Management of post control rodent population rebuildup in sugarcane

Treatment of sugarcane crop fields at village Iraq, District Ludhiana, Punjab with bait containing 10 per cent CCSO for 15 and 30 days after first treatment with 2 per cent zinc phosphide revealed little or no rodent population rebuildup in fields. Per cent cut canes and yield loss due to rodents was found to be significantly (P ≤ 0.05) less in treated fields as compared to untreated fields. Mean daily acceptance of bait containing 10 per cent CCSO (63.37–73.17%) by rodents in sugarcane crop fields was significantly (P ≤ 0.01) more than that of 2 per cent zinc phosphide bait (25.54–32.07%). No significant effect was observed on fertility of animals trapped from fields treated with CCSO. Present studies reveal the potential of CCSO in managing post control rodent population rebuildup in crop fields, however, the low amount of gossypol (0.01%) present in CCSO is a limiting factor.