The effect of ridge planting and earliness of durum wheat varieties on sunn pest (Eurygaster spp.) damage and grain yield

Sunn pests (Eurygaster spp.) are among the most important insect pests of wheat (Triticum sativum L.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Cultural practices can prevent or minimize common sunn pest (Eurygaster integriceps Puton) population densities and crop damage. A three-year field experiment (Jun 05 to Aug 07) was conducted in Diyarbakir in the southeast Antolia region of Turkey, to evaluate the effects of planting method (no-till ridge planting and conventional planting) and earliness of durum wheat (Triticum durum L.) varieties (early, mid-season and late varieties) on E. integriceps density, grain damage and overall grain yield. The effect of the planting method on the sunn pest density and percent of grains damaged by sunn pest was not significant; however, there was a significant difference among the different varieties used in this study. While Cesit-1252 (late wheat variety) had the highest nymph density (11.2 nymphs m−2) and percent of sunn pest damaged grains (2.8%), Saricanak-98 (early wheat variety) had the lowest nymph density (4.3 nymphs m−2) and percent of sunn pest damaged grains (0.8%). Grain yield was the highest (5.99 t ha−1) for Saricanak-98 while there was no significant difference between Aydin-93 (5.06 t ha−1) and Cesit-1252 (4.99 t ha−1). In conclusion, this study suggests that planting methods may not have a significant effect on sunn pest density, percent of sunn pest damaged grains or grain yield; however, the use of early durum wheat varieties, such asSaricanak-98, may reduce sunn pest population densities, percent of damaged grains, allowing increases in grain yield in southeast Anatolia region, Turkey.