DEVELOPMENT OF VERTEBRATE PEST MANAGEMENT MODELS FOR SUGARCANE CROP

Abstract

Sugarcane crop is heavily damaged by a complex of rodent species and wild boar. The damaged sugarcane becomes infested with microorganisms and other physiological stresses, resulting in reduction of weight and sugar recovery. In this regard a study was carried out to know the damage caused by rodents to four varieties of sugar cane grown at Thatta. In these studies maximum damage by rodents was observed to BL-4 (10.29±0.44%) variety followed by BL-129 (10.23±0.35) and Thatta-10 (7.31±0.22%) in the month of November. To manage the vertebrate pests Integrated Pest Management approach was tested and the pest management model is designed for its adoption by the sugarcane growers after research and practical studies. In these studies egg mixed brodifacoum bait proved the most promising one in achieving (92.55±0.55%) rat reduction followed by bromdiolone (89.87±0.6%) and Zinc Phosphide bait (84.10±1.00%). Paraffinized Zinc Phosphide Capsular Technology used to kill wild boar population proved very successful by reducing the activity upto 98.11 Percent on the fifth day. The proposed model is a combination of mechanical, chemical and habitat manipulation approaches, which will help to enhance the crop yield through minimizing pest infestation.