Management experiments on aphids (Acyrthosiphon spp.) and beneficial insects in lucerne
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Published source details
Cameron P.J., Allan D.J., Walker G.P. & Wightman J.A. (1983) Management experiments on aphids (Acyrthosiphon spp.) and beneficial insects in lucerne. New Zealand Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 11, 343-349.
Published source details Cameron P.J., Allan D.J., Walker G.P. & Wightman J.A. (1983) Management experiments on aphids (Acyrthosiphon spp.) and beneficial insects in lucerne. New Zealand Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 11, 343-349.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Leave part of the crop or pasture unharvested or uncut Action Link |
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Leave part of the crop or pasture unharvested or uncut
A controlled trial from 1978-1980 at Pukekohe, New Zealand (Cameron et al. 1983) found a higher ratio of predators to aphids Acyrthosiphon spp. in five out of seven periods in a plot where strips of alfalfa Medicago sativa were left uncut than in a fully cut plot. The plot with uncut strips had fewer aphid outbreaks (two aphid outbreaks in seven interharvest periods) than a fully cut plot (four aphid outbreaks). Peak aphid numbers on alfalfa stems were also higher in the fully cut plot (5.5-400.3 aphids/stem) than the plot with uncut strips (0.6-124.6 aphids/stem). Two 40 x 60 m plots were compared: one continuously-cut plot and one strip-cut plot. In the strip-cut plot, two 10 m-wide strips were cut when the continuously-cut plot was mown, the remaining two strips were cut when the previously cut strips were half-grown. Aphids were sampled by sweep netting (50 sweeps/plot) and counting aphids on 10 alfalfa stems at six points along one transect/plot.
