Pest Interactions in Soy Fields
Agricultural pests cost farmers hundreds to thousands of dollars each year through pesticide application and reductions in crop production. In the Midwest, common agricultural pests include a variety of herbivorous insects and white-tailed deer. In non-crop systems, these taxa can indirectly interact, with more herbivorous insects in areas with higher deer browse. Understanding whether similar patterns occur in crop systems will provide new management techniques for producers. Specifically, if this positive relationship occurs in crop systems, reduction of deer browse may also help to alleviate pressures from insect pests.
This study was conducted with an undergraduate at Miami University, Abby VanGorder (left). We sought to quantify the interactions between deer and insect pests and their effects on soybean growth and yield along a natural deer browse gradient. Publication: VanGorder et al. 2020 |