Infestation of insect pests in tree-rice agroforestry system

Abstract

The prevalence of insect pests was studied on rice BR11 (mukta) as understory crop grown in association with 11 years old selected tree species viz, Akashmoni, Jhau and Albida in the field laboratory of the Department of Agroforestry, Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), Mymensingh during the period from July to December, 2003. Among the three species Albida and Jhau possessed the largest canopy and there light penetration rate were high. On the other hand, Akashmoni had the lowest canopy but it penetrated low amount of light. Albida-rice association showed the lowest infestation of major rice insects followed by Jhau-rice association, while Akashmoni-rice association showed the highest insect infestation. Light intensity in the control plot (absent of tree species) was maximum and it caused minimum severity of insects infestation as compared to other associations. From the result it appeared that light interception has the relationship with insect population in rice. Therefore, tree species having sparse canopy which allowed easy penetration of sunlight is suitable for tree-rice agroforestry system.

Keywords

Light interception, Insect infestation / Rice, Agroforestry

References

[1] Abedin M. Z., Quddus M. A. Mellink W., Rao Y. S., MacDicken K. G. Agroforestry systems in Bangladesh with particular reference to economics and tenurial issues [C] Agroforestry in Asia and the Pacific, 1991 Bangkok, Thailand: FAO and Winrock International 13-33.

[2] Amatobi C.I., Apeij S. A., Oyidi O. Effects of farming practices on populations of two grasshopper pests (Kraussaria angulifera krauss and Oedaleus senegalensis Krauss) (Orthoptera Acrididae) in northern Nigeria [J]. Trop. Pest Manage., 1988, 34(2): 173-179.

[3] BRRI Annual report, 1984 [R], 1985 Gazipur: Bangladesh Rice Research Institute Joydebpur 67-90.

[4] Dyck, V.A. and Hsieh C. Y. 1972. The ecology of the green leaf hoppers [C]. Saturday Seminar. IRRI.

[5] Jaques R.P. The potential of pathogens for pest control [J]. Ecosys. Environ., 1983, 10(2): 101-126.

[6] Jha L. K. Pest management in Agroforestry system [M], 1995 New Delh, India: APH publishing corporation 327-328.

[7] Litisinger J.A., Catinding J.L.A. A method for rearing armyworm on graminaceous host [J]. Int. Rice Res. Newsl., 1989, 14(3): 39.

[8] Miah, S.A. and Karim, A.N.M.R. 1984. Rice pest management technology [C]. Rice workshop on. Experience with modern rice cultivation in Bangladesh, BRRI. Gazipur. pp. 43–79.

[9] Pathak M.D., Khan Z.R. Insect pests of rice [M], 1994 Manila (Philippines): International Rice Research Institute

[10] Risch S.J. Insect herbivore, their abundance in tropical monocultures and polycultures: an experimental test of two hypotheses [J]. Ecology, 1981, 62: 1325-1340.

[11] Room P. M., Smith E.S.C. Relative abundance and distribution of insect pests, and other components of the cocoa ecosystem in Papua New Guinea [J]. J. Appl. Ecol., 1975, 12: 31-46.

[12] Siddique, A.K.M.T. 1992. An overview of the ETL of rice pest and IPM scope in the content of MV rice production [C]. Procedings of the workshop Experiences with modern rice cultivation in Bangladesh, BRRI Gajiur. pp. 33–45.

[13] Van Vereden, G. and Ahmadzabidi, A. 1986. Pest of rice and their natural enemies in peninsular. Malaysia [M]. Wageningen (Nethelands). Center for Agricultural publishing and Documentation (Pudoc). 230 p.