Matthew Longmire — Exit Seminar

Matthew Longmire will be presenting his M.S. Exit Seminar via Zoom beginning at 9:00 am (EST) on Thursday, July 16, 2020. After his Exit Seminar is finished, we will take a short break and then reconvene for his M.S. Defense/Orals which should begin ca. 10:00 am (EST). You are welcome to join, if your schedule permits. Both the Seminar and the Defense/Orals will be delivered via the same Zoom link (see below):

Please attend via Zoom: https://tennessee.zoom.us/j/7846574993

Influence of Traditional and Dual-Use Cropping on Arthropods and Slugs in Soybean in Tennessee

Abstract. Soybean, the number one agricultural crop in Tennessee in both number of hectares planted and economic value, is used in a wide variety of products and is marketed globally. In recent years, Tennessee soybean growers have shown an increased interest in the use of cover crops with soybean. A cover crop, planted before the cash crop, can minimize weeds, diseases, insects, and other pests. Traditionally, cover crops are terminated in the spring before cash crop planting. Traditional methods of cover cropping provide many benefits, but can also produce undesired results. Dual-use cover cropping is a newer method of cover cropping in which dual-purpose cover crops are harvested as a forage crop prior to cash crop planting. Unfortunately, little research has investigated the impact of dual-use cropping on populations of insects and other arthropods, as well as slugs, in Tennessee. A two-year study designed to evaluate the impact of dual-use cover cropping on pest and beneficial arthropods and slugs was initiated in east and middle Tennessee by using various cover crop treatments and management practices in soybean. The primary research goals of this project were to: 1) evaluate impact of dual-use cover cropping on pest and beneficial arthropods, 2) assess influence of dual-use cover cropping on density and impact of slugs, and 3) determine influence of dual-use cover cropping and pests on soybean yield. Results show that both cover crop treatment and management practice (i.e., traditional or dual-crop) did not have a significant (p<0.05) effect on overall arthropod or slug densities. Management practice and cover crop treatment did not result in an increase in pest problems in soybean. Cover crop treatment and management practice also did not significantly (p<0.05) impact soybean yield. These research findings should enable soybean growers to better understand cover crop-arthropod interactions to enhance soybean production in Tennessee.