Preventing 'enemy' outbreaks on spring rice crop

(Baonghean) - Spring rice is entering the growth stage. However, many pests are emerging in the fields, threatening the growth of the rice.

First of all, the most serious problem is the golden apple snail. In recent days, golden apple snails have appeared in many spring rice areas, both on direct-sown rice and transplanted rice. In Nam Dan district, golden apple snails have appeared in most of the more than 4,000 hectares of direct-sown rice, while nearly 4,000 hectares of transplanted rice have not been affected much. Mr. Chu Anh Hung - Head of the Plant Protection Station of Nam Dan district said: The earliest crop of direct-sown rice has begun to enter the tillering period. This year, golden apple snails are less severe than last year, but they still arise and cause a lot of damage in these areas.

Farmers in Nghi Loc district spray insecticide to prevent rice blast on spring rice. Photo: Phu Huong

Recently, the district has directed communes to mobilize people to focus on monitoring the fields, using measures such as digging trenches to push snails down, or planting stakes around the banks for snails to lay eggs and stick to them to kill them, placing nets in the fields to prevent snails from entering the fields or releasing ducks to eat snails.

Only when high density of infection is detected in the fields is it recommended to use pesticides for spraying. In addition to focusing on nitrogen fertilizer to help the rice plant grow tillers, farmers are also advised to regularly monitor the fields to detect and treat early the leaf blast disease that often occurs strongly during the tillering stage.

In Yen Thanh district, 12,700 hectares of spring rice in the area have entered the tillering stage. In addition to other pests such as leaf rollers and rats, golden apple snails have also appeared and damaged an area of ​​7 hectares, scattered in communes. In particular, in the past 2-3 days, rice blast disease has appeared locally on rice transplanted in Thinh Thanh commune. Mr. Nguyen Van Duong - Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Yen Thanh district said: In recent years, Yen Thanh has been relatively "clean" of rice blast, while the weather in the coming days will change frequently, with fog and cold rain, which is very favorable for the disease to develop, and the rice plants are starting to enter the tillering stage. In this situation, the district regularly recommends that people actively visit the fields to take timely measures when rice blast disease appears, avoiding the situation where rice blast causes leaf burn leading to neck blast.

Currently, nearly 89,500 hectares of spring rice in the province are in the growing stage, of which the transplanted rice area is 67,272.8 hectares and direct sowing is 23,113 hectares. In some early sowing areas, the rice plants have entered the period of intensive tillering. According to the general assessment, the weather in recent days has been favorable for rice growth and development. However, some pests and diseases have also arisen and caused damage in the fields.

Up to now, 122 hectares of rice in the tillering stage have been infected with blast disease, mainly in Hung Nguyen district (75 hectares), Tan Ky district (23.9 hectares), Vinh city (20.4 hectares), ... of which 6.1 hectares are heavily infected with a high disease rate of 10-15%, locally 30-40%, even individually 50-70% of leaves are damaged, forming a disease nest. In addition, rats have also appeared and damaged over 163.7 hectares, concentrated in Dien Chau district, Quynh Luu, Vinh city, ... the high damage rate is 5-7%, locally 10-15% of the stalks are damaged.

In addition, some other pests such as thrips, root nematodes, root stranglers, etc. have also appeared and caused minor, local damage. Up to now, localities have organized farmers to spray and prevent over 41.7 hectares of rice infected with blast disease, while focusing on handling, catching and destroying golden apple snails, harmful rats, etc.

Farmers in Do Luong district catch golden apple snails that harm rice. Photo: Huu Hoan

According to statistics from the Provincial Plant Protection Department, up to now, 120 hectares of rice have been infected with this dangerous leaf-eating organism, concentrated in the districts of Tuong Duong, Anh Son, Nam Dan, Yen Thanh, Vinh City and Tan Ky. Head of the Provincial Plant Protection and Cultivation Department - Mr. Nguyen Tien Duc said: Unlike other pests and harmful organisms, golden apple snails are very limited in the use of pesticides, mainly using mechanical measures to avoid environmental impacts as well as destroying other beneficial organisms. However, up to this point, 55 hectares have been advised to spray pesticides to eradicate them because they are heavily infected and can cause serious impacts.

According to recommendations from the Provincial Plant Protection Department, in the coming time, the weather conditions will gradually warm up, alternating with cold air waves accompanied by rain and high humidity, which are very favorable conditions for leaf blast disease to arise and spread, causing damage, especially on sandy soil, light soil, semi-mountainous areas, and planting varieties with high infection levels such as Xi23, IR1820, Xi30, BC15,...

In addition, other pests such as various types of planthoppers, thrips, golden apple snails, harmful mice, root nematodes, etc. will continue to arise and cause increased damage in some areas. On varieties susceptible to blast, if early detection and control are not focused, it will easily lead to leaf burn, toxic secretion, inhibiting the growth and development of rice plants, and very low recovery ability.

If rice blast fungus encounters high humidity, fog, and rice plants are heavily fertilized with nitrogen, it will easily lead to an outbreak, and prevention will be ineffective or very ineffective. Unlike heavy loam soils, mountainous areas or coastal sandy soils are susceptible to blast fungus due to the poor nitrogen absorption capacity of the soil. If farmers fertilize with nitrogen, rice plants will focus on developing leaves, making them susceptible to blast fungus.

To limit the development and harmful effects of diseases, localities need to guide and direct farmers to prune and fertilize rice plants properly. Regularly visit fields to detect and prevent pests in a timely manner. At the same time, continue to organize propaganda and mobilize people to actively participate in rat extermination. Provide instructions on applying rat extermination measures such as manual measures, using traps, biological and chemical rat extermination drugs, etc.

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Phu Huong