Incidence and damage of Bandicota bengalensis in Rice based Cropping system in Upper Brahmaputra Valley of Assam

The results indicated that live burrow count (LBC), trapping index (TI) and rodent damage (% cut tillers) recorded at different crop growth stages increased with the advancement of the crop growth. Maximum LBC (33.71), trapping index (12.10) and cut tillers (16.3%) were recorded at ripening stage of the crop, followed by dough stage with a mean LBC of 25.55, trapping index of 10.67 and 14.4% cut tillers. B bengalensis started damage from tillering stage of the rice crop. Rodents establishment in the rice field was completed by the panicle initiation stage. Among the vegetables grown after kharif rice i.e. from December to March, the highest incidence was recorded in pea with a mean LBC of 17.23, trapping index of 9.87 and 16.4% damage. Vegetables like cauliflower, cabbage, knolkhol, brinjal, carrot recorded less than 5% damage by B bengalensis.