Hirak Chatterjee

Management of Stem Borer and Leaf Folder of Rainfed Rice in Manipur Hirak Chatterjee

The study was carried out at the Entomological Research Farm and Departmental Laboratory of Central Agricultural University, Imphal during three kharif season of 2005, 2006 and 2007 with an objective to formulate a sustainable, eco-friendly pest management strategy for rice benefiting the north-eastern hilly regions of Manipur. The findings revealed that dead heart, white earhead and leaf damage percentage varied. Among the fifteen varieties of rice, three were found resistant to yellow stem borer and leaf folder. 10 newer insecticides including some botanical commercial preparations were tested against yellow stem borer and leaf folder. Of the two biocontrol agents Trichogramma chilonis @70000/ha was found more efficacious than T. japonicum @50000 and 70000/ha against yellow stem borer and leaf folder. The study reveals that eco-friendly pesticidal molecules are very promising to formulate a sustainable pest management strategy for combating yellow stem borer and leaf folder infesting rice in Manipur and incorporation of bio-agents like Trichogramma species were very effective as well as economic one.