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Department of Entomology, ANGRAU-S.V. Agricultural College, Tirupati-517 502.
A roving survey was conducted on pesticide usage pattern in rice crop grown in Southern Agro-climatic Zone of Andhra
Pradesh during rabi, 2024-25. Data from 120 farmers were collected in four districts viz., Kadapa, Nellore, Chittoor, Tirupati, two mandals from each district and three villages from each mandal. The data on crop management practices followed by the rice farmers, occurrence of insect pests and diseases, time of plant protection, pesticides, dose, method of application, etc., was recorded. The results indicated that, stem borer, leaf folder, gall midge and brown plant hopper are the common insect pests of rice in surveyed areas and the insecticides viz., chlorantraniliprole, dinotefuran, triflumezopyrim, acephate, cypermethrin, were used in the insect pest control. Diseases viz., sheath blight, blast, grain discoloration were observed in common and fungicides azoxystrobin, tebuconazole, propiconazole, tricyclazole, carbendazim were the most frequently used to control the diseases. Among the insecticides, chlorantraniliprole being applied to the extent of 77 per cent against stem borers in Kadapa district followed by triflumezopyrim (70%) in Tirupati and Nellore districts against brown plant hoppers. In Chittoor district, 66.7 per cent farmers used cypermethrin against leaf folder. Among the fungicides, the combination of azoxystrobin and tebuconazole was used against sheath blight to the tune of 25.0 per cent, followed by tricyclazole (23.33%) against rice blast and propiconazole (20.8%) against sheath blight. Highest fungicide usage was observed in Tirupati district. The studies revealed that most of the farmers are using insecticides and fungicides in combination spray after tank mixing, limited to 3-5 no. of sprays with the power sprayer. This study provides an overview of the history and evolution of pesticide use in rice cultivation, explores the functions and application patterns of different types of pesticides.
KEYWORDS: Survey, rice, insecticides, fungicides, Andhra Pradesh.