Constant precision sampling plans for the white apple leafhopper, Typhlocyba pomaria McAtee, were developed so that it could be used as an indicator species for system stability as new integrated pest management programs without broad-spectrum pesticides are developed. Taylor's power law was used to model the relationship between the mean and the variance, and Green's constant precision sequent...

The idea of agroecosystem analysis has at least some roots in the frustration of researchers who saw their technological innovations too often ignored by farmers (Conway 1985;1986;1987). This led to a “systems” approach manifested in a variety of ways, but generally with a strong measure of farmer participation. The “Conway school” and most other systematic approaches to analyzing agroecosystem...

Cover crops (CCs) can enhance the sustainability and resiliency of agroecosystems by providing multiple ecosystem benefits, including soil quality improvement. However, in areas with limited precipitation such as southwestern USA, cover cropping is challenging. With water, it may be difficult to raise for realizing benefits. Research was conducted at two sites New Mexico over years determine if...

Non-marketable crops are increasingly being used as a tool to promote agroecosystem services and sustainable agriculture. Nevertheless, vary greatly in the traits by which they capture resources influence local ecosystem. Here we report on associated soil microbial communities that relate aboveground biomass production, nutrient capture, weed suppression, erosion control building particulate or...

Vineyard is a multifunctional ecosystem associated to multitude of environmental benefits and services. Despite the increased research efforts on analysis biodiversity patterns services in vineyard, lack approaches multifunctionality suggests develop integrated allowing manage complexity vineyard landscape. The present study introduces an innovative methodology aimed at developing unitary frame...

A genetic linkage map was constructed from an intraspecific cross of the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata. This is an initial step toward mapping the loci that underlie important phenotypes associated with insect adaptation to an agroecosystem. The map was made with 172 AFLP and 10 anonymous codominant markers segregating among 74 backcross (BC(1)) individuals. Markers were map...

Shifting agriculture in the tropics has been replaced by sedentary smallholder farming on a few hectares of degraded land. To address low yields and low income both, the soil fertility, the agroecosystem functions, and the source of income can be restored by diversification with nitrogen-fixing trees and the cultivation of indigenous tree species that produce nutritious and marketable products....