Effect of nutrient amendments in managing the rice brown planthopper

Abstract

The brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Stal) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae), is the most consistent insect pest of rice and a significant stressor in Malaysian rice production and elsewhere. While effective pesticides are readily available in the market, their long-term use poses substantial environmental risks. Conversely, nutrient supplementation in rice plants has shown potential to impact this pest’s biology indirectly. Therefore, a pot experiment was conducted at MARDI Seberang Perai, Penang to study the effect of nutrient manipulation with the addition of silicon (Si) on nymphs emergence and survival of the brown planthopper. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design having a total of 25 treatment combinations replicated thrice. The N, K, and Si treatments were applied using a three-factor quadratic orthogonal rotation combination design. The results were promising. We discovered that by applying 104 kg/ha N, 42 kg/ha P, 62 kg/ha K2O with an addition of 200 kg/ha Si, we could reduce brown planthopper survival rates by at least 50%. This finding underscores the potential of balanced nutrient combinations in effectively managing this pest. In conclusion, our study highlights the important of understanding and utilizing balanced nutrient combinations for more sustainable and effective brown planthopper management.