Integrated Pest Management of Rice

The dynamics and severity of pest attack has shifted with the adoption and spread of
rice-wheat crop rotation in the Indo-Gangetic Plains during the last three decades. Excessive
use of chemicals for pest control in agriculture is known to degrade the environment.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) involves a proper choice and blend of compatible
tactics (cultural, mechanical, biological and chemical) so that the components complement
each other to keep the pest population at manageable levels.
Integrated Pest Management of
Rice in Rice-Wheat Cropping
Systems

Implementation of IPM in Rice
Although Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is accepted in principle as the most attractive
option for the protection of agricultural crops from the ravages of pests, its implementation at
the farmers’ level is rather limited. Pesticides still remain as the means of intervention and as an
essential component of IPM strategies.
It may not be possible to avoid chemical pesticides altogether but integrating non-chemical
methods in pest management can reduce dependence on chemical control. This would
reduce the costs considerably besides offering protection in an ecologically sound manner. In
rice, the cost of average pesticide application is Rs. 163.50 and Rs. 447.90 per hectare
respectively for IPM trained and untrained farmers
Components of Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
Pest-Resistant Crop Varieties
This is the easiest, effective, compatible, economical and practical method among all the
pest management practices. Such crop varieties are extensively used in pest-prone areas as a
principal method of IPM or as a supplement to other pest management strategies. It can
counter the pest problems and is free from all adverse effects of pesticide use. A number of
resistant varieties, with single or multiple resistance to insect pests, mites and nematodes, are
commercially available. These varieties have high yield potential and possess desired
agronomical characteristics.
Cultural Methods
These refer to good agronomic practices that enhance the crop productivity and also
suppress the pest population. The cultural practices which are commonly used for rice in
rice-wheat systems are:
z Proper Sanitation – Timely removal of weeds to reduce the pest survival and reduce
the chance of any carryover of the pest.
z Proper Water Management – Timely irrigation and good drainage system is required
to control plant hoppers.
z Proper Spacing – Provision of
alley ways of 30cm. width after 2-
3m or bed planting particularly in
the White backed plant hopper
and Brown plant hopper prone
area, proves helpful.
z Timely Planting – Timely and
synchronous planting can reduce
the occurrence of insect pests like
Yellow stem borer, Gall midge, Brown plant hopper, White backed plant hopper and
Green leaf hopper.
z Balanced Fertilizer – Judicious and optimum dose of nitrogen and other fertilizers
based on soil testing is essential. Split dosage of nitrogen can also reduce the risk of
Gall midge, Leaf hopper, Brown plant hopper, White backed plant hopper and Green
leaf hopper.
Biological Control
Biological control is the mainstay of the IPM
strategy. Out of 100 phytophagus insects having
potential of becoming pests, only a few attain the
pest status while the rest are kept under check by
their natural enemies. Even those which attain the
pest status have biological agents like predators,
parasites and pathogens which decrease their
population in the rice ecosystem. It is very
important to conserve the natural enemies of pests
in the field. Avoid the use of broad spectrum
pesticides when natural enemies are abundant.
However, it is observed that inundative release of egg parasite, Trichogramma japonicum that T.
chilonis is really an effective approach to decrease the Yellow stem borer or Leaf folder
incidence. It is also observed that a very high count of Trichoderma viridae and a few bacterial
antagonists are effective against fungal pests.

Chemical Control
Application of pesticides is no doubt one of the quickest and, sometimes, the only solution
for the sudden outbreak of pests, specially insect pests. Their application draws the farmer
to quick and visible action. However, their prophylactic usage is not economically and
environmentally sound.
The IPM Approach
IPM is a knowledge-based technology and it is now an in-built component of crop
improvement research and its various disciplines. Several technologies are available for
implementation of IPM. Many of them are outcome or consequence of the failures of those
technologies that had been in practice and/or a refinement of a successful practice.
Presently, the available technologies aim to provide an ecologically-sound pest management
program with sustainable use of renewable natural resources and comprise the following
practices for rice in rice-wheat systems.
1. Use of the improved crop variety
which is recommended for the area.
2. Sowing of seed at the proper time and
at recommended rate.
3. Soil solarization in the nursery bed.
4. Seed treatment with Vitavax @
2.5gm/kg seed, Trichoderma sp. @
4gm/kg seed and Aspergillus niger @
8gm/kg seed.
5. Use of balanced fertilizers,
preferably as NPK granules and
zinc sulphate.
6. Hand weeding/application of
herbicide Butachlor @ 1.5kg/ha
or Anilophos @ 0.4 kg/ha within
2-3 days of transplanting.
7. Release of egg parasite Trichogramma japonicum @ 150,000/ha at days interval for 2-3
times.
8. Selective application of chemicals as a last resort depending upon the pest attack.
Availability of IPM technology alone is no guarantee that it will be highly effective and
economical. There is a strong need for farmer participation. The research and extension
agencies have to ensure that quality inputs needed for IPM are easily and economically
accessible to the farmers. Awareness must be created among farmers for community level IPM
that will save their resources, manpower and environment. There is a strong need to develop
forecasting and forewarning models on the basis of climatic variability.
Adapted from:
Sehgal, M., M.D. Jeswani and N. Kalra. 2001. Management of Insect, Disease and Nematode Pests of
Rice-Wheat in the Indo-Gangetic Plains. Journal of Crop Production 4(1): 167-226.
Corresponding author:
Mukesh Sehgal.