Herding mallard ducks in the rice field reduced insect pest populations

Issue Date

10-2012

Abstract

Farmers grow/ raise rice and ducks in the same piece of land. The ducks in a herd kept within the confines of farmer's field serve as biological control agents. Ducks reduce the population of pests like the golden apple snails (GAS) by feeding on them. Ducks also tend to drive away flying insect pests, and control weeds either by consuming or trampling on them, thereby reducing the use of mulloscicide, insecticide, and herbicide. Fifteen day-old mallard ducklings were herded in plots from 15 to 60 days after transplanting. Populations of insect pests and natural enemies were monitored through visual and sweep net counting from 15 to 60 days after release of ducklings or after transplanting (DAT). Low population of adult golden apple snail was observed on treatments herded with ducklings (150 to 200 heads/ha,) compared to plots applied with molluscicide (farmers; practice) from 15 to 45 DAT. Presence of adult GAS on herded plots was not observed at 60 DAT. Plots with high population of ducklings herded had lower populations of White backed Planthopper, Green Leafhopper, Brown Planthopper and Rice Black Bug compared to treatments with few ducklings released. Likewise, plots with ducklings consistently gave lower populations of insect pests compared to plots applied with insecticide (farmer's practice) from 15 to 60 DAT. Rice field herded by mallard ducklings from 15 to 60 days after transplanting had lower populations of insect pests compared to field applied with molluscicide and insecticides.

Source or Periodical Title

Philippine Entomologist

ISSN

0048-3753

Volume

26

Issue

2

Page

199

Document Type

Article

Frequency

semi-annually

Language

English

En – AGROVOC descriptors

DUCKS; SNAILS; HERDS; BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AGENTS; MOLLUSCICIDE; PEST CONTROL

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