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Insect pests were monitored by a variety of trapping techniques as well as visual observation. Neem oil and other organic insecticides were applied on an as needed basis. On average these were applied less than two times per year. In the final year of study, we conducted more thorough studies to assess the effects of treatments (bahiagrass pretreatments and tillage) on insect biodiversity utilizing pitfall traps. |
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Over sixty species of insects were collected, identified and quantified. Tillage had the most obvious effect on insect communities with higher abundances on strip-till plots and higher biodiversity of conventional plots.
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However, effects of tillage on abundances of insects was highly species-specific. For examples, many beneficials such as some ant species were higher on strip-tilled plots while populations of pest species were higher on conventionally tilled plots. |
