Effect or no-tillage on energy flow in cotton agroecosystem

Comparative studies on the effect of conventional and no-tillage methods on soil microbes, insect pests, natural enemies, cotton plants and energy flow in cottom agroecosystems show that the biomass and respiration rate of soil microbes were respectively 1.32 times and 1.63 times higher in no-tillage than in conventional cotton agroecosystem. In no-tillage cotton agroecosystem, the productivity of seedling aphid (Aphis gossypii), autumn aphid, 2nd and 4th generation cotton bollworm (Helicouerpa armigera) populations was increased, but the productivity of summer aphid and 3rd generation cotton bollworm populations and the productivityand prey utilization efficiency of natural enemy populations were decreased. No-tillage could enhance the light utilization efficiency and gross production, with an additional benefit of reduced energy expense in cotton agroecosystem.