Prairie pest monitoring network

Non-Peer Reviewe

Arthropod diversity and pest dynamics in various production input levels and cropping system strategies

Non-Peer ReviewedEconomic viability and soil degradation are major issues facing farmers in the grassland ecozone of the Northern Great Plains. Crop diversification, reduced fallow and reduced inputs are being promoted in an effort to address these issues. A systems approach is applied as the experimental framework with which to monitor and assess alternate input and cropping strategies. The design, data collection and evaluation are based on the collaborative efforts of crop, pest, economic and soil scientists. This paper highlights the role of arthropods (insects, spiders, mites) in the assessment of farming systems. Arthropods are the most diverse group of organisms in most ecosystems. Many species, including beneficial and pest species, are well-suited to characterizing the ecosystems that they inhabit. Ecosystem-based, arthropod baselines are viewed by the authors as an integral component in evaluating farming systems

Response of argentine canola seedlots to four laboratory vigour tests

Non-Peer ReviewedSixteen seedlots from four varieties of Argentine canola, Brassica napus L., were subjected to four laboratory vigour tests including the modified germination test, accelerated aging test, controlled deterioration test and conductivity test. Results indicated that within each variety, high germination seedlots had lowest conductivity readings and were least prone to accelerated aging or controlled deterioration. Conversely, low germination seedlots had highest conductivity and were most prone to deteriorate after exposure to 45oC for 24 h. Germination counts of seedlots in each vigour test were correlated with field data from early May plantings at Saskatoon, Watrous and Rosebank in 2000. Pearson correlation coefficients indicated that the modified germination test, accelerated aging test, controlled deterioration test and seedling dry weight in controlled deterioration test provided the best indication of seedling emergence and seedling establishment. Seedling dry weight in the controlled deterioration test provided the highest statistical correlation with seedling fresh weight and biomass. Conductivity readings were inversely correlated with seedling establishment and biomass

Seed quality and vigour of Polish canola (Brassica rapa)

Non-Peer ReviewedSeed vigour of nine Polish canola varieties was studied in the laboratory using the controlled deterioration test and a modified germination test. Vigour ratings were correlated with field data from late May plantings at Saskatoon in 1998 - 2000. Correlation coefficients indicated that the modified germination test provided a better indication of seedling establishment and seedling growth than the controlled deterioration test. Exposure of seed lots to high temperature (45oC for 24 h) substantially reduced the vigour of AC Parkland and Reward but had little effect on the vigour of other Polish varieties

Crop productivity with alternative input use and cropping diversity strategies

Non-Peer Reviewe

Integrated management of crop pests–abundance of wheat midge and its parasite in different management systems

Non-Peer ReviewedPopulations of wheat midge larvae and parasite larvae were assessed in six management systems at Kernen Farm near Saskatoon in 1997-1999. Ten soil cores were collected from each plot in mid May and late June. Emergence cages were placed in wheat plots in 1997 and canola plots in 1998-2000 to monitor emergence of adult wheat midge and parasite. Wheat plots were inspected in the evening to estimate numbers of wheat midge during heading and anthesis. In 1997, wheat midge populations exceeded one midge per 4-5 wheat heads during heading and were controlled with chlorpyrifos. Adult populations were below the economic threshold in 1998, 1999 and 2000. Results showed that emergence of adult wheat midge and parasites differed in management systems. Emergence of each species was 1.4-2.0 times higher in early-seeded systems than in late-seeded systems and 1.5-2.0 times higher in zero-till systems than in tilled systems. Late-seeded management systems with high tillage had the lowest emergence of adult wheat midge and parasite. Wheat production on the same land for two consecutive years should be discouraged in zero-till systems to deter buildup of wheat midge populations. Emergence of adult wheat midge and female wheat midge varied greatly from year to year. Emergence was 4-10 days earlier in 1997 and 1998 than in 1999 or 2000. In 1997-2000, dates for 10%, 50% and 90% emergence were July 10, July 19 and July 25, respectively. Degree-day requirements for 10%, 50% and 90% emergence of adult wheat midge were similar with air temperatures (706, 811, and 894 degree-days, respectively) and soil temperatures at 2.5cm depth (706, 817 and 906 degree-days, respectively). Accumulated degree days, based on AES air temperatures or hourly soil temperatures at 2.5cm and 5.0cm depths, provided a reliable method of evaluating emergence of adult wheat midge

The Scott alternative cropping systems study: background and treatment structure

Non-Peer ReviewedOver the past 20 years grain crop production on the Canadian prairies has experienced the adoption of minimum tillage practises and extended cropping rotations that incorporate an ever increasing diversity of crops. This change has been driven in part by long term rotation studies revealing soil erosion and degradation with mechanical tillage and numerous short term studies that document the benefits of diverse cropping systems. Change has been accelerated in recent years as producers faced with the challenge of depressed grain prices adopt technological change, respond to consumer demands, and reduce inputs in an attempt to remain profitable. These changes in farm management practices while having short term economic objectives also have long term implications for the environment, production sustainability, and food safety. While long term studies in the past have generally compared components of production systems such as rotations or soil amendments, a long term multidisciplinary cropping system study initiated at Scott in 1994 is based on a comparison of different cropping systems. To evaluate the sustainability of arable crop production on the Canadian Prairies the study incorporates three levels of inputs (Organic, Reduced, High) and three levels of cropping diversity (low, diverse annual grains, diverse annual forage) in a six year rotation cycle. This paper is the first in a series of papers discussing results from the first 6 year cycle. This document provides an introduction to the issue of sustainable agricultural crop production with a focus on the objectives, experimental design of the study, and management practices within each of the systems

The Influence of Abiotic Factors on an Invasive Pest of Pulse Crops, Sitona lineatus

Pea leaf weevil, Sitona lineatus (L.), native to Europe and North Africa, has been introduced into many other countries around the world, including the USA and Canada. Adults are oligophagous pests on leguminaceous plants. Sitona lineatus was first recorded in Canada in 1997, near Lethbridge, Alberta. Since then, it has spread north in Alberta and west into Saskatchewan in 2007. Bioclimatic simulation models were used to predict the distribution and extent of establishment of S. lineatus in Canada based on its current geographic range, phenology, relative abundance, and empirical data. The study identified areas in Canada that are at risk for future establishment of S. lineatus and developed a better understanding of climate effects. Climate change projections (General Circulation Models) were then imposed on the bioclimatic model of S. lineatus. Bioclimatic model output varied for each of the three General Circulation Models. In terms of suitability for pest establishment (Ecoclimatic Index), the NCAR273 CCSM climate data resulted in the most significant shift northward

Actual and potential distribution of an invasive canola pest, Meligethes viridescens (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae), in Canada

Meligethes viridescens (Fabricius), bronzed or rape blossom beetle, is a widespread and common pest of oilseed rape [Brassica napus L. and Brassica rapa L. (Brassicaceae)] in the western Palaearctic subregion. The establishment of M. viridescens in eastern North America has raised concern that its presence is a potential risk to the Canadian canola industry, especially to the prairie ecozone of western Canada where up to 4 million ha of summer canola (B. napus and B. rapa) are grown annually. Study of museum specimens indicated that M. viridescens was first recorded in Nova Scotia in 1947. Field surveys indicated that, as of 2001, M. viridescens was established as far west as Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec. A CLIMEXTM model for M. viridescens in Europe was developed and validated with actual distribution records. In Canada the model predicted that once introduced, M. viridescens would readily survive in the canola-growing areas. The actual distribution of M. viridescens in eastern Canada matched the predicted distribution well. The westward dispersal to and establishment of M. viridescens in canola-growing areas of Ontario and western Canada, particularly southern Manitoba, appear to be inevitable. Establishment in these areas presents the risk of substantial production losses to canola producer

Evaluation of remote sensing approaches to monitor crop conditions under specific input levels and cropping diversity

Non-Peer ReviewedThis study was conducted as part of the Alternative Cropping Systems (ACS) study at Scott, Saskatchewan. The 18 year study was initiated in 1995 to evaluate the sustainability of nine arable crop production systems. The nine cropping systems, derived from combinations of three input levels (organic, reduced, and high) and three cropping diversity levels (low, diversified annual grains, and diversified annual perennials), were designed to monitor and assess alternative input use and cropping strategies for arable crop production on the Canadian Prairies. Field data including leaf area index (LAI) and spectral reflectance were collected three times during the growing season of 2003: early growing season (June), mid growing season (July) and late growing season (August). LAI was measured with an LAI-2000 plant canopy analyzer. The spectral measurements were made with a handheld ADS spectroradiometer, which covers wavelengths from 350 nm to 2500 nm with 2151 bands. Results showed that remote sensing can be used to indicate different crop conditions. The spectral and LAI differences among input levels were significant at early to mid growing seasons. Mid July was the best season and the red over near infrared spectral ratio as well as the normalized difference vegetation index based on these two bands were the best vegetation indices to use for crop vigor monitoring