Effect of rodenticides and traps against lesser bandicoot rat, (Bandicota bengalensis) in rice field

Abstract

An investigation was carried out at Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS), Titabor and Instructional-Cum- Research Farm, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat during 2013-14 and 2014-15 in boro and sali season respectively. The field trials were conducted to evaluate effectiveness by combining rodenticides with local bamboo traps against field rodents in rice. Combined effect of rodenticides and traps were evaluated at different growth stages of rice against Bandicota bengalensis in terms of live burrow count (LBC/ha), trapping index (TI) as well as per cent cut tillers in both boro and sali rice, respectively. Baiting with bromadiolone (0.005%) at panicle initiation stage and bamboo traps at milky stage recorded the highest reduction in rodent population (72.39% LBC/ha, 70.57% TI and 68.13% cut tillers) in boro and (72.27% LBC/ha, 77.13% TI and 70.77% cut tillers) in sali rice over control at harvesting stage. The second best treatment in respect of per cent reduction of LBC/ha, trap index and cut tillers was bamboo traps at maximum tillering stage and bromadiolone (0.005%) at panicle initiation stage in both boro and sali rice, respectively which recorded a reduction of 65.89% LBC/ha, 66.19% TI and 65.66% cut tillers in boro rice and 68.33% LBC/ha, 71.04% TI and 62.83% tiller damage in sali rice.