“SUCCESSION OF RICE PEST COMPLEX AND TESTING OF DIFFERENT MANAGEMENT MODULES AGAINST RICE PEST COMPLEX UNDER SOUTH GUJARAT CONDITION” A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE NAVSARI AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY NAVSARI IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN AGRICULTURAL ENTOMOLOGY BY KAKDE AMOL MADHUKAR M.Sc. (Agri.) DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL ENTOMOLOGY N. M. COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE NAVSARI AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY NAVSARI – 396 450 JUNE-2014 REGISTRATION No.:- 04-0978-2011 Succession of rice pest complex and testing of different management modules against rice pest complex under South Gujarat condition Name of Student Major Advisor Mr. Kakde A. M. Dr. K. G. Patel DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL ENTOMOLOGY N. M. COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE NAVSARI AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY NAVSARI − 396 450 ABSTRACT Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the world‟s second most important cereal crop and a staple food crop of India. South Gujarat engage maximum rice growing area of the State belonging to Dang, Valsad, Navsari and Surat districts. In South Gujarat region, where warm and humid climate exists throughout the year, the prospective of productivity of high yielding varieties still not fully exploited due to number of biotic and abiotic factors. Among these, rice crop is mainly affected by many insect species starting from seedling to maturity stage and out of which, about 20 insect pests have economic importance. For the management of rice insect pests, farmers are using indiscriminate doses of chemicals which have created number of problems. Adoption of integrated pest management is one of the best strategies to overcome these problems. The awareness regarding time of appearance of pest and period of its maximum activity helps the farmers to implement preventive and effective management practices. With this view, research work on the study of seasonal incidence, varietal screening and effectiveness of insecticides against yellow stem borer, S. incertulus of paddy as well as evaluation of different management modules against rice pest complex under South Gujarat conditions were carried out at Wheat Research Station Farm, N.A.U., Bardoli during consecutive Kharif season of 2012 and 2013. An experiment on the influence of different planting methods on succession of major pests of rice was carried out in rice field. This experiment was carried out with conventional (Transplanting) and SRI method of paddy cultivation. Under conventional method, yellow stem borer infestation appeared peak during first week of September (5.58% DH) and 1st week of October (5.79% WEH). In SRI method, the peak incidence was observed during first week of September (4.19% DH) and at last week of September (4.93% WEH). The results of both methods indicated that the weather parameters had less influence on the activity yellow stem borer infesting paddy. Rice green leaf hopper, N. virescens incidence under conventional method of planting showed maximum hill damage (2.39%) and population of nymph and adults (12.05/hill) during first week of October (40th SMW). The incidence data under SRI planting revealed peak hill damage (2.13%) and population of nymph and adults (8.73/hill) during first week of October (40th SMW). The coefficient correlation results revealed that the maximum temperature and bright sunshine hrs influence the occurrence of green leaf hopper positively, while minimum temperature and relative humidity showed their negative effect. Rice brown plant hopper, N.lugens recorded peak hill damage (2.82%) and nymph and adults population (3.17/hill) during first week of October (40th SMW) under conventional method. Whereas under SRI method, the highest hill damage (2.42%) and population (2.54/hill) was observed during last week of September (39th SMW). The co-efficient correlation revealed that the maximum temperature and bright sunshine hrs influence the damage of the brown plant hoppers positively, while minimum temperature and relative humidity showed negative impact. Rice earhead bug, L. acuta incidence in conventional method of planting revealed maximum population of nymph and adults (10.03/5 net sweep) and (8.90/5 net sweep) in SRI method during first week of October (40th SMW). The correlation data indicated that the maximum temperature and bright sunshine hrs positively control the population of earhead bug, while minimum temperature and relative humidity showed their negative influence. The data on seasonal occurrence of leaf folder, C. medinalis revealed that the peak level reached during 4th week of September (39th SMW) when leaf damage due to leaf folder was 2.30% under conventional method and 2.66% under SRI method. The correlation results under conventional and SRI method indicated that the weather parameters had less impact on leaf folder damage. Rice blue beetle, L. pygmaea data recorded in conventional method of planting showed that the highest leaf damage (2.75%) and the population of adults (2.41/plant) was reached at last week of August (35th SMW). Under SRI method, the peak leaf damage (2.30%) and the population of adults (2.31/plant) was also observed at last week of August (35th SMW). The coefficient correlation data revealed that bright sunshine hrs only affect the leaf damage and the population of the blue beetle negatively. The results on number of sheath mites showed that maximum mite incidence was reached during the first week of October (40th SMW) under conventional planting method (18.04/leaf sheath) as well as in SRI method (11.95/leaf sheath). The two years data indicated that the maximum temperature and bright sunshine hrs positively affected the population of the sheath mite, while minimum temperature and relative humidity showed negative effect. The higher damage of rice pest complex was observed in conventional method (transplanting) of planting than SRI method except in leaf folder indicated less efficiency of SRI method to reduce the leaf folder damage. The data on abundance of spiders indicated that the peak spider activity was attained during 1st week of October (40th SMW) in conventional method (4.36/hill) as well as in SRI method (4.54/hill). The correlation data showed that the maximum temperature and bright sunshine hrs positively influence the population of the spider, while minimum temperature showed their negative impact on the population built up of spider. The egg parasitism of yellow stem borer by the Eulophid, Tetrastichus schoenobii was initiated after the start of yellow stem borer damage and reached highest during heading to flowering and noticed up to 33.04% under conventional method and 38.10% under SRI method in second week of September (37th SMW). The larval parasitism results under conventional method showed that the parasitism of yellow stem borer by Apanteles sp. was peak during second (21.59%) and fourth week of September (19.44%). The data under SRI method revealed that the highest larval parasitism during second (31.67%) and fourth week of September (28.57%). Under conventional method, the larval parasitism of leaf folder (33.18%) by Apanteles sp. was observed during first week of October (40th SWM), which was also recorded under SRI method (27.88%). Keeping in view of the economic importance of major insect pest complex of paddy, eighteen varieties were screened in field condition against major insect pests including mite during Kharif 2012 and 2013. The incidence of yellow stem borer was recorded at 30 and 50 days after transplanting (DAT) for dead hearts showed that varieties viz., GR-103, Gurjari and Masuri were found resistant (R), whereas varieties i.e. GR-102, GR-104 and GR-101 were graded as susceptible (S) against yellow stem borer. GR-12 and GR-11 variety proved as highly susceptible (HS). At heading stage (15 days before harvesting), white earhead per cent infestation of the varieties viz., Masuri, Gurjari and GR-103 were showed resistant (R) category. While, varieties viz., GR-104, GR-102 and GR-101 were graded as susceptible (S) against yellow stem borer. Variety GR-12 and GR-11 proved as highly susceptible (HS). The findings on per cent hill damage due to green leaf hopper indicated that GR-101, GR-102, GR-103, and GR-104 found resistant (R) and recorded per cent hill damage between 1 to 10%. While, variety IR-28, GR-11 and Masuri were categoried as susceptible (S) as well as Gurjari and Jaya were grouped into the highly susceptible category (HS). The results on per cent hill damage due to brown plant hopper showed that GR-101, GR-102, GR-103, GR-104 considered as resistant (R), while varieties viz., IR-28, GR-11 and Masuri categoried as susceptible (S) and the two varietied viz., Jaya and Gurjari considered as highly susceptible (HS). The data on per cent damaged grains per panicle due to earhead bug revealed that the varieties viz., GR-104, GAR-1, GNR-3, IR-22, GR- 102 and GAR-2 found moderately resistant (MR). Whereas, IR-28 found susceptible (S) and Jaya was categories into highly susceptible (HS). The findings on per cent leaf damage due to leaf folder showed that varieties like GR-102, GR-103 considered as resistant (R). However, the variety GR-101 found susceptible (S) and varieties considered as highly susceptible (HS) were GR-12, Jaya, GR-104 and Masuri. The results on per cent leaf damage due to blue beetle revealed that 7 varieties viz., GAR-1, GR-102, IR-22, GAR-2, GR-103, GNR-2 and GR-104 are considered as resistant (R). However, varieties viz., Masuri, Gurjari and Jaya considered as susceptible (S) while the variety Jaya was considered as highly susceptible (HS). The population data of mites revealed that only 2 varieties i.e. Masuri and IR-28 are found promising varieties, while six varieties recorded moderate population and grouped into moderately susceptible were IR-22, GR-12, GR-103, Narmada, GNR-2 and NAUR-1. However, varieties considered as highly susceptible were Gurjari and Jaya. The average data on per cent dead hearts due to different insecticides tested against rice yellow stem borer was recorded at 3, 7 and 10 days after first and second spray and revealed significant results at each level. The similar trends of insecticide performance against yellow stem borer was observed with significant data during both spray schedules. The minimum damage was recorded fipronil 0.3 G (T ), 2 followed by spinosad 45 SC (T ). The other treatments viz., profenophos 3 50 EC (T ) and cartap hydrochloride (T ) were at par with each other and 1 4 also showed significantly lower damage than control. The yield data of paddy showed significant findings. The average highest yield (59.04 q/ha) was obtained in fipronil 0.3 G (T ), followed by spinosad 45 SC (T ) 2 3 (57.21 q/ha) and they were at par with each other. The other treatments viz., profenophos 50 EC (T )and cartap hydrochloride (T ) recorded 51.71 1 4 and 50.33 q/ha yield, which found at par with each other and also showed significantly higher yield over control (43.79 q/ha). The results after evaluation of different modules comprising various IPM practices against yellow stem borer, green leaf hopper, brown plant hopper, leaf folder and blue beetle at different interval showed significant results. The different modules were tested against yellow stem borer and results were recorded at 30, 50, 60 and 70 days after transplanting (DAT) showed the significantly minimum dead heart damage in Module IPM-III (chemical + non-chemical based module), followed by Module IPM-I (chemical based module). The next effective module was Module IPM-II (non-chemical based module) and found comparable with Module IPM-IV (spot application). The highest dead hearts damage was recorded in Module IPM-V (farmer‟s practices). The performance of different modules against green leafhopper was recorded at 50, 60 and 70 DAT indicated lowest hill damage in Module IPM-III (chemical + non-chemical based module) and showed comparable results with Module IPM-I (chemical based module). The significantly effective performance was also found in Module IPM-IV (spot application), followed by Module IPM-II (non-chemical based module). The highest hill damage was found in Module IPM-V (farmer‟s practices). The different modules tested against brown plant hopper at 50, 60 and 70 DAT showed lowest hill damage in Module IPM-III (chemical + non-chemical based module), but found at par with Module IPM-I (chemical based module). The next effective module was Module IPM-IV (spot application) and Module IPM-II (non-chemical based module). The highest hill damage was found in Module IPM-V (farmer‟s practices). The results on leaf damage caused due to leaf folder at 50, 60 and 70 DAT showed significantly lowest leaf damage in Module IPM-III (chemical + non-chemical based module) followed by Module IPM-I (chemical based module). The next effective module was Module IPM-IV (spot application), but showed similar results with Module IPM-I. Module IPM-II (non-chemical based module) recorded significantly lower damage than Module IPM-V (farmer‟s practices). The data on infestation caused due to blue beetle at 30, 50 and 60 DAT revealed significantly lowest leaf damage in Module IPM-III (chemical + non-chemical based module). The next best modules were Module IPM-I (chemical based module), Module IPM-IV (spot application) and Module IPM-II (non-chemical based module), which showed significantly lower damage than Module IPM-V (farmer‟s practices). The yield performance of different modules revealed the significant highest yield (61.25 q/ha) in Module IPM-III (chemical + non-chemical based module). The next effective modules were Module IPM-I (chemical based module) and Module IPM-IV (spot application) with 56.13 and 54.75 q/ha yield, respectively. Module IPM-II (non-chemical based module) (49.42 q/ha) recorded significantly higher yield over Module IPM-V (farmer‟s practices) (43.71 q/ha). The economics of different modules showed that Module IPM-IV (spot application) gave highest benefit cost ratio of 11.35 followed by 4.43 Module IPM-III (chemical + non-chemical based module), 3.06 in Module IPM-I (chemical based module) and 2.02 in Module IPM-II (non-chemical based module) over Module IPM-V (farmer‟s practices). NAVSARI AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY N. M. COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE NAVSARI- 396 450 Dr. K. G. Patel Principal Collge of Agriculture Navsari Agricultural University, Bharuch- 392 001 (Gujarat) C E R T I F I C A T E This is to certify that the thesis entitled “Succession of rice pest complex and testing of different management modules against rice pest complex under South Gujarat condition” submitted by Mr. Kakde Amol Madhukar in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the discipline of Agricultural Entomology of the Navsari Agricultural University is a record of bonafide research work carried out by him under my guidance and the thesis has not previously formed the basis for the award of any degree, diploma or other similar title. Place: Navsari (K. G. Patel) Date: 2ndJune, 2014 Major Advisor DECLARATION This is to declare that the whole of the research work submitted in this thesis for the partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in Agricultural Entomology is the result of investigation done by the undersigned under the direct guidance and supervision of Dr. K. G. Patel, Principal, College of Agriculture, Navsari Agricultural University, Bharuch and that no part of the work has been submitted for any other degree so far. Place: Navsari Date :2nd June, 2014 (Kakde A. M.) COUNTERSIGNED BY (K. G. Patel) Principal College of Agriculture Navsari Agricultural University Bharuch- 392 001