Field experiments were conducted during kharif 2004 and 2005 to study the incidence of rice stem borer in relation to meteorological parameters. The incidence of stem borer was negatively correlated with maximum temperature, minimum temperature, morning relative humidity and sunshine hours in both the planting methods in both the varieties during 2005; however it was positively correlated with evening relative humidity and rainfall. In year 2004 the incidence was negatively correlated with maximum and minimum temperature, evening relative humidity and rainfall. It was positively correlated with morning relative humidity. Step wise regression analysis was also conducted for both the years. The r-value was highly significant during both the crop seasons. Growing degree days were accumulated during both the crop seasons and results revealed that the stem borer incidence was low when GDD accumulation was high and vice versa. Grain yield was significantly higher in 2004 as compared to 2005.
Conventional planting, Furrow planting, Meteorological parameters, Stem borer
