Rodents pose threat to paddy fields, Punjab Agriculture University experts issue advisory

Kulwinder Sandhu
Tribune News Service
Moga, June 22

Experts from Punjab Agriculture University (PAU), Ludhiana, today issued an advisory to farmers in the Malwa belt on rodent control during the germination stage in direct seeded rice (DSR) fields.

Farmers said rats were creating problems in the fields owing to the persistent dry weather conditions.

Agricultural experts said irrigation and puddling of fields in manual rice transplantation naturally destroyed rodent burrows (holes), but in direct seeded rice fields, farmers needed to kill them.

The lesser bandicoot rat, Bandicota bengalensis, is the predominant rodent pest species in Punjab, causing a huge damage to various crops. Its burrows could be identified in crop fields from loose heaps of soil. Other rodent species found in crop fields include soft furred field rat, Millardia meltada; Indian gerbil,Tatera indica; Indian bush rat, Golunda ellioti; and field mouse, Mus booduga.

“To control rodents during the germination stage, close all burrow openings present within the field, on bunds and in surrounding areas with soil. The next day, insert a paper boat containing 10-10g of poison bait (zinc phosphide or bromodiolone) about 6-inch deep in each burrow and again close it with soil. In case of burrows of B. bengalensis, gently remove the fresh soil from above the burrow complex to locate the tunnel and then put the poison bait deep inside it,” said PAU experts.

Since the acceptance of poison bait by rodents depends upon the quality, texture, taste and odour of the baiting material, therefore always prepare rodenticides bait as per the recommended methods —- 2 per cent zinc phosphide bait and 0.005% bromodiolone bait, say the experts. As zinc phosphide bait becomes ineffective due to the release of phosphene gas after coming in contact with water or moisture, this bait should be prepared afresh every time, they said.

“Do not to use zinc phosphide in repeated baitings to deal with the leftover population,” they said.

The PAU experts said the control of rodents in smaller areas usually became ineffective due to their migration from the surrounding untreated fields.

Plant Protection Officer, Moga, Dr Jaswinder Brar said the Agriculture Department had launched a campaign to kill rats in many vulnerable villages of the district, particularly adjoining the Sutlej belt.