Habitat manipulation for biological pest management in hybrid rice seed production
2019
Garcia, V.C. | Santiago, R.S. | Abon, C.C.Jr. | Sicat, E.V.
The role of ecological engineering as a component in pest management is new in rice and its benefits are given little attention. Ecological engineering modifies the environment according to ecological principles (Gurr et al., 2004). It is a useful conceptual framework for considering the practice of habitat manipulation for arthropod pest management. Habitat manipulation, which involves altering the cropping system, is another form of conservation biological control. This study was conducted during the 2019 Dry Season at Philippine-Sino Center for Agricultural Technology (PhilSCAT) farm and experiment areas to determine the effect of planting flowering plants near rice field on the population of beneficial organisms in the hybrid rice ecosystem. Collected beneficial organisms using sweeping net showed that the rice fields planted with flowering plants had higher population than fields without flowering plants. During flowering, population of beneficial organisms collected was generally higher in the fields with flowering plants (14%) than fields without flowering plants (6%). The difference was statistically significant. Habitat manipulation, which include cultivating flower plants as source of nectar and pollen, can help sustain Integrated Pest Management in areas with large rice monoculture. It also serves as refuge to beneficial arthropod. Thus, farmers would spend less in rice production and their health would be protected. The environment is also being guarded as chemical use in the farms is greatly reduced (Arida et al., 2016).
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