Spatial association of soil and crop characteristics with insect abundance and injury in cotton

Insecticides are typically applied to entire fields, yet insects often have highly aggregated distributions in fields. Studies are needed to assess whether NDVI and soil electroconductivity (EC) data can be used to predict the risk of injury from insects. Field trials were conducted in South Carolina to associate soil and plant characteristics with insect abundance and injury to cotton. EC, NDVI, and plant biomass were included among variables measured, in addition to thrips, stink bug and aphid densities and/or injury.