Light trap vs pest attacking hybrid rice, cotton developed

An enhanced light trap (ELT) that can control pests attacking lowland hybrid rice and cotton-corn intercropping has been developed.

The device was crafted by Aida D. Solsoloy, Florendo Calamaan, Lilibeth Paraoan, and Yolanda Abriña, all of the Department of Agriculture-Cotton Development Authority (DA-CODA).

The researchers recorded their findings in a scientific paper titled "Cost-effectiveness of the Enhanced Light Trap for Insect Pest Control of Lowland Hybrid Rice and Cotton + Corn Cropping System."

The ELT was among the commerciable technologies presented at the 18th National Research Symposium organized recently by the DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) in Diliman, Quezon City.

In the CODA study, the researchers assessed the ELT’s effectiveness in controlling insect pests of rainfed lowland hybrid rice and cotton-corn intercropping system during the period October 2005-May 2006 (dry season) at the agency’s central experiment station in Batac, Ilocos Norte.

They reported that the light trap effectively controlled the major pests infesting rice, specifically green leafhopper, zigzag leafhopper, white-backed planthopper, brown planthopper, rice whorl maggot, pink stemborrer, and several unidentified species of leaffolders and stemborers.

"Cotton with the light trap produced a greater number of bolls and subsequently higher seedcotton yield than the comparative farm," they said.

The researchers added that paddy rice, corn kernel, and seedcotton yields were higher in the area with the light trap than that without light trap.

"Partial budget analysis showed a high index of profitability using the enhanced light trap attributable to the increase in yield and excellence in pest control," they assessed.

Summing up, the researchers strongly recommended the use of the trap by farmers and its distribution through government intervention. – Rudy A. Fernandez