Impact of rodenticidal baiting in rodent reservoir crops on damage in adjoining crops

Abstract

An experiment conducted during 2004-05 on happing of rodents showed the predominanace of Ba~tdicotab engaiensis at ail the 3 areas under study. Rodenticidal baits were applied in maize (Zea mays L.) fields and their impact on adjoining paddy (Orpa saliva L.) fields was recorded. Similarly rodenticides were applied in sugarcane (Scchancm officinarum L.) and their impact on adjoining wheat (Triticum aestivwn L. emend. Fiori & Paol.) crop was assessed. It was observed that 2% zinc phosphide treatment in maize reduced the rodent damage in adjoining paddy from 4.0 to 0.36% resulting in a rodent control success of 90.5 1%. Baiting in sugarcane with 2% zinc phosphide and 0.005% bromodialone reduced the damage from 3.1 1 to 0.5 and 0.38% respectively in village Irak (Ludhiana) and 2.09 to 0.91 and 0.82% in Moran (Nawanshahar). Poison baiting in maize and sugarcane provided 91.0 and 83.9 to 60% protection to adjoining paddy and wheat crops respectively.