Population Dynamics of Aphids and their Natural Enemies Associated with Strip-Intercropping in Wheat Crop
Population Dynamics of Aphids and their Natural Enemies Associated with Strip-Intercropping in Wheat Crop
Muhammad Arshad,1* Sajjad Ahmad1, Muhammad Sufyan1, Zain-ul Abdin1 and Sumaira Maqsood2
ABSTRACT
Aphids are considered serious pests of many agricultural crops worldwide. The present study was conducted to assess the wheat aphids’ diversity and their predators association with strip intercropping (brassica, alfalfa, berseem and garlic) and wheat monoculture. Results showed that the first aphid was seen in the last week of January while the predator population was first recorded during the first week of March. Aphid population was maximum on wheat monoculture when 130 specimens were recorded per tiller. Among strip cropping garlic showed maximum population (113 per tiller) followed by brassica (105), berseem (98) and alfalfa (83 per tiller). Second week of March was the most favorable period when 11.48 per tiller of aphid population counted in wheat monoculture, while no specimens were noticed after the first week of April. The coccinellid and syrphid fly showed a maximum population of 1.3 and 1.1 per plant in wheat monoculture respectively in the third week of March, The garlic (1.1/plant) and brassica (0.8/plant) showed maximum population while minimum population of coccinellid recorded in berseem (0.6 per plant) and alfalfa (0.5 per plant). Similar population level was reported in different strip cropping for syrphid fly. Our findings suggest, the strip intercropping promote species composition; richness and abundance in general and predators in particular.
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