Title: Biocontrol of weed in summer rice through grass carp ( Ctenopharyngodon idella )

Abstract: An experiment was conducted in Assam, India with three replications using 2500 fingerlings of grass carp per acre land for controlling weeds in summer rice. Another plot of one acre of summer rice without grass carp was treated as control for comparison. The experiment revealed that while average number of weed and weed weight per m 2 in the rice monoculture (RMC) plot were 28.64 and 25.21 g, respectively; in the integrated rice fish culture (IRFC) plots number and weight of weeds were 3.4 and 2.99, respectively. Grass carp did not consume Echinochloa spp. and Alternanthera spp. Rice pr oduction was 3002 kg grains/acre against 2295 kg/acre, in IRFC and RNC plots, respectively. There was 30.81% increase of rice yield in IRFC, despite of fact that 11.35% the total rice field was used for trench as fish refuse, where rice was not planted. To tal table fish production from IRFC was 2 276.74 kg/acre. The returns from IRFC and RMC were Rs. 20 0775.50 and Rs. 22 950.00 respectively. The BC ratio of IRFC and RMC were 3.05 and 1.48, respectively. The comparative analysis revealed an additional income Rs. 17 7825.50 per acre from IRFC system. From the result of the experiment, it may be concluded that integrating rearing of grass carp with summer rice can be the best tool for controlling weeds. The results revealed that besides controlling the weeds, it also increases rice yield and farm income. Moreover, faecal matters of grass carp add nutrients to the rice field. [Uttam Kumar Baruah, Hira Prabha Rabha & Minakshi Mazumdar (2014). Biocontrol of weed in summer rice through grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella. ). Scholars Journal of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences. 1(3):143-148] Comment

Keywords: Grass carp, integrated rice - fish farming, weed, biocontrol, boro rice, rice equivalent.

Full-text available here



Article: WeedsNews5105 (permalink)
Categories: :WeedsNews:research alert, :WeedsNews:rice, :WeedsNews:weed control, :WeedsNews:biological control
Date: 28 August 2014; 10:54:18 pm Australian Eastern Standard Time

Author Name: David Low
Author ID: adminDavid