Impact of Transplanting Period on Pest Incidence and Yield of Rice in Middle Gujarat

Abstract

Field experiments carried out during three successive kharif seasons (1995–96 to 1997–98) at the Main Rice Research Station, Gujarat Agricultural University, Nawagam (Gujarat) revealed that the incidence of leaf folder, Cnaphalocrocis medinalis Guen., stem borer, Scirpophaga incertulas (Walker) and white-backed plant hopper, Sogatella furcifera (Horvath), was low in rice crop transplanted during the period of third week of June and first week of July. Damage of these pests increased as the transplanting period was delayed. Maximum grain (4470 kg/ha) and fodder (6445 kg/ha) yields were harvested by transplanting the crop early (third week of June) and decreased in subsequent transplanting periods (first and third week of July and first week of August). Highest (Rs. 30043/ha) economic return was earned by transplanting the crop early (third week of June). The trial concluded that about 50 to 55% more income could be achieved if the rice crop is transplanted during the period of late June and early July.