ABSTRACT
Changes i n t i l l a g e p r a c t i c e s can s i g n i f i c a n t l y a f f e c t p e s t problems, t h u s changing p e s t management s t r a t e g i e s and p e s t i c i d e use. Concerns have been r a i s e d b y some observers t h a t a t r a d e o f f may occur w i t h t h e adop t ion o f c o n s e r v a t i o n t i l l a g e . The b e n e f i c i a l r e s u l t o f reduced s o i l e r o s i o n w i t h c o n s e r v a t i o n t i l l a g e may come a t t h e expense o f i nc reased p e s t i c i d e use which may inc rease wate r con tamina t ion p o t e n t i a l (Hink le, 1983). T h i s paper w i l l address t h e i m p l i c a t i o n s o f conserva t ion t i l l a g e on weeds, insec ts , and p l a n t pathogens and on p r o j e c t e d changes i n p e s t i c i d e use. Grea tes t emphasis w i l l be p laced on weeds, as e x t e n s i v e research has been conducted on t h e impact o f t i l l a g e on weeds and herb ic ides , and h e r b i c i d e use accounts f o r about 85% o f t o t a l p e s t i c i d e use i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s (Delvo, 1984). Corn and soybeans account f o r 80-85% o f p resen t h e r b i c i d e use.
