Reduction of Wild boar (Sus scrofa L.) damage in Maize (Zea mays L.) by using Castor (Ricinus communis L.) as barrier

Abstract

Wild boar (Sus scrofa) is considered as important agricultural pest in India. Its status and distribution across the country is fragmented with high density populations and causing considerable damage in different growth stages. Among the crops, maize is highly preferred by the wild boar and the damage was significantly higher during sowing and dough/milky stage (10-75%) of the crop. The basic reason for such unexpected abrupt rise in their populations can be attributed in escalating rate of deforestation, non availability of preferred dietary items, and less predatory pressure. This resulted in to severe man-animal conflict. In the present study use of high density planting of Castor crop as border/barrier resulted in increase of yield from 36.24 to 95.29% and minimized wild boar entry in to the maize fields.