Journal of Environmental Biology

Effect of biotic and abiotic factors on the population dynamics of Nilaparvata lugens in the middle Gangetic Plains of India

K.R. Sharma¹*, S.V.S. Raju², S.K. Singh¹, R. Singh², U. Chandra¹, P.K. Dalal¹ and R. Kumar³

¹Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Kumarganj-224 229, India

²Department of Entomology & Agricultural Zoology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi- 221 005, India

³Department of Entomology, Agriculture University, Jodhpur-342 304, India

Received: 09 April 2024                   Revised: 11 May 2024                   Accepted: 05 July 2024

*Corresponding Author Email : krsharma.ento@nduat.org                   *ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3646-3256

Abstract

Aim: To investigate the effect of biotic and abiotic factors on the population dynamics of brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens (Stal) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) in the middle Gangetic plains of India.

Methodology: Field trials were conducted in the middle Gangetic plains of India at Agricultural Research Farm, B.H.U., Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India during Kharif season of 2018 and 2019 on the variety Swarna sub-1 to study the population dynamics and certain biotic and abiotic interaction with brown planthopper.

Results: During Kharif 2018 and 2019, the highest mean number of brown planthopper population (45.00 ± 2.31 and 39.33 ±1.82 nos., respectively) were recorded during September in both seasons. Abiotic factors such as rainfall (r = - 0.556), relative humidity in the morning (r = 0.476), maximum temperature (r = 0.511), and sunshine hour (r = - 0.546) influenced planthopper population dynamics, and predictions were made with reasonable accuracy (R² = 0.89) using the principal component regression analysis technique. Crop phenology was the most influential biotic factor on pest population density. The crop's booting stage had the highest incidence of planthoppers. Three different predatory populations (wolf spider, damselfly and ladybird beetle) were observed to feed on planthoppers in Kharif 2018 and four different predatory populations (wolf spider, damselfly, ladybird beetle and green mirid bug) were observed to feed on planthoppers in Kharif 2019, resulting in a reduction in crop pest density.

Interpretation: These findings can be used to develop the precise management strategies for brown planthopper in the rice ecosystem.

Key words: Abiotic, Biotic factors, Brown planthopper, Crop phenology, Middle Gangetic Plains, Natural enemies, Rice

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