Comparing the efficiency of different pest management modules in rice ecosystem
Divya S and Nethaji Mariappan VE
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) module was evaluated with the ecological engineering and farmer practice (FP) based pest management of spraying different insecticides for management of major pest of rice under irrigated condition for paddy. During Kharif season 2017-18 in farmers' field at Perambalur district, Tamil Nadu. The findings revealed IPM practices was effective and significantly superior over ecological engineering based pest management and farmer practice in reducing the incidence of paddy leaf folder, stem borer and BPH (Brown Plant Hopper) with minimal effect on natural enemies viz., spider population (10.95/10 hill) and coccinellid population (9.95/ 10 hill) with reduced cost of cultivation Rs. 23,608/ ha and increased the net return Rs. 15.479/ha. Thus IPM practices proved to be an ideal management strategy against major pest of rice along with a benefit: cost ratio of 1.66.