Ground photoeclector evaluation of Diptera and parasitoid Hymenoptera in unfertilized, mineral nitrogen and compost fertilized grain fields

Published source details Idinger J. (1995) Schlüpftrichterfänge von Dipteren und parasitoiden Hymenopteren in unterschiedlich gedüngten Getreidefeldern. Mitteilungen der Deutschen Gesellschaft für allgemeine und angewandte Entomologie, 10, 553-556.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

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	Use organic rather than mineral fertilizers Action Link

Use organic rather than mineral fertilizers

A controlled study in 1991-1992 on two arable fields northeast of Wien, Austria (Idinger 1995) (same study as (Idinger et al. 1996, Idinger & Kromp 1997)) found that the number of emerging parasitic wasps (Hymenoptera) and flies (Diptera) was generally higher in a plot fertilized with compost than in the mineral fertilized control field. However, the effect of fertilizer on the number of emerging arthropods varied strongly between arthropod families. The parasitic wasp families (Ichneumonidae, Braconidae and Proctotrupoidea) all emerged in significantly higher numbers on the compost fertilized plot. The same was true for two of the more common fly families, gall midges (Cecidomyiidae) and non-biting midges (Chironomidae), and partly dark-winged fungus gnats (Sciaridae), whereas two families, balloon flies (Empididae) and humpbacked flies (Phoridae), were found more often in the control field. None of the presented families or species emerged in highest numbers in an unfertilized plot. Two plots (185 x 10 m each) were established in a 4 ha organic winter rye field. One was left unfertilized, the other was fertilized with compost. A nearby conventional winter cereal field served as a control. The control was fertilized with mineral fertilizer and treated with herbicides in 1991 only. Emerging arthropods were sampled from May-November 1991 and May-August 1992 in five photo-eclectors placed along a line (20 m apart) in each habitat. The eclectors were emptied every second week and moved every month. Data from six sampling dates are used in this paper.