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Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development (AJAD) - Call for papers!

Species composition, abundance, and occurrence of rice insect pests and their associated natural enemies as influenced by rice cropping patterns and crop vigor in Cambodia

(Cambodia), Master of Science in Entomology (University of the Philippines Los Baños)

Thesis Abstract:

The present investigation was conducted to determine the species composition, abundance and occurrence of rice insect pests and their associated natural enemies under three cropping patterns [conservation agriculture + synthetic inputs, CA+SI; conservation agriculture + organic inputs, CA+OI; Conventional rice farming, CRF] in Cambodia. Extensive sampling data showed 21 species of insect pests and 42 species of natural enemies was recorded on rice grown under CA+SI. Rice grown under CA+OI recorded 24 insect pest species and 36 beneficial arthropods. While the conventional method of rice culture recorded 29 pest species and 42 species of natural enemies. Based on phenology, the vegetative stage harbored the most number of insect pests regardless of the cropping pattern. The most dominant insect pests are brown planthopper and green leafhopper and thrips while ant, dragonfly, and Trichogrammatid wasp were among the dominant natural enemies. CA+SI cropping pattern improved rice crop stand and were much taller, produced more tillers, and have fuller grains. Under this cropping pattern, it recorded the least number of insect pests but it has the highest number of species of natural enemies. The number of pests was regulated by the high number of natural enemies and consequently produced the highest yield.