Efficacy of bird chili as a botanical pesticide to control pests on rice.

Abstract

Though the chemical control is an effective method in pest control, its impacts on environment as well as human health has drawn the attention of public. Therefore the efficacy of plant extract to control some of the pests on rice was tested. Water extract of a mixture of bird chili varieties were prepared and applied on eight plots of rice, from seedling stage to harvesting stage. Another eight plots not treated were considered as control plots. The numbers of insect species in the control plot and treated plots were recorded weekly. There were no significant differences (t-values > 0.05) on density of Scotinophora lurida, Cnaphalocrosis medinalis, Scirpophaga incertulus, Dicladispa armigera, Orseolia orizae and Grass hoppers before and after applying these bird chili extracts, but there was a significant difference on the density of paddy bug (Leptocoriza oratorius) (t-values < 0.0001) after applying the extracts of bird chili. The result reveals that, Leptocoriza oratorius one of the major pests of paddy, could be controlled very effectively by using this cheaper and environment friendly botanical.