Empirical and theoretical assessment of mechanical and injection cultivation methods to manage white grubs in turfgrass

White grubs, or the larvae of scarab beetles, are widespread destructive pests of turfgrass systems around the world. We sought to determine if turfgrass cultivation machinery could reliably manage white grubs in turfgrass systems. Hollow-tine aeration provided greater reductions in grub densities than solid-vibratory tine and air/solid injection cultivation in field trials. In following studies, low to moderate reductions (0- 53%) were observed with single hollow-tine applications, though low grub densities encountered within field plots hindered the ability to detect statistical differences between cultivation treatments including tine diameter and tine spacing. Increasing aerification frequency on plots from one to two or more passes produced statistically significant reductions (> 80% control) in both years of trials. To eliminate the variability observed in the field, a simulation model was constructed to determine the expected outcome of varying tine patterns have on increasing grub densities. Models suggests that expected mortality is likely to be minimal (< 10%) in one-time aerification events. In-field simulations using templates overlaid on natural populations demonstrated two-fold greater control than theoretical simulations. Differences in control between field studies and model simulation are likely caused by an over-estimation of mortality when performing presence-absence counts in field studies when grub densities are low. Although multiple aerification events will likely improve control, current cultivation practices are unlikely to achieve the level of control expected by turfgrass managers in intensely managed landscapes.

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Work Title Empirical and theoretical assessment of mechanical and injection cultivation methods to manage white grubs in turfgrass
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Open Access
Creators
  1. Benjamin A McGraw
  2. Garrett Yongjin Price
  3. Audrey Marie Paule Simard
License In Copyright (Rights Reserved)
Work Type Article
Publication Date 2021
Deposited September 21, 2022

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Version 1
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  • Created

    September 21, 2022 08:18 by bam53

  • Updated

    September 21, 2022 08:18 by [unknown user]

  • Added Creator Benjamin A McGraw

    September 21, 2022 08:19 by bam53

  • Added Creator Garrett Yongjin Price

    September 21, 2022 08:19 by bam53

  • Added Creator Audrey Marie Paule Simard

    September 21, 2022 08:19 by bam53

  • Added Mechanical Control of WG with Aerifiers-2021.pdf

    September 21, 2022 08:22 by bam53

  • Updated Work Title, Description, License Show Changes

    September 21, 2022 08:26 by bam53

    Work Title
    • • Empirical and theoretical assessment of mechanical and injection cultivation methods to manage white grubs in turfgrass
    • Empirical and theoretical assessment of mechanical and injection cultivation methods to manage white grubs in turfgrass
    Description
    • White grubs, or the larvae of scarab beetles, are widespread destructive pests of turfgrass systems around the world. We sought to determine if turfgrass cultivation machinery could reliably manage white grubs in turfgrass systems. Hollow-tine aeration provided greater reductions in grub densities than solid-vibratory tine and air/solid injection cultivation in field trials. In following studies, low to moderate reductions (0- 53%) were observed with single hollow-tine applications, though low grub densities encountered within field plots hindered the ability to detect statistical differences between cultivation treatments including tine diameter and tine spacing. Increasing aerification frequency on plots from one to two or more passes produced statistically significant reductions (> 80% control) in both years of trials. To eliminate the variability observed in the field, a simulation model was constructed to determine the expected outcome of varying tine patterns have on increasing grub densities. Models suggests that expected mortality is likely to be minimal (< 10%) in one-time aerification events. In-field simulations using templates overlaid on natural populations demonstrated two-fold greater control than theoretical simulations. Differences in control between field studies and model simulation are likely caused by an over-estimation of mortality when performing presence-absence counts in field studies when grub densities are low. Although multiple aerification events will likely improve control, current cultivation practices are unlikely to achieve the level of control expected by turfgrass managers in intensely managed landscapes.
    License
    • https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/
  • Published

    September 21, 2022 08:26 by bam53

  • Updated

    April 04, 2024 10:21 by [unknown user]