Monitoring and Scouting in Rice Introduction Agricultural crops are attacked by a large number of pest species including insect pests, diseases, nematodes and weeds. For ensuring good crop productivity effective management of these pests becomes extremely important. Earlier, there was sole reliance on pesticides for controlling pests. Rice crop damaged by brown planthopper

However, indiscriminate use of pesticides has resulted in several problems related to pest control and environment. These include development of pesticide resistance in pests, pest resurgences and outbreaks, death of bio- control agents, adverse effects on useful organisms and harm to human & animal health and environment in general. Pesticide spray on rice crop

Due to these drawbacks of pesticides, integrated pest management (IPM) concept came in to being. The IPM is an ecological approach to pest problems where different control tactics such as cultural, mechanical, physical, resistant behavioural, biological and chemical methods are integrated for suppression of pest populations. Monitoring is backbone of IPM. Farmer must keep continuous vigil of pest activity on crops. Concept of Integrated pest management

Information on activity of pests is indispensible in pest management. Pest monitoring refers to regular observations on pest activity throughout the crop season. It is also be known as surveillance or regular survey. It helps in issuing forewarning and facilitates proper timing of plant protection measures thereby preventing avoidable losses and environmental contamination, and ensuring favourable benefit- cost. Pest Monitoring in Rice Monitoring of rice pests

A timely executed treatment very well substitutes for 3-4 ill-timed application. Monitoring also provides information on important pests as well a their natural enemies of pests and their density relationships. Natural enemy- spider Brown planthopper

Likewise, monitoring data can also be used to analyze relation between pest population and physical factors, which can then be used for pest forecasting. As quantification of pest problems is time and labour intensive activity, monitoring technique should be very efficient. It should provide representative picture of pest situation in reasonable amount of time. Diseased rice plant

Pest monitoring procedure A. Detailed observations on crop For pest monitoring and to assess bio control, field observations should be recorded regularly.  Select randomly five fixed observation plots of one acre each in an area.  In each of the plots, thoroughly examine 25 hills by randomly selecting five hills at five places.  The hills should be selected by moving diagonally or in a zig-zag manner in the field. White-ear damage due to stem borer Stem borer larvaStem borer adult

 The observation should be recorded at 10-day interval from sowing to mid tillering and weekly intervals after mid- tillering stage.  Pest should be searched on relevant plant part. In case of brown planthopper, plant stems should be inspected and not the leaves. Monitoring brown planthopper on rice

Pest wise observations Stem borer: Total number of tillers and dead hearts on 25 hills during vegetative phase, and total number of reproductive tillers and white- ears during reproductive phase is enumerated to find per cent incidence. Gall midge: Total number of tillers and silver shoots is enumerated and per cent incident is determined. Leaf folder, hispa and whorl maggot: Total number of leaves and a damaged leaves is counted and per cent leaf damage is calculated. Planthoppers: Total nymphal and adult population is counted. Gundhi bug: Number of bugs is counted. Leaf folder Rice gundhi bug Hispa

B. Roving survey: For pest monitoring in large area in short time, roving pest surveys on pre-determined routes can be conducted at every 10- day interval regularly and observations are recorded at every km distance depending upon the distance of route to be covered. Everyday at least 20 spots should be observed. C. Sweep nets and water pans may also be used to assess population of insect pests and bio-control agents. D. Light traps such as Chinsurah type or any other light trap with 200 watt mercury lamp can also be operated for two hours in the evening to observe phototactic insects. E. Pheromone 5 traps per hectare may be used to monitor yellow stem borer population. Light trap

Precautions during monitoring  Make sure that you are properly equipped with the tools you may need once in the field.  Identify the field by the farmer’s name, field number and location with GPS.  Record date and time and weather conditions.  Record general soil, and crop growth stage and condition.  Sample the field in the pattern prescribed for particular pest.  If needed, collect pest samples or their damage for later identification.  Also record natural enemies of pests.  Report the results of monitoring. Discussion on pest problems with farmers

Let’s Sum up  Pest monitoring refers to regular observations on pest activity throughout the crop season.  Monitoring is backbone of IPM. Farmer must keep continuous vigil on pest activity on crops.  Monitoring helps in issuing forewarning and facilitates proper timing of plant protection measures thereby preventing avoidable losses and environmental contamination, and ensuring favourable benefit-cost.  Monitoring also provides information on important pests as well a their natural enemies.  Monitoring technique should be very efficient. It should provide representative picture of pest situation in reasonable amount of time.  Roving survey refers to pest monitoring in large area in short time on pre-determined route.  Sweep nets, water pan traps, yellow sticky traps, light traps and pheromone traps are also used for pest monitoring.