Dichogaster nr. curgensis Michaelsen (Annelida: Octochaetidae): a new subterranean pest of irrigated rice in the Philippines
1993
Barrion, A.T. | Litsinger, J.A. (International Rice Research Inst., Los Banos, Laguna (Philippines))
The oligochaete Dichogaster nr. curgensis Michaelsen - a small red earthworm (40-75 mm long; 1.5-2.00 mm wide) is a newly recorded subterranean pest of irrigated lowland rice infesting more than 20,000 ha in the Philippine terraces. Earthworm density was 94.3 + 12.50 per hill. Its order of preponderance was river bank levee. The earthworm's burrowing activity resulted in mechanical injury to the root system causing plant to wilt and die. Infested fields exhibited reduced plant stand and uneven growth. Planting older seedlings (55-d-old) and flooding the field with more than 14 cm depth effectively managed the earthworm. Carbofuran gave excellent control applied at 0.50 kg a.i./ha. However, the exorbitant cost was prohibitive for small scale farmers to use carbofuran in earthworm control. Gliricidia leaves were ineffective against earthworms. Accumulation of its leaves in the soil increased organic matter content and earthworms
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