Evaluation of botanicals, traps and rodenticides against Bandicota bengalensis in rice ecosystem

An investigation was carried out at Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS), Titabor and Instructional Cum Research Farm, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat during 2011–12 and 2012–13 in boro and sali season, respectively to evaluate botanicals, traps and rodenticides against field rodents in rice. Among the different treatments, the lowest rodent incidence (9.33 LBC/ha, 5.33 trapping index and 4.14% cut tillers damage in boro rice and 9.66 LBC/ha, 5.53 TI and 4.71% cut tillers in sali rice, respectively) was recorded in the treatment with application of ecodon solution @ 1 litre/burrow at maximum tillering stage and just before panicle initiation stage followed by placement of Sherman traps @ 30 traps/ha after 10 days of last application.The second best treatment in respect of reduction of rodent population in terms of LBC/ha, TI and cut tillers was spraying of ecodon solution (1:50) on bunds at maximum tillering stage and just before panicle initiation stage followed by placement of Sherman traps(30 traps/ha) after 10 days of last application where the LBC/ha, TI and per cent cut tillers was 10.66,6.26 and 5.74% respectively in case of boro rice and 11.33,6.26 and 6.88 LBC/ha,TI and cut tillers, respectively in sali rice.