Response of rice yield to rat damage in irrigated rice (oryza sativum l.) in Mvomero district, Morogoro, Tanzania.
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Date
2016
Authors
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Publisher
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
Rodents often damage crops throughout the growing season, from germination to
harvest, thus making it difficult to understand its cumulative effects for crops such as
rice that arc able to partially compensate. This study examines response of rice yield
to rat damage in farmer's fields and simulated rat damage in irrigated and rain-fed
rice (Oiyza sativum L) in Morogoro, one of Tanzania's granary areas. The study was
conducted at Hembeti village in Mvomero district from September, 2012 to July,
2013 where variety TXD 306 was used. Two field experiments; viz: farmers^
managed rice field and rodent simulation damage were conducted. The experimental
design for farmer's field study was split plot laid in Completely Randomized Design
(CRD) and a split-split plot layout in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD)
with three replications for simulation rat damage experiment. Five damage levels
(i.e. cuts at 0%, 10%, 20%, 25% and 50%) at different rice growth stages (i.e.
transplanting, vegetative and maturity) and seasons (i.e. dry and wet) were carried
out for later experiment. Results show that there were no significant differences in
rodent abundance between seasons and crop growth stage in farmer's managed rice
fields. Mastomys naialensis was the most abundant rodent pest species while
Grammomys doUchurus was found in small proportions. Higher yield was recorded
during the wet season compared with the dry season. Yield loss was observed during
all cropping stages fbr all levels of simulated rat damage for wet and dry season
crops, with significant compensation noted at the transplanting stage. Damage above
10% stem cut and at vegetative and maturity stage resulted in significant reductions
in rice yield. Grain yield was highly and positive correlated with number of panicles
per plant and panicles m'2, filled grains per panicle, percentage grain fill and 1000
grain weight.
Description
Dissertation
Keywords
Rice plant, Rice production, Rodent Pest Management