Simulating the Effect of Farming Practices on Numbers of Childers Canegrubs

摘要

Childers canegrub (Antitrogus parvulus Britton) has been a significant pest of sugarcane grown on clay-loam soils in the Bundaberg region for about 100 years. But, its population dynamics are poorly understood. Farming practices affect numbers of the canegrubs, but their timing relative to canegrub phenology probably modifies the effects. The modelling tool DYMEX was used to simulate the effect of crop length, time of planting, plough-out and fallow, and the application of controlled-release insecticide on numbers of Childers canegrub during periods up to 18 years. All simulated farming practices had significant effects on numbers of Childers canegrubs. Lowest numbers of canegrubs were associated with shorter crop length, spring-fallow and autumn planting practices and the use of controlled-release (CR) insecticide.