Ground beetles (Carabidae) are polyphagous predators that can be important in the biological control of insect pests and weeds. Cropping practices that can increase the beneficial impacts of carabids are not well understood. We are comparing carabid activity-density in two- and four-year crop rotation systems in central Iowa. The two-year system uses a corn-soybean sequence, whereas the four-year rotation uses a corn-soybean-triticale plus alfalfa-alfalfa sequence. Carabid activity-density is being assessed through pitfall trapping in replicated treatment plots. Traps are opened for five nights every other week from May until September. Carabid activity-density, and community composition in the two- and four-year rotation systems in 2003 will be reported.
Species 1: Coleoptera Carabidae (ground beetle)
Keywords: crop rotation
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