Sternechus subsignatus (Boheman) is a curculionid occurring in some fields of the traditional soybean production área in southern Brazil. During the 1990/91 growing season, in Cruz A1ta - RS, in an Oxissol (Dark-Red Latossol), clay texture, after four years of soybean cultivation under no-till. the effect of the following soi1 tillage methods on the insect infestation and damage were evaluated: T1) NT = no-till. T2) CT + NT = conventional tillage in July and no-till after October; T3) N T + CT = no-till until July and conventional tillage after October; T4) CT = conventional tillage in July and October. Results demonstrated that the soil tillage methods influenced the establishment and activity of S. subsignatus and, in consequence, the productivity of soybean plants decreased in the soil under no-till and increased in the soil under conventional tillage (plowed and disk arrowed).
Coleoptera; Curculionidae cultural control; cultural practices tillage systems
