This document provides information on managing pests and diseases in rice. It discusses common rice diseases like blast, bacterial leaf blight, sheath blight, and false smut. It also discusses major insect pests like stem borers and gall midge. It recommends using resistant varieties, crop rotation, removing weeds, and balanced fertilization for disease management. For insects, it recommends practices like trap cropping, light traps, and biopesticides containing Bacillus thuringiensis. Chemical control is also mentioned, involving fungicides and insecticides applied based on need.
1. Pest & disease-management in rice
Dr. A.N. Tripathi
Scientist
ICAR-Indian Institute of Vegetable Research
Varanasi
IRRI South Asia Regional Center, Varanasi
4. What is the purpose of this training?
• Recognize all symptom types
• Accurate observations and reports
• Interpret symptoms, make preliminary diagnosisosis
• Give practical advice
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Advice
Lab identification Field diagnosisHow to become a plant Doctor
5. Understand grower - what do they do and why do they do it? What do they
know?
What do different actors know?
Ways of knowing things
1. Missing - don’t know
2. Mistaken - wrong
3. Shallow - know a little
4. Deep - know a lot
6. SELF-DEFINITION
• Pest
• Disease
• Symptom
• Diagnosis
Explain what you understand by the above terms.
Do not give examples (e.g. Fusarium, dieback)
Speaking a common language
7. COMMON SYMPTOMS AND POSSIBLE CAUSESS Y M P T O M F U N G U S B A C T E R I A V I R U S N E M A T O D E P H Y T O P L A S M A I N S E C T / M I T E
Wilt YES. A number of well known
types are involved e.g.
Fusarium, Verticillium
YES. Bacterial wilt (Ralstonia
solanacearum) is a common
disease on many crops
YES. Tomato and pineapple
diseases exhibit, but not a
common symptom
YES. Nematodes frequently
attack the roots of a plant
and this causes wilting
NO. YES. – results of insect feeding
and also injection of toxins by
sucking insects
Leaf spot YES. Many types involved and
wide variety of shapes and
appearance
YES. Common symptom but
with distinct characteristics e.g.
water-soaking
YES. Quite common but less
distinct than most fungal leaf
spots
NO (NO) Leaf markings do occur but
generally not distinctive
YES. But not true leaf spots,
more the effect of feeding.
Canker YES. Cells are killed in stems,
including trunks of large trees.
YES. Canker is applied in a
slightly different way to fungal
cankers.
NO (NO) Some root lesions may
be described as cankers, but
this is a loose description
NO NO
Mosaic NO. Not a symptom which
suggests fungal attack.
NO YES Note that other factors can
produced similar symptoms
NO NO (YES) But symptoms are
superficial and different from
virus diseases
Yellowing of foliage (leaves) YES. Often indicates symptoms
or infection in other parts of
plant e.g. roots, cankers on
stem
YES. A general or non-specific
symptom noting general decline
of plant
YES. Distinctive feature but not
always easy to interpret. May
occur without obvious decline
of plant
YES. A general or non-
specific symptom noting
general decline of plant
YES. Distinctive feature but not
always easy to interpret. May
occur without obvious decline of
plant
YES General symptom, often
indistinctive
Witches’ broom
(many branches)
YES. Not so common, but be
careful to consider this
possibility
NO NO NO YES. Very distinctive feature but
sometimes not so clear – depends
on host response
YES Beware of mite damage.
Normal growth is disturbed by
feeding
Distortion of leaves YES. Some well-known
examples are distinctive, but
others much less so
NO YES. Distinctive feature,
though needs training to
identify clearly in field
(NO) General symptom in
most diseases, mostly the
affect of decline in whole
plant
YES. Distinctive feature, but note
that may only be present at
YES Aphid feeding in
particular. Can be distinctive,
though training needed to
separate from viruses (e.g.)
Reduction in size of leaves (NO) More the general effect of
reduced growth
(NO) More the general effect of
reduced growth
(YES) Rare symptom more
indicative of phytoplasmas; the
two groups share other types of
induced symptoms
NO YES. Distinctive feature, even
more so than viruses. The two
causes can be difficult to
distinguish in the field
NO Generally not a feature but
see note on witches’ brooms
and mites
Galls YES. More common on woody
plants
YES. Stimulate extra growth on
all parts of the plants
(YES) Conditions such ‘vein
enation’ are unusual and on
only a few crops.
YES. Typical swellings
appear on root, as well as
general distortion of root
systems
NO YES Many of the spectacular
and distinctive types are
associated with mites
8. Annual monetary loss of Rs. 60K
cores including use of fungicides
on plant disease management
Factors cited as the cause of disease
emergence by pathogen group:
• Introductions - 71% (V), 56% (B), 40 % (F)
• Weather - 44% (B), 41% (F), 5% (V)
• Farming techniques - 19% (F), 3% (V)
• Change in vector population- 16% (v)
Disease incidence by groups of pathogens
1. Virus- 47%
2. Fungus- 30%,
3.Bacterium- 16%
4. Phytoplasma- 4%
5.Nematode- 1%
6. Unknown- 2%
9. AGROECOSYSTEM
NATURAL ENEMIES PATHOGENS, PESTS &
DISEASES
CULTURAL
PRACTICES
TOLERANT / RESISTANT
VARIETIES
JUDICIOUS USE OF
SAFER AND SOLUBLE
PESTICIDES
AESA BASED WEEKLY
OBSERVATIONS
MONITORING AND
FOREWARNING
PEST & PATHOGEN
SURVEILLANCE
PLANT HEALTH
MANAGEMENT
NEED BASED
PESTICIDE USE
FORECAST
10. Major Diseases
• Rice blast
• Bacterial leaf blight
• Sheath blight
• False smut
• Brown spot
• Sheath rot
• Bakanae
• Stem rot
• Rice Tungro Virus
• Khaira
Major Nematodes
Root knot nematode, White tip nematode, Ufra ,
Rice root nematode
11. Typical spindle shaped leaf lesions.
Neck and panicle infection causes
chaffy and shriveled grains.
The node becomes black
and breaks at joints.
Panicles dry up and break down before
harvest. It occurs during both
kharif and rabi season.
Lower night temperature and high
humidity favour the disease
incidence.
Summer ploughing.
Grow tolerant/resistant varieties viz., Heera, Khandagiri, Ghanteswari, Sebati,
Udayagiri, Bhoi, Kharavela, Srabani, Lalat, Gajapati, Surendra, Meher, Mahanadi,
Indravati, Jagabandhu, Rambha, Kanchan wherever available.
Avoid using high doses of nitrogenous manures/ fertilizers. Destroy crop residues
Go for early planting. Use leaf extract of bael or tulsi @ 250g in 10 litres of water and spray 3-4 times at an
interval of 7-10 days. For one ha 500 litres of such spray formulation is required.
Treat seeds with captan @ 2g or carbendazim @ 1.5g/kg seed. Spray the crop 2-3 times at an interval of
10-12 days with edifenphos (Hinosan) @ 500ml/ha or kasugamycin (Kasu B) @ 1 lit/ha or tricyclazole 75 WP
(Beam) @ 250-300g/ha.
12. Use disease free and resistant/tolerant varieties
viz., Pathara, Khandagiri, Udayagiri, Lalitagiri,
Badami, Sebati, Bhoi, Konark, Kharavela,
Gajapati, Surendra, mahanadi, Indravati,
Ramachandi, Savitree, Rambha, Kanchan.
Destroy crop residues and stubbles of previous
crop.
Avoid using high doses of nitrogenous manures/
fertilizers.
Treat seeds with captan / thiram / Vitavax @ 2g
or carbendazim @ 1.5g/kg seed.
Spray the seedlings as well as transplanted crop
with mancozeb/copper oxychloride @ 1250g/ha
or carbendazim @ 500g/ha.
13. Seed treatment with Pseudomonas
fluorescens @ 10g/kg of seed, seedling root
dip @ 20g/lit of water for 1 hour before
transplanting and foliar spray of
with @ 1 kg/ha at 10 days intervals.
Spray azadirachtin(1500ppm) @ 2.5 lit/ha.
(7) Apply neem cake @ 2.5 quintal /ha.
Spray with propiconazole (Tilt 25EC) @
500ml/ha or
validamycin (Sheathmar 3 L) @ 1.5 lit/ha.
Remove weeds and crop residues with deep
ploughing.
Use resistant/tolerant varieties
viz., Naveen, Jagabandhu, Manika,
Khandagiri, Ghanteswari, Udayagiri, Jogesh,
Rambha, Pratikshya, Kanchan, Uphar.
14. Sheath rot
Use resistant/tolerant varieties
viz., Lalitagiri, Kharavela,
Gajapati, Surendra, Swarna,
Pratikshya, Mahanadi, Indravati,
Jagabandhu, Ramachandi,
Durga.
Apply neem cake @ 2.5 quintal
/ha.
Treat the seeds with
carbendazim @ 2g/kg. (2) Spray
with carbendazim @ 750g/ha in
500 litres of water two times at
10 days intervals
15. Falsesmut
Individual grains are transformed initially into large
velvety
orange yellow balls which later turn dark green or
almost black. The disease
is more severe in kharif season. Grow
resistant/tolerant varieties viz., Bala, Cauveri,
Sabarmati, Prakash, Pankaj, Shakti, Vijaya, Mashuri.
Destroy crop residues and weeds.
Treat the seeds with thiram @ 3g or carbendazim @
1.5g or vitavax @ 2 g/ kg seed before nursery sowing.
(2) Spray at boot leaf stage twice
at 7 days interval with copper oxychloride @ 1 kg/ha
in 500 litres of water.
16. Bacterial BLIGHT
Straw to yellow coloured undulating
lesions appear on leaf tip region and
margins whic. In severe cases leaves
roll up, turn grey, foliage withers and
plants die. In matured plants panicle
dry up with chaffy grains. In nursery
creates patches of wilted plants
called “Kresek” phase of the disease.
(1) Use disease free and resistant/tolerant varieties
viz., IR-36,
Lalat, Tapaswini, Padmini, Kanchan, Gayatri, Durga.
(2) The BLB infected field should
be kept well drained and avoid water stagnation
soon after infection is detected.
(3) Apply potassic fertilizer in two split doses at
tillering and pre-flowering stages.
(4) Avoid using high doses of nitrogenous fertilizers.
Go for judicious application.
(5) Use fresh cow dung slurry @ 2kg/10 litres of
water, strain it in fine cloth and spray at an interval of
7-10 days 3-4 times for BLB control @ 500 litres/ha.
Chemical Control: (1) Soak the seeds with a solution
of plantomycin 10g/streptocyclin
1.5 g and copper oxychloride 25 g in 10 litres of
water.
(2) Spray the affected crop with the
same chemicals @ 500 litres /ha at 7-10 days
intervals 2-3 times on need basis.
19. Blast
Spray carbendazim 50% WP @ 250-500 g/ha or tricyclozole
75% WP @ 250-300 g/ha, ediphenphos 50% EC @ 500-600
ml/ha
Bacterial leaf blight
Spray streptocycline 100 to 150 ppm solution at early root
stage.
Sheath blight
Apply validamycin 3% L @ 2000 g/ha or hexaconazole 5% EC
@ 1000 ml/ha or propiconazole
25% EC @750 ml/ha or propiconazole 10.7% + tricyclazole
34.2% SE @ 500 ml/ha.
20. Insect Pests of National Significance:
1. Stem borers
2. Gall midge
3. Planthoppers
4. Leaf folder
5. Gundhi bug
Insect Pests of Regional Significance:
1. Rice hispa
2. Rice caseworm
3. Rice cutworms
4. Armyworm
5. Thrips
6. Mealybugs
7. Termites
8. Whitegrubs
9. Black bug
10. Blue beetle
11. Mites
21.
22. Male Female Eggs Larva
Most dominant and
destructive species
Dead hearts White ears
Yellow stem borer (Scirpophaga incertulas)
Dead hearts - Vegetative phase
White ears - Reproductive stage
The larvae of the borers enter the tiller to feed,
grow and cause the characteristic symptoms of:
23. causing “dead heart” or drying of the central whorl of leaf during
the tillering stage. If the attack occurs during panicle formation or
heading stage then “white ear heads” are formed and the whole
panicle becomes chafead heart White Ear head
Summer ploughing to expose resting stages of insects
to heat of the sun and predators. (2) Early and synchronous planting. (3)
Balanced
fertilizer application. (4) Field sanitation to check carryover of pests. (5) Trap
cropping fy.
with Basmati rice in transplanted rice (9:1). (6)
Avoidance of mono-cropping. (7) Growing stem
borer resistant/tolerant varieties viz., Khandagiri,
Ghanteswari, Udayagiri, Lalitagiri, Sidhant,
Konark, Kharvela, Gajapati, Surendra, Pratikshya,
Manika. (8) Strict surveillance of rice fields for
pests and defenders. (9) Mechanical killing of
adults and egg mass. (10) Setting up of light traps to
attract and kill adults. (11) Setting up of bird
perches @ 20-25/ha. (12) Setting up of pheromone
traps for YSB @ 20-25/ha. (13) Release of
Trichog(14) Spraying of Beauveria
bassiana product (Boverin, Biopower, Ankush,
Daman, Biorin) @ 1kg/ha against YSB. (15)
Spraying of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) based biopesticides available in the
market (Dipel, Delfin,
Biodart, Thuricide, Bioasp, Biolep, HIL Btk) @1kg or
1lit/ha. (16) Putting “karada”(Cleistanthus collinus) leaves in the field @ 200
kg/ha to
get rid of YSB.
Chemical Management: (1ramma japonicum against YSB @ 1 lak
24. Cultural Practices:
Selection of healthy seeds or resistance /tolerance variety
Raising of healthy Nursery
Early and timely sowing/planting
Seedling root dip/Nursery treatment in stem borer
endemic area
Destruction of left over nursery
Normal spacing
Balance use of fertilizer
Proper water management (Alternate wetting and drying
to avoid water stagnation in plant hopper endemic area)
Harvest close to ground
25. Collection of egg masses and larvae of pest to be placed in bamboo cages
for conservation of biocontrol agents.
Removal and destruction (burn) of diseased/pest infested plant parts.
Clipping of rice seedlings tips at the time of transplanting to minimize
carryover of rice hispa, case worm and stem borer infestation from seed
bed to the transplanted fields.
Use of coir rope in rice crop for dislodging case worm, cut worm and
swarming caterpillar and leaf folder larvae etc. on to kerosinized water (1
L of kerosene mixed on 25 kg soil and broadcast in 1 ha).
Mechanical Practices
26. The other borers are:
• Pink stem borer, Sesamia inferens - occurring mostly in rice-
wheat cropping systems of north-west India.
• White stem borer, Scirpophaga innotata - common in
southern regions particularly in Kerala,
• Dark headed stem borer, Chilo polychrysus and
• Striped stem borer, Chilo suppressalis in eastern and north
eastern states of West Bengal and Assam, respectively.
27. Management:
Cultural practices:
Clipping of seedling before transplanting for prevention egg laying
Harvesting done at the base of plant in order to avoid pupae remain in the field.
Avoid high dose fertilizer.
Biological control:
Five to six releases of the egg parasitoid Trichogramma japonicum @1,00,000 adult parasites per
hectare starting from 15 days after planting, in a crop season is effective and economical.
Chemical control:
ETL:5-10% dead heart, 5% chaffy earhead per square meter 1 adult/egg mass
Field sowing more then 5 % dead heart should be spread with 0.07% Phospomidon 30 EC (2.3
ml/liter water) or 0.15% Chlorpyriphos 20 EC (7.5 ml/liter water) or 7.5 kg Phorate 10G/ ha.
28. Biological Control Practices:
Conservation:
Biological agent such as Spider,Water bug, Mirid bug, Damsel fly, Dragon
fly,Grasshopper, Coccinellids, Bracon, wasp, Trichogramma, Telenomus etc should be
conserved
Root dip treatment of rice seedling with Chlorpyriphos is safe for natural enemies.
Augmentation:
Release of Trichogramma japonicum or Trichogramma chilonis
@50,000‐1,00,000 adult /ha 5 times starting from 30 days after transplanting
for control of stem borers and leaf folders
29. IPM-Yellow stem borer
Clipping the tips
Short stature and shorter
growth duration periods
suffer less damage
Community-wide
destruction of diapausing
larvae (in stubble) through
tillage after harvest,
followed by flooding,
reduces stem borer
populations resulting in low
incidence in the next crop
Insect Pests of Rice
Paddy Stem Borer Dead Heart Symptom Chaffy Grains
30. Planthopper
If insect attack during early stage of
growth, the entire plant may dry up.
Under favorable condition of high
humidity, optimum temperature, high
nitrogen application and no wind, the
population increases very rapidly and
hopper burn is observed localities
giving brownish plot in the field.
as vectors for transmission of rice
tungro virus disease.
Nymph and adult caused damage by
sucking cell sap from the leaf which turn
yellow.
BPH GPH
31. Close planting creates favorable micro climate for rapid development of hopper population.
Hence spacing of 20 x 30 cm should be followed.
Alternate drying and wetting of field during peak infestation and drain standing water from the field checks
hopper population.
Avoid high dose of nitrogen fertilizer application.
Mirid bug are predator of egg and nymph of hopper.
Spray 0.2% Quinalphos 25 EC (8 ml/ liter water) or 0.2% Endosulfan 35 EC (5.7 ml/ liter water)
Management:
Traditional Method
Pour kerosene on a flooded field and drag a rope across the foliage bending it into kerosene film on
the water.
The insects dislodge into the oil and get killed.
And the filed are drained off after 6 (six) hours to prevent phytotoxicity.
32. Both nymphs and adults suck sap from the plant tissues.
Excess draining of the plant sap results in wilting and
drying of the plants in clusters known as “hopper burn”.
It starts in circular patches and then covers the whole
field.
Early and synchronous planting.
(2) Use of balanced
fertilizer dose and avoid using excessive ‘N’ fertilizer or manure.
(3) Alternate wetting and drying of the rice field.
(4) Use resistant/tolerant rice cultivars e.g. Lalat, Sebati, Konark,
Surendra, Tapaswini, Meher, Vijeta, Durga, Rambha, Kanchan etc.
(5) Strict surveillance of rice fields for pests and defenders (mirid
bugs and spiders).
(6) Setting up of yellow sticky traps to
attract and kill hoppers.
(7) Foliar spraying of NSKE @5%
or neem oil 0.5% or neem based commercial pesticides
300ppm @ 2.5lit/ha (
foliar spray (thiamethoxam – 100g/ha, imidacloprid –125ml/ha,
ethiprole 10EC – 500ml/ha, or imidacloprid 0.2G – 25kg/ha in the
main field.
33. Brown planthopper
• High dosages of nitrogenous fertilizers, close spacing, and high
relative humidity increases planthopper populations.
• Sensible use of fertilizer by splitting nitrogen applications can also
reduce chances of plant hopper outbreaks.
• Draining rice fields can be effective in reducing initial infestation
levels. The field should be drained for 3 - 4 days when heavy
infestations occur.
• Growing no more than two crops per year and using early-maturing
varieties reduces planthopper abundance and damage.
• Synchronous planting (planting neighboring fields within 3 weeks)
and maintaining a rice-free period may be effective.
34. IPM-Brown plant hopper
• High dosages of nitrogenous fertilizers, close spacing, and high relative humidity
increases planthopper populations.
• Sensible use of fertilizer by splitting nitrogen applications can also reduce
chances of plant hopper outbreaks.
• Draining rice fields can be effective in reducing initial infestation levels.
Brown Plant Hopper Hopper burn Symptom
35. Green leafhoppers
Green leafhoppers have gained economic
significance because of their ability to serve as
vectors for transmission of rice tungro virus
disease.
Two species, Nephotettix virescens and
N.nigropictus are predominant.
36. Both nymphs and adults suck the sap from the
leaves and tillers with their sucking
mouth parts resulting yellowing of the leaves which
later become brown and dry up from
the tip downwards.
use resistant/tolerant varieties like Heera, Pathara,
Badami, IR-36, Navin, Lalat, Rambha, Kanchan,
Parijat, Srabani, Moti,Tulasi etc.
37. Green leafhoppers
• Reducing the number of rice crops to two per year and synchronized
• Transplanting older seedlings (>3 weeks) also reduces viral disease susceptibility transmitted by
leafhoppers.
• y Avoid planting at peak activity (shown by historical records) period to avoid infestation.
• y Early planting within a given planting period, particularly in the dry season, reduces the risk of insect-
vector disease.
• Nitrogen should be applied at an optimal level to discourage population buildup and influence plant
recovery.
• Good weed control in the field and on the bunds removes the preferred grassy hosts and promotes crop
vigor.
• Crop rotation with a non-rice crop during the dry season decreases disease reservoirs.
• Upland rice intercropped with soybean reduces the incidence of leafhoppers on rice compared to rice
alone
38. (1) Avoidance of mono-cropping. (2) Use of balanced
fertilizer dose and avoid using excessive ‘N’ fertilizer or manure.
(3) Strict surveillance of rice fields for pests and defenders.
(4) Mechanical killing of larvae of leaf folders (LF)
by collecting and destroying affected leaves.
(5) Setting up of light traps to attract and kill
adults.
(6) Release of egg parasotoid Trichogramma chilonis @ 1 lakh / ha
starting from
15 Days after planting(DAP) for 5-6 times at 7-10 days intervals.
(7) Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) based commercial bio-pesticides may be
sprayed @1kg or 1lit/ha
at 7-10 days intervals in the
evening hours.
(8) Foliar spraying of NSKE @5% or neem oil 0.5% or neem based
commercial bio-pesticides 300ppm @ 2.5lit/ha or 1500 ppm @
1.5lit./ha. (9) (flufenoxuron 10DC/ lambda-cyhalothrin 2.5EC @ 1
lit/ha or fipronil 5 FS –
1 kg/ha or lambda-cyhalothrin 5EC (Karate) –500 ml/ha or
lubendiamide(39.35 SC) – 175ml/ ha or indoxacarb14.5SC –
200ml/ha.
39. Yellow stem borer
• Clipping the tips of seedlings before transplanting greatly reduces the carryover
of eggs from the seedbed to the transplanted fields
• Rice varieties with short stature and shorter growth duration periods suffer
less damage than long growth duration varieties.
• Rice – rice with shorter growth duration varieties suffer less damage than long
duration varieties. This may be because of stem-borer mortality due to
harvests occurring twice in the double cropping system.
• Community-wide destruction of diapausing larvae (in stubble) through tillage
after harvest, followed by flooding, reduces stem borer populations resulting in
low incidence in the next crop
40. Rice case worm
Rice Caseworm: Paraponyx stagnalis
(Lepidoptera : Pyralidae)
Damage symptoms:
• The larva feeds on the foliage by scrapping chlorophyll leaving horizontal rows of
green material.
• The leaf tips are sharply cut off and the cut portions are turned into cylindrical
tubes, is either attached to the plant or seen floating on the water surface
41. Caseworm(Nymphula depunctalis) is commonly
found in rice fields in low populations.
Due to continuous water stagnation in fields, it can
build up and cause severe loss in early stage.
In severely damaged areas the whole crop may have
to be resown/replanted.
Feeding damage includes cutting off the leaf tips to
make leaf cases, patches of severe defoliation, stunted
growth and death of plants.
Larva with cases Adult
Field damage
43. Management
Cultural practices:
Drain water from the field.
Keep kerosene soaked gunny bags in the field water and dislodge the leaf cases by passing
rope or branches of thorny plant.
The use of correct fertilizer application, wider spacing (30 × 20 mm), and early planting.
Biological Control:
Spiders, dragonflies, and birds eat the adults.
There is a nuclear polyhedrosis virus, which is a potential control agent against
the rice caseworm.
44. • Rice fields with wider hill spacing (30 x 20 cm) usually suffers less
damage from caseworm.
• Early planting may escape the peak caseworm moth activity period.
• Draining of fields for 5-7 days kills caseworm larvae.
• Use of older seedlings reduces the duration of the susceptible stage
of the crop.
• Nitrogen fertilizer use at optimal dosages and split applications
reduce the rice
45. The larvae live in tubular cases made up of cut
portions of paddy leaves around their bodies
made with a silken thread.
(1) Do not allow standing water in the field.
Drain out
standing water.
(2) Mechanical killing of larvae of case worm
by straining running water from the field.
Chemical Management: chlorpyriphos 50% +
cypermethrin 5% @ 1
lit./ha.
46. Of the three species of gundhi bug, Leptocorisa
oratorius is common.
Adults and nymphs suck the milk from
developing grains
Infestation is characterised by:
discolored panicles with brownish spots
empty or ill-formed grains in the panicles.
47. Gundhi Bug
Preventive measures
Remove weeds from fields and
surrounding areas
Biological control
Small wasps parasitize the eggs and the
meadow grasshoppers prey on them.
Both the adults and nymphs are preys to
spiders, coccinellid beetles and
dragonflies
Fungus infects both nymphs and adults.
48. The nymphs and adults are active during early morning
and late afternoon feeding on the milk of the rice during
the milky stage. The area around the puncture hole turns
brown. The puncture hole serves as a point of entry of
several pathogens which cause grain discolouration.
Affected grains in the panicle become chaffy. Attack in
dough stage causes shrivelled grains.
Non chemical Management: (1) Keep fermented snail or
crab bait @ 20-25/ha to attract
and divert pests from sucking milk of rice grain. (2) The
extract of 2.5kg garlic + 500g
tobacco leaves + 500g washing powder sprayed over one
hectare area during milky stage
of rice controls 80% gundhi bug.
Chemical Management: (1) When the pest crosses ETL i.e.
1 bug/ hill then give spray
with DDVP – 500ml/ha/ carbaryl – 2 kg/ha/ abamectin –
500ml/ha/ phosphamidon 40SP
–1 lit/ha or dusting with malathion 5%D @ 25kg/ha.
49. Young larvae feed on tender leaf by scrapping green
matter.
Old larvae feed inside the fold by scrapping green
matter.
The scrapped leaf becomes membranous, turn white
and than finally wither.
Heavily infested crop sows streaks on the leaf and
appear whitish from distance.
Rice leaf folder
Cnaphalocrosis medinalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)
50. Rice cultivation with HYV’s and applications of high levels of N fertilisers helped leaf
folder (Cnaphalocrocis medinalis Guenee) becoming a major pest.
Field damage
The larvae fold the leaves longitudinally and feed resulting in linear pale white stripe
damage.
In cases of severe infestation, the crop gives whitish appearance.
Field damage
51. Management:
• Remove grass weeds from bounds around paddy field.
• Light trapping of adult help to reduce pest population.
• Release Trichogramma japonicum or T. chilonis @ 50,000 to 1,00,000 adult.
• Spray insecticide at economic threshold level of 10 % damage.
• 0.12 % Fenetrothion 50 EC (2.4 ml/ l water), 0.2 % Carbaryl 50 wp (4 ml/ l water) or 0.1 %
Monocrotophos 36 EC (2.7 ml/l water) or 0.15% Chlorpyriphos 20 Ec (7.5 ml/l water)
52. Leaf Folder
Release Trichogramma
japonicum/T.chilonis cards @ eggs
40,000/acre at 30 days after
transplanting
Do not spray insecticides when
abundant spider population/
sufficient beneficial insects are
available
53. Rice Hispa:
Hispa (Dicladispa armigera) is a major pest of rice
The adult beetles feed on the epidermal tissue of the
leaves and the grubs mine the leaf tissue.
White blotches appear on leaves and in severe epidemics
leaves dry up and the crop presents a scorched
appearance.
Hispa affected field
54. Management:
Preventive measures :
1. Clipping the tips of leaves at the time of transplanting
Biological control:
1. Small wasps that attack the eggs and larvae.
2. Reduviid bug eats upon the adults.
3. Fungal pathogens that attack the adults.
Chemical control:
1. Application of Phorate 10 G in nursery minimises infestation.
2. In the main field spray 0.15% Chlorpyriphos 20 EC (7.5 ml/l water) 0.2% quinalphos 25
EC (8 ml/ l water).
55. Rice thrips
Damaged leaves Damaged field
Paddy thrips: Stenchaetothrips biformis
(Thripidae: Thysanoptera)
Damage symptoms
Usually occurs in rainfed rice in nursery or seedling stage
Both nymphs and adults suck sap from leaves leading to
leaf tips resembling that of needles
In severely infested areas, the plants appear lanky and
sickly
56. Management:
Cultural practice:
Flooding to submerge the infested field for 2 days as a cultural
control practice is very effective against the rice thrips.
Biological control:
Coccinellid beetles, anthocorid bugs, and staphylinid beetles
are biological control agents that feed on both the larvae and
adults.
Chemical control:
Application of phorate 10 G @ 75g or carbofuron 3 G @
1.25kg / seed bed (300 sq mt area) followed by light irrigation.
57. Army worm
Armyworm/Climbing
cutworm: Mythimna separata
(Lepidoptera :
Noctuidae)
Damage symptoms:
Early instar larvae skeletonise the
leaves whereas later instar larvae
are voracious feeders on leaves
during night.
59. Management:
Preventive measures:
• Remove weeds from fields and surrounding areas
Cultural practices:
Flooding seed bed is the best defence
Digging pits or trenches, covered with leaves gives caterpillar a place to take
shelter from the sunlight
Ash filled trenches around the field serve as barriers
Placing branches around the field gives a place for armyworm to congregate
where than can be easily collected by hand.
60. Gall midge (Orseolia oryzae) - A key pest
Six biotypes of this pest are reported in the country
The maggot feeding induces an elongation
of the leaf sheath into a ‘gall’.
The ‘silver shoot’ or ‘gall’ resembles an onion leaf.
Profuse tillering is seen and resulting tillers do not bear
panicles.
62. Gall midge
• Plowing under the ratoon of previous crops can reduce infestation.
• Control of grassy weeds and wild rice (alternate hosts) from
surrounding areas can reduce gall midge incidence.
• Draining of rice fields for 5-7 days affects midge populations.
• Planting of early and using early maturing varieties may help to avoid
high infestations.
• Using only moderate amounts of nitrogen and potassium fertilizers
and adopting split applications to reduce population growth rates.
• Avoiding staggered planting (complete planting in an area within 3
weeks) to reduce infestation.
65. Rice hispa
Hispa (Dicladispa armigera) is a major pest of rice in Assam,
Meghalaya, Tripura, Manipur, A.P, M.P and U.P.
The adult beetles feed on the epidermal tissue of the leaves
and the grubs mine the leaf tissue.
White blotches appear on leaves and in
severe epidemics leaves dry up and the
crop presents a scorched appearance.
66. They are sporadic pests mainly causing damage in
coastal and northeastern states.
Larvae are polyphagous - feed on leaves during
vegetative stage and cut the panicles at maturity.
Severe infestation leads to deskeletonisation of
leaves.
Cut worms/Ear cutting caterpillar
67. Mealy bug
The pest is common on plants growing in
dry cultivated areas and in fields with
uneven soil surfaces.
Adults and nymphs suck sap from the
stem resulting in stunted plant growth and
yellowish curved leaves.
Under heavy infestation the panicles do
not emerge completely. Infestation is
localized in patches and individual plant
hills may even dry off.
68. Usually termites occur under rainfed upland conditions with soils rich
in vegetable matter.
Initially , the affected plants show symptoms of yellowing and wilting
in patches.
Later, the infested plants lodge due to tunnelling and feeding on the
subterranean parts of stem and roots.
Termites
69. White grubs are less common in rice environments.
However, in recent times this has emerged as a serious
pest in Kumaon region of Uttaranchal under rainfed
conditions.
71. • Common in rainfed and irrigated wetland environments
during the vegetative stages
• Prefers continuously cropped irrigated rice areas and poorly
drained fields
• Damage characterized by reddish brown or yellowing of
leaves, decreased tillering, stunting of plant leading to no
panicle formation or incompletely exerted panicles.
74. Generally speaking the most common features of insect predators are:
Kill and consume more than one prey organism to reach maturity
Relatively large size compared to prey
Predaceous as both larvae and adults
Larvae/nymphs/grubs are active with sensory and locomotory organs
Frequency of individual prey items in the diet may be influenced by:
Prey environment
Prey preferences
Competition with other predators
Suitability of prey
Predators’ characteristics
75. Several species of predatory bugs (Heteroptera) are economically important biological
control agents
Most are polyphagous, feeding on a wide array of arthropod prey
Important heteropteran predators used in augmentative biological control:
• Coccinellidae: Coccinella septempunctata (aphids, etc.,)
• Anthocoridae: Orius spp. (thrips, aphids, etc.,)
• Miridae: Cyrtorhinus lividipennis, Macrolophus pygmaeus, Nesidiocoris tenuis (whiteflies,
leaf miners, spider mites. etc.,)
• Geocoridae: Geocoris spp. (whiteflies, thrips, mites. etc.,)
• Pentatomidae: Podisus, Perillus, Arma spp. (lepidopteran and coleopteran larvae)
• Reduviidae: Rhynocoris spp., Acanthaspis spp. (lepidopteran larvae…)
Predatory insects
79. Timely planting/sowing.
Pre-sowing irrigation: Many weeds can be controlled by applying pre-sowing
irrigation to area where nursery or seedlings are to be transplanted. The
emerged weeds can be ploughed under.
Raising of healthy nursery.
As far as possible rice seedling should be free from weed seedlings at the time of
transplanting.
Destruction of left over nursery, removal of weeds from field and cleaning of
bunds.
Normal spacing with 30-36 hills/ m2 depending on the duration of the variety.
30 cm alley formations at every 2.5 to 3 m distance in plant hopper and sheath
blight endemic areas..
97. 97
• Active principle – Vinblastine (alkaloid)
• Vinblastine is a medication used to treat a
number of types of cancer
• All parts
• Sucking and chewing insects
Periwinkle, Vinca rosea
100. 100
Tobacco decoction
Soak 50 g tobacco leaves in 450 ml water (24 h)
Squeeze and filter the solution
Slice 12 g bar soap and soak in 500 ml water
Add to tobacco extract and mix well
Make up to 3 l and spray
102. 102
Soak 10 g bar soap in 250 ml water
Mix this solution to 500 ml neem oil
Mix with 7.5 l of water and use
Target insects :
Aphids, leaf miner, caterpillars, hoppers
Neem oil emulsion
104. Constituents of neem seed kernel:
30-40 % oil
Triterpenoids- 2-3 %
Azadirachtin- 0.2 to 0.3 %
Antifeedant
Repellent
Neem cake
100% natural, no side effects
Less quantity
Non toxic
Pest repellent
Release N2 fertilizer slowly
105. Mode of action
Broad spectrum contact and stomach poison
Inhibits or disrupts the development of eggs/ larvae/pupae
(moulting)
Inhibits or disrupts the development of the matting communication
Inhibits or disrupts the development of sexual communications
Repels larvae and adult
Sterility
106. Take 50g neem seed kernals
Grind the kernals gently (mixie)
500 ml water
Mixed
Cover with muslin cloth
Soaked it over night/24 hrs
After 24 hrs soaking filter using double layer muslin cloth
TO PREPARE 1 LITRE OF 5% NSKE SOLUTION
107. Make the volume 1 liter
Add 0.1 to 1% detergent powder/liquid
Mix and spray to field
108. Take 500 g of neem/ Calotropis/ tobacco (375 g) leaves and branches
Cut small pieces
Add 1 litre of water
Boil (30 – 60 min.)
Allow it to cool for 2-3 hrs
Filter the extract (double layer muslin cloth)
Make up the solution to 1 litre
TO PREPARE 1 LITRE OF NEEM/CALOTROPIS/ TOBACCO EXTRACT
Add 0.1 to 1 % detergent
Mix the spray solution well and use
109. 109
Crush neem seeds and tie it in cotton cloth
Dip this in 1 l water for 12 h
Squeeze thoroughly and use directly
Target insects :
Sucking insects
Neem seed kernel extract
110. 110
Garlic - 100 g
Chilli - 50 g
Water - 3.5 l
Chilli – garlic mixture
111. 111
Grind chilli and garlic
Mix with water
Sieve and use for spraying
Target insects :
Soft bodied insects
Chilli – garlic mixture
113. 113
Neem leaves - 1 Kg
Cow urine - 1 l
Cow dung - 250 g
Water - 20 l
Nemastra
114. 114
Crush neem leaves
Mix with water
Add cow dung and cow urine
Stir thoroughly (3 times/day)
Storage : Upto 3 months
Targets : Insect eggs and soft bodied insects
Neemastra
115. 115
Cow urine - 10 l
Tobacco leaves - 1 Kg
Garlic - 500 g
Neem leaves - 5 Kg
Agniastram
116. 116
Add crushed neem leaves, chilli and garlic in mud pot
Add tobacco powder
Add cow urine
Stir thoroughly with rod
Cover it with lid and boil
Keep for 2 days
Targets : Leaf eating caterpillars, soft bodied insects
Agniastram
117. 117
Cow urine - 15 l
Neem leaves - 3 Kg
Papaya leaves - 2 Kg
Pongamia leaves - 2 Kg
Castor leaves - 2 Kg
Custard apple leaves - 2 Kg
Bhramastram
118. 118
Heat cow’s urine in pot
Crush all leaves and add to pot
Cover it and boil
Keep for 2 days
Sieve and use
Storage : Upto 6 months
Targets : Leaf eating caterpillars, soft bodied insects
Bhramastram
120. 120
Fresh cowdung - 10 kg
Chopped weed plants - 20 kg
Jaggery - 2 kg
Germinated black gram - 2 kg
Water - 10 l
Kunapajalam (herbal)
121. 121
Mix all ingredients in 200 l capacity barrel
Keep for 10-15 days (warm place)
Stir 2-3 times (clockwise and anti clock wise direction)
Use at 1-2% concentration
Use:
Plant growth promoter and insecticidal activity
Kunapajalam (herbal)
122. 122
cow urine - 10 l
Neem leaves/ kernels - 2 kg
Peeled garlic - 200 g
Cow urine based pesticide
123. 123
Mix the ingredients
Keep in copper container (10-15 days)
Targeted insects:
Whiteflies, jassids and other sucking pests of chilli and cumin
Cow urine based pesticide
124. 124
Fresh cowdung - 30 kg
Jaggery - 2 kg
Rice water - 4 l
Cow dung- water to protect from drought
125. 125
Tie the above material in nylon bag (50micron mesh)
Suspend this bag in 200 l barrel filled with water
Allow to ferment (36-48 h)
Preparation is ready to use after 48 h
Spray at 10% concentration
Cow dung- water to protect from drought
126. Seed treatment
• Bijamrut +cow urine in combination with appropriate biofertiliser
like Azotobacter and Rhizobium are good seed treating agents
• In case of foot/root rot disease infested soil, Trichoderma viridi
inoculant and Azotobacter inoculants can be used for seed
treatment
• Soak seeds in bijamrut for 10-15 min and treat with Azotobacter @
300gm per 10kg of seeds
• Similarly soak the seeds of legume crop in bijamrut for 10min
followed by Rhizobium treatment
• Dry the seeds in shade and sow
127. Application of Jiwamrut
• Jiwamrut at the rate of 200lit/acre 3-4 times during crop period
• First dose before sowing, second dose after 20 days of sowing and
third dose after 45 days of sowing
• It can be applied along with irrigation water or by sprinkling over
ane acre during rains
128. Foliar Spray
• In cereals, millets or vegetable crops, foliar application of 1:20
diluted Cow urine or diluted vermiwash is effective
• Cow urine and vermiwash in 1:1 ratio can also be used as foliar
spray
• This foliar spray can be repeated at an interval of 7-8 days
129. Practices at a glance
• Incorporate crop residue after Jiwamrut treatment
• Use 1.5-2 ton compost+rockphosphate
• If needed add concentrated manure
• Use N-fixing tree loppings and other crop/ weed biomass as mulch
• Use Jiwamrut as soil application 3-4 times
• Use vermiwash+Gomutra spray 3-4 times
• Always take 3-4 crops with 30% share to legumes
131. Preparation of Bijamrute
For seed treatment
• Bijamrut
• Cow dung - 5 Kg
• Cow urine - 5 Lit
• Cow milk - 1 Lit
• Lime - 250 gm
• Water - 100 lit
• Mix all the ingredients and keep it overnight sprinkle this
formulation on seeds to be sown, dry in shade before sowing.
132. For soil enrichment
• Sanjivak
• Used for enriching the soil with microorganisms and quick residue decomposition.
• Mix 100-200 Kg cow dung, 100 Lit cow urine and 500 gm jaggary in 300 lit of
water in a 500-lit closed drum.
• Ferment for 10 days
• Dilute with 20 times water and sprinkle in one acre either as soil spray or along
with irrigation water.
• Used as soil application either by sprinkling or by applying through irrigation
water. Three applications are needed one before sowing, second after twenty
days of sowing and third after 45 days of sowing.
133. Jiwamrut for soil enrichment
• Cow dung - 10 kg
• Cow urine - 10 lit
• Jaggary - 2 kg
• Flour of gram, - 2 kg
• Tur, Moong or
• Cowpea or Urid
• Live soil - 1 kg
• Water - 200 lit
• Take 100 lit water in barrel and add 10 kg cow dung + 10 lit cow urine. Mix well
with the help of wooden stick, add 2 kg jaggary and 2 kg flour. Mix this solution
well with wooden stick. Keep this solution for fermentation for 5 to 7 days. Shake
the solution regularly three times a day.
134. Panchgavya
(from 5 products of cow)
• Cow dung slurry 4 Kg
• Fresh cow dung 1 Kg
• Cow Urine 3 lit
• Cow milk 2 lit
• Curd 2 lit
• Cow butter oil 1 kg
• Mix all the ingredients thoroughly and ferment for 7 days with twice stirring per
day. Dilute 3 lit of Panchgavya in 100 lit water and spray over soil. 20 lit
panchgavya is needed per acre for soil application along with irrigation water.
Panchgavya can also be used for seed treatment. Soak seeds for 20 min before
sowing.
135. Enriched Panchgavya
• Fresh cow dung 1 Kg
• Cow Urine 3 lit
• Cow milk 2 lit
• Curd 2 lit
• Cow deshi ghee 1 kg
• Sugarcane juice 3 lit
• Coconut water 3 lit
• Banana paste of 12 fruits
• Method of application same as Panchgavya above
136. Dashparni extract
(Ten Plant’s Extract)• Crush following plant parts in a 500-lit drum
• Neem Leaves 5 Kg
• Vitex negundo leaves 2 Kg
• Aristolochia Leaves 2 Kg
• Papaya (Carica Papaya) 2 Kg
• Tinospora cordifolia leaves 2 Kg
• Annona squamosa (Custard apple) leaves 2 Kg
• Pongamia pinnata (Karanja) leaves 2 Kg
• Ticinus communis (Castor) leaves 2 Kg
• Nerium indicum 2 Kg
• Calotropis procera leaves 2 Kg
• Green chilly paste 2 Kg
• Garlic paste 250 gm
• Cow dung 3 Kg
• Cow Urine 5 lit
• Water 200 lit
• Crush all the ingredients and ferment for one month. Keep the drum in shade and covered with gunny bag. Shake regularly
137. Neemastra
• Crush 5 kg neem leaves in water
• Add 5lit cow urine and 2 kg cow dung
• Ferment for 24 hrs with intermittent stirring
• Filter squeeze the extract and dilute to 100 lit
• Use as foliar spray over one acre
Useful against sucking pests and mealy bugs
138. Brahmastra
• Crush 3 kg neem leaves in 10 lit cow urine
• Crush 2 kg custard apple leaf, 2 kg papaya leaf, 2kg pomegranate leaves, 2
kg guava leaves in water.
• Mix the two and boil 5 times at some interval till it becomes half
• Keep for 24 hrs, then filter squeeze the extract. This can be stored in
bottles for 6 months
• Dilute 2-2.5 lit of this extract to 100 lit for 1 acre.
Useful against sucking pests, pod/fruit borers.
139. Agneyastra
• Crush 1 kg Ipomea (besaram) leaves, 500 gm hot chilli, 500 gm garlic
and 5 kg neem leaves in 10 lit cow urine.
• Boil the suspension 5 times till it becomes half
• Filter squeeze the extract.
• Store in glass or plastic bottles
• 2-3 lit extract diluted to 100 lit is used for one acre.
Useful against leaf roller, stem/fruit/pod borer
140. Formulation – 1 for wide range of leaf eating and
sucking pests
• In a copper container mix 3 kg crushed neem leaves, 1kg neem seed
kernel powder with 10 lit cow urine and ferment for 10 days. Boil
the suspension to half and filter
• Suspend 500 gm garlic paste and 250 gm chilly paste in 1lit of water
separately and keep over night.
• Next day mix all the three solutions and filter
• Dilute to 200 lit with water and use as foliar spray over one acre
141. Formulation – 2 for wide range of leaf eating and
sucking pests
• Suspend 5 kg neem seed kernel powder, 1 kg Karanja (Pongamai) seed
powder, 5 kg chopped leaves of neem and 5 kg chopped leaves of
besharam (Ipomea) in 10-12 lit of cow urine in a 200 lit drum and fill
with water
• Ferment for 10 days.
• Distil the suspension.
• Distillate can be used as pesticide. Distillate obtained from above
quantity can be diluted to 200 lit for use over one acre.