Impact of bee attractants on bee visitation on buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum L.) crop

Abstract

A field experiment was undertaken with bee attractants on bee visitation on qualitative and quantitative parameters on buckwheat Fagopyrum esculentum L. crop. The use of different concentrations of Sugar solution, Sugarcane juice, Jaggery and Honey solution were evaluated to understand honeybee visitation pattern of target crop and pollination efficiency. Treatments involved were, spraying of Honey solution (10%), Sugar solution (10%) and (15%), Sugarcane juice (10%) and (15%), Jaggery solution (10%) and (15%) and without any spray. The results revealed that a day before the first spray, the number of Indian honey bee (Apis cerana indica) visiting on buckwheat flower ranged from 1.70 to 3.70 and 0.28 to 5.95 bees/m2/min in 10 per cent and 50 per cent flowering condition and did not differ significantly among the treatments. However, the following day after the first spray, Honey solution (10%) attracted the higher number of Apis cerana indica 6.17, 6.14, 4.54 and 3.45 bees/m2/min in the 1DAS, 3DAS, 5DAS and 7DAS in 10 per cent flowering. The plot receives the bee attractants significantly increased the number of seed per cyme, number of seed per plant, seed yield per plot and seed yield per hector.