pnut pnut Peanut Science 0095-3679 0095-3679 American Peanut Research and Education Society 10.3146/i0095-3679-25-1-7 Articles The Impact of Tillage Practices on Thrips Injury of Peanut in North Carolina and Virginia1 R. L. Brandenburg 2, *, D. A. Herbert Jr. 3, G. A. Sullivan 2, G. C. Naderman 2, and S. F. Wright 4 Prof., Dept. of Entomology, Prof., Dept. of Crop Science, and Prof., Dept. of Agric. and Biol. Eng., respectively; N. C. State Univ., Raleigh, NC 27695 Assoc. Prof., Dept. of Entomology, VPI&SU, Suffolk, VA 23437 USDA, ARS SAA Nat. Peanut Res. Lab., Dawson, GA 31742

1Contribution of the North Carolina Agric. Res. Serv. and the Virginia Coop. Ext. Serv. Partially funded by grants from the North Carolina Peanut Growers Assoc., Inc. and the Peanut CRSP, USAID grant number DAN-4048-G-00-0041-00.

 *Corresponding author. 1 1998 25 1 27 31 20 2 1998 American Peanut Research and Education Society 1998 American Peanut Research and Education Society Abstract

Reduced tillage peanut production is gaining popularity and the impact of this practice on insect pests is not well understood. This study monitored thrips (Frankliniella fusca Hinds) damage and abundance on peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) in North Carolina and Virginia on peanuts grown under different tillage regimes from 1986-92. A general trend for less thrips damage in reduced tillage plots was consistent in all years except 1992 in North Carolina. In many instances, damage to plants in reduced tillage peanuts was significantly less than in a conventionally tilled system. The implications for future pest management strategies involving reduced pesticide use as well as research needs to meet these goals are discussed.

 Key Words Arachis hypogaea L; , conservation tillage; , cultural practices; , Frankliniella fusca; , minimum till; , no-till; , tobacco thrips