The study of the influence of various irrigation methods on the development of turnip moth in agrobiocenoses of winter wheat and corn in conditions of the South of Ukraine is an important component of planning of reliable protection of these crops against dangerous phytophage species. It has been established that drip irrigation and sprinkling are effective measures of crops’ protection against damage and invasion caused by turnip moth. The most dangerous for maize plants is the turnip moth in the “caterpillar” stage of the I-II age of spring generation. Sprinkling irrigation during the period of mass egg’s deposition and the revival of caterpillars of turning moth contributes to a significant decrease (by 6,8-67,7%) in the share of this type of pest, compared to conditions without an irrigation. Corresponding results were also obtained from a study of the effect of the different irrigation types on oulema in winter wheat crops. That is, the amount of the indicated phytophage under irrigation conditions was less than 3–6 times compared with the control (without irrigation). It was proved that in the case of sprinkling, compared with the control (without irrigation), the number of caterpillars of younger ages L1-L2 over the years ranged from 0,2 to 6,2 sp./m2 , while in the control the density was 3,3 – 14,5 sp./m2 . It has been established that the caterpillars of turnip moth in conditions of high soil moisture are more susceptible to entomopathogenic species of entomophoric fungi Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill. and B. tenella (Delacr.). Minimal damage to the pest by the indicated pathogens was noted on the caterpillars of older ages L3-L4. Without an irrigation, the proportion of infected caterpillars was 2,2 – 0,5%, which is 1,6 – 2,4 times less than sprinkling, and 1,1 – 4,8 times drip irrigation. Crop irrigation also affects the distribution of the pests over the soil layers. In dry and loose soil in rainfed areas, larvae and pupae of turnip moth occur at a depth of 10- 20 cm, while in moist, compacted soil of irrigated fields up to 5 cm. This makes them more accessible for destruction during cultivation and other surface treatments
drip irrigation, sprinkling, turnip moth, oulema, pests
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