increased rainfall variability and increased evaporative demand. The temporal and spatial variability of these climate change impacts, in combination with many feedbacks, at times operating at different scales, makes identifying specific, yet broadly applicable “one‐size‐fits‐all” soil management solutions challenging. Adaptations that work well in one location may represent a poor management choice in another. Considering the local combinations of climate, soils, and crop production systems is fundamental for identifying appropriate strategies. Nonetheless, some broadly applicable soil management pathways for increasing soil water availability can be identified: (i) maximizing rainfall capture, (ii) maximizing soil water storage capacity (intensity × volume), and (iii) suppressing unproductive evaporative water losses, particularly during intervals when leaf area of the primary crop is low. Selecting climate, soil, and production‐system‐appropriate tillage and surface cover management practices is among the most relevant considerations for improving soil water availability. Maintaining surface cover favors evaporation suppression and increased capture of precipitation. Tillage choices affect internal soil water storage through impacts on soil properties that influence storage intensity and by altering the volume of soil available for root growth, as well as through effects on surface cover. Promoted management practices aimed at improving soil water availability for increased agricultural resiliency must be practically feasible and cost‐effective in order to support their broad adoption, and such constraints should be an important consideration in their development.

Spontaneous vegetation as an alternative to cover crops in olive orchards reduces water erosion and improves soil physical properties under tropical conditions

This research aimed to study the effects of different cover crops on chemical and physical properties in olive orchards, under tropical conditions, to investigate erosive processes by measuring soil and water losses, and to determine the best management cover crop in olive orchards. We assessed soil and water losses under different cover management practices: olive planted on bare soil (OBS); intercropped olive with spontaneous vegetation (OSV); intercropped olive with jack beans (OJB); intercropped olive with millet (OMI); intercropped olive with sunn hemp (OSH), and bare soil (BS). The experiment was carried out for two hydrological years (2015/2016 and 2016/2017) in the Southern region of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Experimental setup consisted of fifteen standard plots (12 m x 4 m), in a Cambisol, with slope of 0.23 m m-1. In both rainy seasons, treatments with cover crops showed significant efficiency to reduce soil loss. OSV treatment showed good performance in the reduction of water erosion, revealing lower values of total soil loss of 25 Mg ha-1 period-1 and 0.55 Mg ha-1 period-1 in first and second season, respectively. Based on the results, it is recommended to use spontaneous vegetation as a cover crop in olive plantations at least during the first season. This proved to be able to reduce soil and water losses. For subsequent years, a combination or a transition of other cover crops is possible, since soil losses for treatments OJB (0.41 Mg ha-1 period-1), and OSV (0.55 Mg ha-1 period-1) were statistically grouped using a non-metric multidimensional scaling with a good performance (final stress = 0.069). This decision between spontaneous vegetation or a profitable cover crop should be adopted by farmers considering technical and financial aspects.

Vegetation Cover Management and Landscape Plant Species Composition Influence the Chrysopidae Community in the Olive Agroecosystem.

Habitat manipulation through the promotion of semi-natural habitats such as cover and patch vegetation is a possible means of offsetting the negative impacts of the agricultural practices. A baseline situation is crucial before any successful habitat manipulation is attempted. We studied the effects that current vegetation cover management practices have on plant composition and the potential attraction that the plant families from the semi-natural habitats could have on the Chrysopidae community, a key pest control agent, in five olive farms in Granada (Spain). Vegetation cover was assessed using a point quadrat methodology in eight transects per farm. In addition, the patch vegetation was characterized with 60 transects using a line intercept methodology. The woody patch vegetation and olive tree canopies were vacuumed using a field aspirator to collect adult Chrysopidae. In the cover vegetation we observed great variability in both the richness and diversity of plant communities caused by the vegetation cover management techniques and the transect position (in the middle of the rows or beneath the tree canopy). The plant families with the greatest plant cover were the Asteraceae and Fabaceae, where Asteraceae was favoured by tillage and Fabaceae by grazing, while in the patch vegetation, the predominant families were the Rosaceae and Fagaceae. Our results indicate that the genus Chrysoperla was mostly correlated with the Plantaginaceae, Brassicaceae and Asteraceae plant families in the cover vegetation, and with the Caryophyllaceae and Rosaceae families in the patch vegetation. The genera Apertochrysa and Pseudomallada were associated with the families Malvaceae and Poaceae in the cover vegetation, and with the families Cupressaceae, Poaceae and Pinaceae in the patch vegetation. Our study shows to the farmers the possibilities of vegetation cover management to select plant families for the cover vegetation.

Effects of freeze-thaw cycles on soil structure under different tillage and plant cover management practices

Soil structure plays a central role in many soil processes that are environmentally relevant. Intermittent freezing of the soil over winter is an important abiotic disturbance in temperate climates and its effects on soil structure depend on the soil’s preexistent structural strength and cohesion. Management choices such as tillage and plant cover after harvest strongly influence soil structure, and therefore the soil’s response to freeze-thaw. We examined the effects of 5 freeze-thaw cycles (FT) on the µCT-detectable structure of intact topsoil cores (Ø=100 mm, h=80 mm) from a long-term rotation and tillage experiment in Denmark. The cores were divided among two tillage treatments and two plant cover treatments, corresponding to a gradient of structural strength: CT-B<CT-V<NT-B<NT-V (CT=conventional tillage, NT=no-till, B=bare fallow and V=winter rye volunteers). We classified the µCT-detectable macropore volume in four size ranges (Full Range, <300 µm, 300–1020 µm and >1020 µm) and analyzed the macroporosity (Vt), mean macropore diameter (dm) and mean Euclidian distance to the nearest macropore (EDm). Additionally, we analyzed the effects of tillage and plant cover on several µCT-derived geometric parameters in Full Range. Overall, NT-B and NT-V resulted in lower macroporosity than in CT-B and CT-V. Similarly, we found fewer, less branched macropores with shorter mean branch length in NT compared to CT for both plant cover treatments. However, we propose that µCT-derived geometric parameters might be confounded by the overlapping influence of relatively few, complex and voluminous coarse macropores and the more abundant, less complex very fine macropores. Freeze-thaw, in turn, caused crumbling of soil around coarse macropores, reducing Vt and dm in Full Range and reducing Vt in the > 1020 µm range. Additionally, FT caused significant increases in Vt and reductions in dm and EDm in the < 300 µm range, indicating creation of new very fine macropores and expansion of previously indiscernible macropores. Overall, the effects of FT were reduced in NT (for equal plant cover treatments) and V (for equal tillage treatments), indicating greater resilience against FT in both cases.

Ground Cover Management in Olive Groves Reduces Populations of Philaenus spumarius (Hemiptera: Aphrophoridae), Vector of Xylella fastidiosa.

Philaenus spumarius (Linnaeus, 1758) (Hemiptera: Aphrophoridae) is considered the main vector of Xylella fastidiosa (Wells Raju et al. 1986) (Xathomonadales: Xanthomonadaceae), agent of the Olive Quick Decline Syndrome in Southern Europe. To limit the spread of the disease, it is of primary importance to identify effective control measures against the vector. Besides chemical control, cultural practices could potentially help reducing vector activity and population density. Here, we tested the effectiveness of three different ground cover management practices in controlling vector populations in olive groves in the Abruzzo region (Central Italy). We compared tillage (two tillage operations in spring followed by two cuts in summer), frequent mowing (four cuts from spring to summer) and a control (two cuts in summer) by sampling vectors both in the ground vegetation and in the tree canopy. In late spring, after the peak of the population, tillage reduced P. spumarius density by 60%, while frequent mowing only reduced the density by 20% compared to control plots. The differences tended to disappear with time. The treatments had the same effect on the vector density in both the ground vegetation and tree canopy. The vectors were more concentrated in the ground cover at the beginning of the season while in summer both the canopy and ground vegetation had the same vector density. Our findings suggest that tillage is a viable option for the containment of P. spumarius, as frequent mowing did not achieve sufficient control efficacy.

Semi-Automated Roadside Image Data Collection for Characterization of Agricultural Land Management Practices

Land cover management practices, including the adoption of cover crops or retaining crop residue during the non-growing season, has important impacts on soil health. To broadly survey these practices, a number of remotely sensed products are available but issues with cloud cover and access to agriculture fields for validation purposes may limit the collection of data over large regions. In this study, we describe the development of a mobile roadside survey procedure for obtaining ground reference data for the remote sensing of agricultural land use practices. The key objective was to produce a dataset of geo-referenced roadside digital images that can be used in comparison to in-field photos to measure agricultural land use and land cover associated with crop residue and cover cropping in the non-growing season. We found a very high level of correspondence (&gt;90% level of agreement) between the mobile roadside survey to in-field ground verification data. Classification correspondence was carried out with a portion of the county-level census image data against 114 in-field manually categorized sites with a level of agreement of 93%. The few discrepancies were in the differentiation of residue levels between 30–60% and &gt;60%, both of which may be considered as achieving conservation practice standards. The described mobile roadside image capture system has advantages of relatively low cost and insensitivity to cloudy days, which often limits optical remote sensing acquisitions during the study period of interest. We anticipate that this approach can be used to reduce associated field costs for ground surveys while expanding coverage areas and that it may be of interest to industry, academic, and government organizations for more routine surveys of agricultural soil cover during periods of seasonal cloud cover.

Weed species, not mulching, affect web‐building spiders and their prey in organic fruit orchards in South Africa

AbstractWeed infestation affects economically relevant orchard properties, including tree performance, yield, and fruit quality negatively, and weeds are therefore often controlled by herbicide application in conventional farming. The addition of organic mulch below tree canopies has been proposed as an alternative reliable practice to suppress weeds and preserve soil moisture in organic farming. Mulching, however, may also affect arthropod pest and natural enemy populations, which highlights the need for simultaneously assessing weed, natural enemy, and animal pest communities in mulch experiments. This study addresses the limited knowledge about nonchemical ground cover management strategies for the control of plant and animal pests in orchards as a major constraint for organic growers. Here, we hypothesize that decisions about ground cover management practices in organic temperate fruit orchards affect the composition of web‐building spider communities and their functional role as natural enemies of pest arthropods through effects on weed and insect pest communities. We studied weed, prey, and spider communities, as well as spider diet composition, in four temperate fruit types (apricot, peach, plum, and quince) on a single farm in the Western Cape, South Africa. We established experimental plots with and without addition of dead organic mulch under fruit tree canopies. Addition of organic mulch did not significantly affect weed cover under trees or the taxonomic composition of weed or spider communities over the eight‐month study period. However, independent of mulching, the taxonomic composition of weed communities was significantly related to the composition of potential prey and spider communities. These relationships indirectly affected the prey composition of web‐building spiders. These results suggest that the identity of weed species in the study orchards had a pronounced effect on the diet composition and functional role of web‐building spiders. Future research should focus on the value of individual plant species for the promotion of pest control services provided by spiders across larger spatial scales and with higher levels of replication to allow for wider generalizations. The expected results would not only be relevant for weed control but could also be considered during the development of future flower strips in orchards.

Modelling of Recent Erosion Rates in a Lake Catchment in the North-Western Siwalik Himalayas

Investigations have been carried out on Sukhna Lake catchment in the north-western Siwalik Hills in the Himalayas, to estimate recent erosion rates and to assess the impact of conservation measures on the erosion rate. The RUSLE model has been used using data for the period of 2011–2014 and its suitability has been evaluated by comparing its estimates with the observed bathymetric data. The model was found to estimate the erosion rate with fair degree of accuracy. The average recent erosion rate for the catchment comes out to be 34.27 t ha-1 y-1. The slope and steepness factor is found to have a major effect on the erosion process in the catchment. About 56% of the catchment area is observed to have high to very severe soil erosion rates. It is, however, observed that the recent erosion rates in the catchment are significantly reduced compared to the erosion rates in the initial years after the construction of the lake. This significant reduction is observed to be less due to the support practices of construction of silt detention dams and terracing etc., and more due to the cover management practices like extensive reforestation and plantation undertaken in the catchment.

Natural and anthropogenic influence on soil erosion in a rural watershed in the Brazilian southeastern region

Human activities have been driven land cover, provoking acceleration of the erosive process and alteration on the soil characteristics. To explore the effects of human disturbance, we investigated the influences of natural and anthropogenic features on soil quality and soil erosion indicators (EI) within a Brazilian rural watershed located in Bauru Municipality, State of Sao Paulo. A pre-established set of soil EI was used to evaluate the influence of anthropogenic land cover categories on the presence and severity of erosion, related with spatial variations of soil attributes. On-site visits were carried out to measure the occurrence and the intensity of eleven separate EI values and to collect undisturbed topsoil samples for subsequent analyses. We registered 17 occurrences of EIs, distributed in ten locals. Occurrence and intensity of EIs were related to degree of sheet erosion. The EI qualities were more strongly associated with land cover management practices than to local topographic features. The occurrence of EIs and characteristics of soil and soil organic matter (SOM) were not significantly self-correlated. Although land cover class seems to influence soil properties and SOM attributes, we observed that the granulometric composition of the soils also contributes to the structural characteristics of the soil and consequently to the dynamic loss and gain of soil carbon. Sites covered with natural remnant vegetation (NRV) store 96.5 Mg ha−1 of C and grassy and tilled soils stored more C than NRV, 100.1 and 142.4 Mg ha−1, respectively. Due to the influence of soil texture over the soil C dynamic, we observe that in Bauru, pastured areas have high potential for sequestration of C if factors such as fire and/or erosion were avoided or effectively controlled. Results from this study show that human disturbance substantially affects soil properties within of southeastern region of Brazil.

Habitat fragmentation reduces occupancy of nest boxes by an open-country raptor

SummaryDespite the recent rapid decline of many grassland bird species, the relative importance of habitat configuration to population persistence is unclear. We used Southeastern American KestrelsFalco sparverius paulusin north-central Florida as a model system to explore the relative influence of landscape structure components on site occupancy patterns at two spatial scales, and for two different time periods. We focused on the dynamic processes of site-level population expansion or contraction. We modelled the occupancy of 131 American Kestrel nest boxes with Bayesian state-space dynamic occupancy models that considered both the partially observed process of true occupancy and the probability of detection of occupancy. We used reversible jump Markov chain Monte Carlo (RJMCMC) algorithms to identify variables that described the continued occupancy of nest boxes, or ϕ, and the probability of colonisation of nest boxes between time periods, or γ3. Changes in open habitat patch isolation at a fine scale, as estimated by the variability of nearest neighbour distance, predicted site colonisation between decades, and patch shape variability was related to ϕ during the early time period (1992–93). We found no strong effects of landscape structure on ϕ during the later time period (2008–2010). We also found no evidence for effects of loss of open habitat on box occupancy or colonization. Our results indicate that continued habitat fragmentation would be deleterious for this threatened subspecies. Additionally, certain land cover management practices recommended for the Florida sandhills, such as frequent low-intensity controlled burns, will likely help conservation attempts.

Snow cover manipulation in agricultural fields: as an option for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions

AbstractShort‐term N2O emission occurs in relation to snowmelt within seasonally frozen soil. To understand the effects of changing winter climates on the N2O flux, snow cover manipulation experiments are useful. In Japan, snow cover manipulation is practiced by farmers to improve agricultural yield and is executed either by applying a broadcast of blackish agent onto the snow cover, which leads to faster snow‐melting thereby extending the crop‐growing season, or by snow cover removal/re‐accumulation, leading to an enhanced soil frost depth for weed management. Implementation of these practices involves using an amount of fossil fuel, in addition to influencing soil‐derived N2O emissions, therefore, the load factors of snow cover management practices per unit area of agricultural field were estimated in this study. Field data including micrometeorological conditions, ground surface flux of N2O, and amount of fossil fuel consumed during machinery operation for management practices, were obtained at two sites in Hokkaido over 2 years (2008–2010). Fuel consumption for the field spreading was found to be unexpectedly small (0.017 Mg CO2 eq ha−1). It was therefore suggested that acceleration of snowmelt may have the potential to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions if the agent used is a low‐degradable C‐rich material, such as charcoal. For soil frost control, the fossil fuel consumption during a set of snow cover removal/re‐accumulation (estimated as 0.052 Mg CO2 eq ha−1) is discussed, together with the relationship between possible mechanisms causing stimulation of N2O production in frozen soil and inherent large differences in N2O flux among sites.

Structural Stability and Hydraulic Conductivity Of Nkpologu Sandy Loam Soil Under Different Land Covers in Southeastern Nigeria

Studies were conducted in the runoff plots at the University of Nigeria Nsukka Teaching and Resesarch Farm in 2010 and 2011 to monitor the changes in structural stability and saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat) of Nkpologu sandy loam soil under different cover management practices. The management practices were bare fallow (BF), grass fallow (GF), legume (CE), groundnut (GN), sorghum (SM), and cassava (CA) cultivation. Three samplings were carried out at the study site following the characterization of the soil at five- month interval marking the end of first cropping season, and the start and end of the second cropping season respectively. There was no change in soil texture due to treatments. The aggregate stability (AS), mean weight diameter (MWD), water dispersible silt (WDSi), aggregate size distributions (&gt; 2 mm, 1-0.5 mm and &lt; 0.25 mm) and Ksat showed significant (P =0.05) changes with time. Ksat varied (CV = 52%) significantly (P = 0.05) with a standard deviation (SD) value of 7.8. The highest values for Ksat, AS and MWD were obtained in the first sampling period whereas the lowest values were obtained in the last sampling period. There were significant effect (P =0.05) of cover management practices on AS, MWD and Ksat. The highest values for AS, MWD and aggregate size fraction &gt; 2 mm were obtained under GF whereas the highest Ksat was obtained under GN. The lowest values for these parameters throughout the sampling periods were obtained under BF. The preponderance of aggregates &lt; 0.5 mm under BF showed that raindrop impact and other agents broke down macroaggregates into microaggregates. The cover treatments generally increased organic matter (O.M.) content compared with the BF. The O.M. had significant correlation with two aggregate size ranges; 1-0.5mm (r = - 0.276* at P=0.05) and 0.5-0.25mm (r = - 0.245*at P =0.05). The study has shown that cover management practices affected the structural properties of the tropical sandy loam soil differently over time.Keywords: Aggregate stability, MWD, aggregate size distribution, macroaggregates, microaggregates, saturated hydraulic conductivity, Cover management.

Assessing the potential effect of different land cover management practices on sediment yield from an abandoned farmland catchment in the Spanish Pyrenees

PurposeSediment delivery from headwater catchments to reservoirs is a serious threat to reservoir sustainability and is a critical issue in Mediterranean environments where water resources are scarce. In this study we assessed the consequences of two landscape management scenarios (natural vegetation recovery and scrub clearance) on soil erosion and sediment yield. The results were analyzed in relation to predicted and measured rates of soil erosion and sediment yield, with the aim of promoting better management practices.Materials and methodsThe study area was the Arnás River catchment (284 ha), which is located in the central Spanish Pyrenees; the area includes abandoned and poorly managed fields. The combination of the RUSLE and SEDD models of soil erosion and sediment delivery was evaluated in terms of its ability to predict annual rates of sediment yield, using field measurement data for seven water years at the gauging station. The consequences of natural plant succession in other areas of the Spanish Pyrenees and scrub clearance practices implemented by certain regional governments to increase grazing meadow areas and reduce the incidence of wildfires were spatially analyzed using GIS. The main sediment source areas were identified, and their specific and total sediment yields were calculated.Results and discussionThe predicted soil loss under existing conditions was 2.6 Mg ha−1 year−1, with 5% of the surface area affected by rates greater than 2 Mg. The measured sediment yield range was 69–534 Mg year−1. The maximum sediment yield detected was associated with an extraordinary debris flow. The predicted rates were strongly correlated to measured rates (Nash–Sutcliffe coefficient = 0.72). The main sources were alluvial deposits [specific sediment yield (SSY) = 51 Mg ha−1 year−1], bare soil (SSY = 12), unpaved trails (SSY = 11), lots (SSY = 4), and pastures (SSY = 1). Under a scenario of vegetation recovery, decreases of 3%, 17%, and 16% in soil loss and sediment delivery and yield (respectively) are predicted, whereas increases of 15%, 5%, and 2% are predicted following scrub clearance practices.ConclusionsCoupling the RUSLE and SEDD models enabled estimation of annual values of soil erosion and sediment delivery in monitored and unmonitored catchments of small and medium size, making this approach a useful tool for risk analysis. Management practices that combine fire-risk control, by the implementation of scrub clearance practices, with the effects of plant succession on sediment production are suggested as the best management strategy.

A design aid for sizing filter strips using buffer area ratio

Nonuniform field runoff can reduce the effectiveness of filter strips that are a uniform size along a field margin. Effectiveness can be improved by placing more filter strip where the runoff load is greater and less where the load is smaller. A modeling analysis was conducted of the relationship between pollutant trapping efficiency and the ratio of filter strip area to upslope contributing area, i.e., buffer area ratio. The results were used to produce an aid for designing filter strips having consistent effectiveness along field margins where runoff load is nonuniform. Simulations using the process-based Vegetative Filter Strip Model show that sediment and water trapping efficiencies of a filter strip increase nonlinearly as the buffer area ratio gets larger. Site characteristics, including slope, soil texture, and upslope soil cover management practices, help to define this relationship more accurately. Using the Vegetative Filter Strip Model simulation results, a graphical design aid was developed for estimating the buffer area ratio required to achieve specific trapping efficiencies for different pollutants under a broad range of agricultural site conditions. A single graph was produced showing simulation results for seven scenarios as a family of lines that divide the full range of possible relationships between trapping efficiency and buffer area ratio and into fairly even increments. Simple rules guide the selection of one line that best describes a given field situation by considering slope, soil texture, and field cover management practices. Relationships for sediment-bound and dissolved pollutants are interpreted from the Vegetative Filter Strip Model results for sediment and water. The design aid is easy to use, accounts for several major variables that determine filter strip performance, and is based on a validated, process-based, mathematical model. The use of this design aid will enable a more precise fit between filter size and runoff load where runoff from agricultural fields is nonuniform.

Implementing integrated pest management in professional lawn care: a case study

Human choices regarding land cover management practices may influence ecosystem services provided by urban green spaces. We conducted a 2-year study to compare biological (weed, insect, and disease), aesthetic (lawn quality), and economic (lawn care program cost) attributes of an integrated pest management (IPM) program, in which pesticides are applied on the basis of treatment thresholds, with a standard program, in which pesticides are applied on a calendar basis without pest monitoring. Both programs were managed by a professional lawn care operator. Although weed incidence was low, the IPM program had significantly more lawns with weed presence than the standard program during 2005 and 2006. However, only 21% of the IPM lawns required herbicide applications in 2005, and none exceeded the treatment threshold (5% weed cover) in 2006 as compared to 100% of the standard program lawns being treated for weeds in both years. The IPM program also had significantly more lawns with insect damage than the standard program during June 2005 and August 2005, but not September 2005 and throughout 2006. Only 28% of the IPM lawns required insecticide applications in 2005 and none exceeded the threshold (5% insect damage) in 2006 whereas all of the lawns in the standard program received insecticide treatments in both years. Rhizoctonia blight was present on some of the lawns, but was not a common problem. Although lawn quality was high for both programs (>8, on a scale of 1–9), it was significantly higher for standard than for IPM program lawns during 2005, and June 2006 and September 2006, but not August 2006. The annual lawn management costs were lower for the IPM ($281.50) than the standard program ($458.06). Thirty one percent of the IPM program customers who continued with the study in 2006 did so because they were satisfied with the IPM program. Among those who did not continue with the program, 33% cited weed or insect problems, while 33% expected better results. The implications of these findings for implementation of IPM in professional lawn care are further discussed.

Development and implementation of a reduced risk peach arthropod management program in New Jersey.

We implemented a 2-yr program to reduce organophosphorus and carbamate insecticide use and mitigate their associated risks as they relate to peach production in New Jersey and elsewhere. The main thrust integrated mating disruption with ground cover management practices to reduce oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta (Busck) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), and tarnished plant bug, Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois) (Heteroptera: Miridae), abundance and damage. This Reduced Risk Peach Arthropod Management Program was compared with adjacent conventionally managed peach orchards. In 1999, we found 2.3 times fewer L. lineolaris and stink bugs (Euschistus servus (Say), E. tristigmus (Say), Acrostemum hilare (Say) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) and 2.0 times less heteropteran damaged peaches in reduced-risk orchards when compared with conventionally managed orchards. In 2000, we observed 4.9 times fewer heteropteran insects in reduced-risk orchards but damage levels were not significantly different between the two programs. In both years, G. molesta mating disruption gave at least 4 mo of noninsecticidal control of this major pest. The reduced-risk program provided a level of pest control that was equal to or better than conventional peach pest management programs while using fewer organophosporus and carbamate insecticides.

Rainwater conservation and yield of sorghum (Sorghum biclor) as influenced by tillage and cover management practices in red soils

A field experiment was conducted during kharifof 2002 to 2003 at 2% slope in red soils at Datia, Madhya Pradesh to evolve a suitable tillage and surface mulching practice for higher rainwater conservation for aug- menting the crop growth and yield of sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Monech.] under rainfed conditions. Nine treatment combinations [T,, zero tillage (no crop); T,, T, + sorghum; T,, T , in situ surface mulching; T,, traditional + tillage (no crop); T,, T , sorghum; T,, T , in situ surface mulching; T,, improved tillage (no crop); T,, T , sor- + + + ghum and T,, T , in situ surface mulching] were evaluated under randomized block design with 3 replications. + Maximum infiltration rate (5.6 cmlhr), pore space (47.9%), water holding capacity (37.1 cm of 0-30 cm soil layer) and water stable aggregates (48.1 1 and 49.92 of 0-15 and 15-30 cm soil layer, respectively) and lowest bulk density (1.38 Mg/m3) were recorded under improved tillage + sorghum + in situ surface mulching (T,). Bulk den- sity was maximum (1.54 Mg/m3) under zero tillage (T,). Owing to higher rainwater conservation (78.9% mean of 2 years) growth, yield attributes and yield of sorghum increased significantly under increasing tillage depths and in situ surface mulching. Thus highest grain (3.31 tlha) and stover (9.98 tlha) yield and moisture use efficiency (7.84 kglha-mm) were recorded under T,. The results indicated that improved tillage coupled with in situ surface mulch- ing of sunnhemp was helpful for higher rain water conservation and increasing the yield of sorghum under rainfed conditions in red soils under semi - arid conditions of Madhya Pradesh.