Integrated management of paddy leaf folder
THE LEAF FOLDER is becoming increasingly important with the spread of high yielding rice varieties and accompanying changes in the management.
High humidity and optimum temperature are conducive factors for rapid multiplication of the pest. It is distributed in many rice-growing countries.
Active during day
The small brownish orange coloured moth has wavy lines and a dark band on the margin of the wing. The activity of the adult moth can be observed in the field during daytime. Adult female lays about 300 eggs singly or in pairs on the young leaves.
The greenish white caterpillars attack the crop at an early stage thereby causing more damage.
They feed on the green matter of the leaf. This type of feeding leads to scorching and leaf drying. In severe cases, the whole plant dries up thereby causing reduction in yield especially in late sown crop.
Cultural management
— Crop planted early escapes.
— Avoid close planting and application of more nitrogenous fertilizers.
— Clipping of affected leaves at the beginning of the incidence reduces incidence as the caterpillars are found in folded leaves.
— Sufficient quantities of potash fertilizers are to be applied to reduce infestation and grow varieties with high silica content.
Mechanical control
Pass a thorny brush or a rope across the crop in vegetative phase to unfold the leaves and to expose the larvae to insecticidal application.
Chemical control
— Spraying of chemicals such as monocrotophos 36 WSC at 1.5 ml/lit or Chlorpyriphos 20 EC at 2.0 ml/lit or application of Fipronil 05 per cent SC at 50 gm a.i./ha or Cartap 4G at 1.0 kg a.i./ha.
Since larvae feed by hiding in leaf folds, the insecticide does not contact larvae leading to ineffective control.
MUTHYALA SRINIVAS MAHABALESHWAR HEGDE & MOHAN CHAVAN
Agricultural Research Station, Siruguppa
Karnataka
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