Controlling Rice Stem Borer in Paddy Crop
Rice stem borer is one of the most destructive pests of rice that significantly affects the yield and quality of the crop. It damages the stem of the rice plants, leading to stunted growth, fewer tillers, and ultimately, lower grain production. Timely control measures can help prevent significant damage to the crop, ensuring farmers get higher yields and profits.
Here are some effective control measures that farmers can use to prevent rice stem borer infestation in their paddy crop:
Cultural Control Measures
Cultural control measures are the best way to prevent rice stem borer infestation. Farmers can follow the following practices:
1. Crop rotation: Farmers can avoid sowing rice in the same field consecutively for more than two years. Instead, they can grow leguminous crops or other non-rice crops in the field to break the pest’s life cycle.
2. Planting date: Early planting of rice crop can help avoid pest infestation because the plants will mature before the pest’s population reaches its peak, leading to a lower level of infestation.
3. Destruction of alternate host weed: The destruction of weed hosts such as wild rice, barnyard grass, and sedges, which are common breeding grounds for the pest, will help reduce pest infestation.
Biological Control Measures
Biological control measures use natural enemies to control pests effectively. Here are some of the biological control measures for rice stem borer:
1. Trichogramma: It is a type of wasp that lays its eggs on rice stem borer eggs. The emerging wasp destroys the rice stem borer egg, preventing their further growth.
2. Pheromone traps: Using pheromones traps helps attract male rice stem borer and trap them. The trapping of male pests reduces the chances of mating and prevents further generation of pests.
3. Use of parasitic nematodes: Farmers can use parasitic nematodes, such as Steinerneman carpocapsae and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, to control rice stem borer infestation.
Chemical Control Measures
Farmers can use insecticides to control rice stem borer. However, using insecticides should be a last resort. The following insecticides can control rice stem borer in rice:
1. Kochipec: It is an insecticide with active ingredients cartap hydrochloride. It can provide significant protection against rice stem borer.
2. Carbofuran: It is effective against rice stem borer, should be used in small quantities, and care should be taken while using it.
3. Chlorpyriphos: It is a broad-spectrum insecticide that is useful against a variety of pests, including rice stem borer.
Conclusion
Rice stem borer is a severe pest in paddy crops that needs timely control measures to prevent significant damage to yields and profits. Farmers can follow the above practices to prevent pest infestations, ensuring they get higher yields and better returns on investment.