Successful application of biological products to control brown planthoppers in rice
(Baonghean) - In recent years, rice pests caused by brown planthoppers and white-backed planthoppers have caused great damage to rice production in Nghe An. To ensure rice productivity, the use of many types of pesticides for spraying is indispensable, including pesticides specifically for rice planthoppers. Thus, in addition to increased costs (purchase of pesticides, spraying costs), the use of many types of pesticides, in large quantities, and frequently also causes soil and water pollution and is also the cause of imbalance in the field ecosystem, leading to an increasing risk of rice diseases. Not only that, the use of many types of pesticides also reduces the quality of rice.
In the summer-autumn crop of 2011, the Plant Protection Center of Region 4 implemented the FAO IPM model using the green fungus Metarhizium anisopliea to control brown planthoppers that harm rice (biological pesticide). This is a biological product that is not toxic to the environment, humans, etc. to replace pesticides to control planthoppers. The results of the implementation of the model in hamlets 6 and 7 of Hung Phuc commune - Hung Nguyen, with a scale of 30 rice-producing households and an area of 2 hectares, have shown positive results. Specifically: at the points where the above biological products were sprayed, farmers did not have to use other types of pesticides to control brown planthoppers like other fields under conditions where pesticides had to be used many times. Using the green fungus Metarhizium anisopliea also reduces production costs and contributes to protecting natural enemies, improving the field ecosystem and moving towards green, clean and sustainable agriculture.
The green fungus Metarhizium anisopliea is an easy-to-make and easy-to-use product, so people can produce and use it (after being provided with the original fungus). Learning from households applying the product, people said that after receiving the fungus spawn and through training, people can cultivate it to apply to control planthoppers in this summer-autumn crop. The product was sprayed by farmers in the model during the tillering and panicle initiation stages. The results after 15-20 days of spraying showed that the parasitic fungus rate was higher than that of brown planthoppers and reduced planthopper density by up to 60% compared to unsprayed fields. Thus, it can be said that this is an initial application that needs to be further evaluated in the following production seasons in ecological regions to have accurate conclusions and soon propagate the application in the upcoming seasons.
Phan Duy Hai
