Weather based forewarning of gall midge attack on rice and operational crop protection using weather information at Pattambi, Kerala

Abstract

 The feasibility of meteorological forewarning of gall midge attack has been made using entomological and meteorological data for a period of 13 years from 1987 – 1999 recorded systematically at Pattambi in Kerala. Stepwise regression techniques are used in this study for developing forewarning models. The maximum and minimum temperatures, morning and afternoon relative humidity, bright sunshine hours and weekly totals of rainfall have profound effect on the development of the gall midge at their successive generations. Weather based multiple regression models for the peak infestation period for each of the four generations of the pest were developed using data for the period 1987-99 and validated using observed meteorological as well as pest data for 2000 and 2001. Based on the findings of this study pest weather calendar for gall midge of rice was also prepared. This calendar would be useful for early warning and operational rice crop protection from gall midge attack.