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Be Gone, Rice Black Bug! TTDARES Holds “Organic Rice Black Bug Control and Fertilization Management Demonstration Event”

2023-06-02
The organic rice cultivation area in Guanshan has been dealing with an infestation of rice black bugs for over a year, causing losses of NT$20,000-80,000 per hectare each season. In response to the problems caused by the pest along with over-fertilization, the Taitung District Agricultural Research and Extension Station (TTDARES) has applied the organic remedy of natural enemies. On May 24, 2023, in rice fields behind the Zi-Yuan Rice Husking Factory in Guanshan, the TTDARES held the Organic Rice Black Bug Control and Fertilization Management Demonstration Event. Three seasons after these fields made the transition to organic, they were hit by a rice black bug infestation, leading to major losses for growers. But then the bug’s natural enemy came to the rescue! Through cooperation among the TTDARES, industry organizations, schools, and institutes of research, within a year, the bug’s natural enemies, the fungus Metarhizium robertsii and a species of Telenomus wasp, were found, and work was undertaken to make use of them as a secret weapon in combating the bugs, effectively ending the threat for now. Growers now only need to implement timely prevention, monitoring, and intervention measures based on integrated pest management principles to keep damage from the bugs within an acceptable range, making the foundation for sustainable rice crop management stronger. 

TTDARES Director Chen Hsin-yen hosts the Organic Rice Black Bug Control and Fertilization Management Demonstration Event. Assistant researcher Wang Zhi-wei talks about rice black bug control based on practices in an experimental field. Associate researcher Zhang Ji-zhong discusses organic rice fertilization management techniques. Growers observe the experimental field where rice black bug measures have been implemented. An instructional card on techniques for controlling rice black bugs.

     

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