1Department of Entomology, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, KAU P.O. 680 656, Kerala, India.
2National Bureau of Agriculturally Important Insects, Hebbal, Bangalore 560 024, Karnataka, India.
*Corresponding author E-mail: lylaramakrishnan@yahoo.com
Large scale demonstrations of biological control based integrated pest management (BIPM) practices were carried out in the ‘kole’ lands of Koorkkencherry Panchayath of Thrissur district in Kerala and compared with conventional farming. Trichogramma japonicum was released against rice stem borer and leaf folder @ 1 lakh ha−1. The results showed that dead heart and white ear head incidences were on par in the two systems of cultivation. In the case of leaf folder significantly lower incidence was observed in BIPM. There was no significant difference in grain yield. The population of predators like coccinellids and spiders were significantly higher in BIPM.
Biological control, rice pests, ‘Kole’ lands
