EXTENT OF CROP DAMAGES CAUSED BY A SERIOUS RODENT

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941

Manna et al. World Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

EXTENT OF CROP DAMAGES CAUSED BY A SERIOUS RODENT

PEST, THE RATTUS SIKKIMENSIS, IN THE GANGETIC AND NON-

GANGETIC PLAINS OF WEST BENGAL, INDIA

Debiprosad Chattopadhyay and Chanchal Kumar Manna*

Endocrinology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Kalyani, Kalyani

741235, Nadia, W.B., India.

ABSTRACT

Rodents are the serious pests throughout the world. Every year, rats in

Asia consume food crops that could feed 200 million people for an

entire year. In the present study four districts, two from the Gangetic

plain and two from the non-Gangetic plain of West Bengal were

selected. The Gangetic and the non-Gangetic plains were very different

to their climatic condition, soil structure and major crop pattern.

Naturally the crop production and the extent of damages will be varied

due to change in soil structure in these regions. The average

temperature of the Gangetic and the non-Gangetic plains were 39 ±

2.74 °C (maximum), 10.7 ± 2.62°C (minimum) and rainfall were,

1339.07 ± 135.92 millimeter and 44.5 ± 0.84°C (maximum), 7.8 ±

0.91°C (minimum), 1266.71 ± 116.85 millimeter respectively. The average pH, clay content

and sand percentage were 6.75 ± 0.39, 24.2 ± 0.89 and 33.2 ± 1.35 respectively in the

Gangetic plain and 5.93 ± 0.32, 15.3 ± 1.03 and 78 ± 2.14 respectively in the non-Gangetic

plain. No such significant differences were observed in the available nitrogen, organic carbon

and the phosphate in between the Gangetic and the non-Gangetic plains. Major crops of the

Gangetic plain were rice, wheat, gram, mustard, jute, mesta, sugar cane, potato, chilli and

ginger, and in the non-Gangetic plain major crops were rice, wheat, maize, mustard oil seed,

sugarcane, potato and chilli. Almost all the major crops of both these regions were damaged

by rodents and especially the Rattus sikkimensis. It was observed that in comparison to rice

much damage was observed in the wheat field. It may be due to their favourite food stuff and

a relatively long exposure time and dense biomass.

WORLD JOURNAL OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES

SJIF Impact Factor 7.421

Volume 7, Issue 3, 941-954 Research Article ISSN 2278 – 4357

Article Received on

10 Jan. 2018,

Revised on 30 Jan. 2018,

Accepted on 21 Feb. 2018

DOI: 10.20959/wjpps20183-11149

*Corresponding Author

Chanchal Kumar Manna

Endocrinology Laboratory,

Department of Zoology,

University of Kalyani,

Kalyani 741235, Nadia,

W.B., India.


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KEYWORDS: Gangetic, Non - Gangetic, Damage, Climatic condition, Rodent Pest.

INTRODUCTION

Among vertebrate Pests, the rodents (Order: Rodentia; Family -Muridae; Subfamily -

Murinae) are one of the serious pests cause various types of damages either directly or

indirectly. A large amount of crops is being lost every year during the time of pre and post

harvesting period. They have been identified as the most important agricultural pests at the

global level.[1]

Due to damage of the huge amount of crops in the field and godowns, food

shortages[2]

commonly occur in various parts of the globe.

They are one of the diverse group of mammals comprising rats, mice, bandicoots, gerbils,

voles, squirrels etc., and are characterised by chisel shaped incissors, for the destruction of

crops and other household goods. Pradhan and Talmalc[3]

recently reported 103 species, 89

subspecies under 46 genera belonging to 7 families in India.

A wide variety of crops are being damaged by Rattus sp. This group of rodent causes damage

to the standing crops due to burrowing, cutting and hoarding activities[4]

. However, the

pattern of rodent infestation and the extent of damages vary in different crops and

geographical regions.[5]

About twelve vegetable crops like tomato, brinjal, carrot, sweet

potato, raddish, cabbage, cauliflower, onion, garlic, spinach, bottle gourd and okra, have been

reported to be susceptible to rodent attack.[4]

Indian mole rat ( Bandicota bengalensis ) soft furred field rat ( Rattus meltada )and the field

mice ( Mus sp.) predominantly inhabit in rice fields in the Northern India.[6]

In Uttar Pradesh

about 11% of wheat and barley are damaged[7]

. 7.56 % damage is recorded from Punjab.[8]

0.22 - 4.78% of wheat is damaged in Haryana.[9]

The extent of damage reaches the 50% mark

during rodent outbreaks; in some crops, it may be as high as 75% as in oil palm crops in

Mizoram.[10]

The Gangetic and the non-Gangetic plain of West Bengal are quite different with each other

in regard to the climatic condition, crop pattern and soil composition. Large varieties of crops

are produced in both the regions. But the crops which are produced in these regions are

damaged by various types of Rattus sp. Among the Rattus species, Rattus sikkimensis is quite

predominant in these two regions. Although there are little differences in crop production in

these two regions but they are extensively damaged by this species of rat.


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As there are no records available regarding the damage pattern of the crops by this rodent

species, this investigation will help to estimate the actual damages made by this group of

rodent.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The present study was conducted in four Districts of West Bengal, INDIA. Amongst the four

districts, the district Nadia and North 24-Parganas are situated in the Gangetic plain and the

districts Bankura and Purulia are situated in the non-Gangetic plain.

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION OF THE FOUR DISTRICTS

District Nadia is situated between 22053” and 24

011″ North latitude and 88

009″ and 88

048″

East longitude and about 390027 Sq Kms. in area, this district is linear in shape with

orientation of North-South.

North 24-Parganas district is a district in southern West Bengal. North 24-Parganas extends

in the tropical zone from latitude 22°11″ north to 23°15″ north and from longitude 88°20″

east to 89°5″ east.

Bankura is located in the western part of the State of West Bengal. It is a part of Burdwan

Division of the State and included in the area known as "Rarh" in Bengal. The District

Bankura is bounded by latitude 22°38″ N and longitude 86°36″ E to 87°47″ E.

Purulia lies between 22°60″ and 23°50″ N latitudes and 85°75″ and 86°65″ E longitudes. The

geographical area of the district is approximately 6259 km².

FIELD STUDY AND EXACAVATION OF THE BURROW

During the time of field survey live burrows were detected and then excavated by standard

excavating instruments. Then we measured different parameters like number of opening, total

length of the burrow, length of the burrow by its long axis, depth of the burrow, types of

hoarded materials within the burrow, different chambers within the burrow. Soil and hoarded

materials were collected and were presented for further study. Photographs were taken

properly. Each season, observations were made and the damages were recorded.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Bengal


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CLIMATIC CONDITION

Temperature, rainfall and relative humidity of these regions (Gangetic and non-Gangetic

plain) were observed (Fig. 1-3). The average maximum temperature of the Gangetic plain

was 39 ± 2.74°C and in the non-Gangetic plain was 44.5 ± 0.84°C. The minimum average

temperature was 10.7 ± 2.62°C in the Gangetic plain while 7.8 ± 0.91°C in the non-Gangetic

plain (Table 1).

The relative humidity of the Gangetic plain was maximal in the months of July, August,

September, and October and was minimal in the months of February, March, April and May

in both the Gangetic and the non-Gangetic plains of West Bengal.

The average rainfall was 1339.07 ± 135.92mm and 1266.71 ± 116.85mm in the Gangetic and

non-Gangetic plains respectively.

RESULTS

SOIL STRUCTURE

The Gangetic plain was mainly constituted of the alluvial soil but the non-Gangetic plain was

dominated with lateritic soil. It has been observed that the average pH of the soil of the

Gangetic plain which ranged from 6.52 ± 0.06 to 6.99 ± 0.46 while in the non-Gangetic plain

it was 5.68 ± 0.23 to 6.19 ± 0.12.

Clay and the sand percentage in the soil was 24.2 and 33.2 in the Gangetic plain and in the

non-Gangetic plain was 15.3 and 78 respectively.

Available nitrogen percentage was 0.03 in the Gangetic and 0.01 in the non-Gangetic plain

respectively.

Organic carbon content in the soil of the Gangetic plain was 0.50 ± 0.02 and 0.6 ± 0.03. In

the non-Gangetic plain it was 1.08 ± 0.02 and 0.19 ± 0.01. K2O percentage in the soil of the

Gangetic plain ranged from 3.11 ± 0.10 to 3.63 ± 0.38 while it was 2.02 ± 0.16 to 2.18 ± 0.13

in the non-Gangetic plain.

Different parameters of the soil composition did not differ significantly in the districts of

Bankura and Purulia. Differences of soil composition of the district 24- Paraganas (N) and

Nadia were not significant.


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In between Gangetic and the non-Gangetic plain of West Bengal different studied parameters

were significantly different.

MAJOR CROP PRODUCTION

The crop pattern of the four districts of West Bengal was observed. In the Gangetic plain in

average about 824 ± 135.17 to 725.53 ± 73.28 thousand tons of rice and 24.08 ± 8.99 to

121.91 ± 18.59 thousand tons of wheat were produced in 2007-2009. Excepting these, other

crops like barley, maize, gram, mustard oil seeds, oilseeds and fiber like jute, mesta,

sugarcane, potato, chillies and ginger were also produced.

Among different crops, tea and the tobacco were not produced in both Nadia and 24-

Paraganas (North) districts. Barley and maize were produced in the district Nadia but not in

north 24-Paraganas district of the Gangetic plain (Table: 2).

In the non-Gangetic plain in average 997.38 ± 121.71 thousand tons of rice and 17.15 ± 5.16

thousand tons of wheat were produced in the district Bankura. 591.56 ± 110.57 thousand tons

of rice and 7.00 ± 2.2 thousand tons of wheat were produced in the district Purulia in the year

2007 and 2009 (Table: 3).

Other crops like barley, maize, gram, mustard oil seeds, oilseeds and fibre like jute, mesta,

sugarcane, potato, chillies and ginger were also produced.

Barley, linseed, tobacco and tea were not produced in both the Districts i.e., Bankura and

Purulia of the non-Gangetic plain.

CROP DAMAGE

During this study along with rice, wheat and sugarcane, mustard oil seed fields were

damaged by the Rattus sikkimensis. This was not previously reported from the Gangetic and

the non-Gangetic plains of West Bengal. Rice at the seedling stage was found to be damaged

in the Nadia district (Figures: 4 A-B).

Rattus sikkimensis is a predominant rodent pest in these crops. Pre-harvest losses of rice and

the wheat were maximum. The high protein content of pulse and oil seeds results in moderate

rodent damage. Ground nut was grown as irrigated dry crops. Rodents usually damages and

remove the pods at sowing time and at maturity.


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Interestingly it was observed that there was no such burrow opening in the centre of the field

yet pumpkins were eaten from the inside as the opening of the burrow was just beneath the

pumpkin. Other vegetables like potato, brinjal, cabbage and cauliflowers were also damaged

heavily in these districts of the Gangetic and the non-Gangetic plain of West Bengal

(Figures: C-H ).

Table 1: Various environmental features in the Gangetic and non-Gangetic plain of

West Bengal.

Gangetic Non-Gangetic plain

Nadia 24PGS

(N) Average Bankura Purulia Average

Rainfall

(Millimeter)

1309.71 ±

178.13*

1368.42 ±

79.26

1339.07±

135.92

1292.71±

80.72

1240.71±

146.59

1266.71±

116.85

Temperature

(°C)

Max 41.4 ±

1.51

36.6±

0.54

39±

2.74**

44.2 ±

0.83

44.8 ±

0.83

44.5±

0.84**

Min 8.6 ±

1.67

12.8±

1.30

10.7±

2.62**

7.8 ±

1.09

7.8 ±

0.83

7.8 ±

0.91**

*Mean± SD, ** Significant at 5% level.

Fig. 1: Graphical presentation of the relative humidity in different districts of the

Gangetic and the non-Gangetic plain of West Bengal.


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Fig. 2: Graphical presentation of the average rainfall of different districts in the

Gangetic and the non-Gangetic plain of West Bengal.

Fig. 3: Graphical presentation of average maximum and minimum temperature of

different districts in the Gangetic and the non-Gangetic plain of West Bengal.

Table 2: Principal crop production in the Gangetic plain of West Bengal and the

intensity of damage by the rodent pest, Rattus sikkimensis.

Crops

District- Nadia District- North 24-

Parganas

Damage

intensity by

Rattus

sikkimensis

Average production

/year

Average production

/year

(Thousand tonnes) (Thousand tonnes)

Cereals

Rice *824 ±135.17 725.53 ± 73.28 ++++

Wheat 121.91 ±18.59 24.08 ±8.99 ++++

Barley 0.16 ±0.16 xx ++

Maize 3.1 ±2.43 xx +++


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Pulses

Gram 13.23 ±2.87 0.63 ± 0.22 ++

Tur 0.33 ±0.38 xx ++

Oil seeds

Rape/Mustard 70.03 ±9.18 30.56 ± 3.79 +++

Linseeds 1.01 ± 0.78 xx ++

Fibre

Jute# 1841.38 ±126.49 885.36 ± 77.33 ++

Mesta 3.61 ±2.51 11 ± 7.93 +/-

Vegetables/ Others

Sugarcane## 154.71 ± 45.75 62 ± 59.57 +++

Potato 108.4 ±20.03 148 ± 24.26 +++

Tobacco xx xx

Tea xx xx

Chillies 5.3 ± 0.83 6.5 ± 2.14 +/-

Ginger 0.18 ± 0.04 0.36 ± 0.15 +/-

++++, Heavy damage; +++, moderate damage; ++, low damage; +/-, very low damage. xx,

less than 50 tonnes production; #, production in thousand bales of 180kg each; ##, in terms of

gur.* Mean± SD.

Table 3: Principal crop production in the non Gangetic plain of West Bengal and the

intensity of damage by the rodent pest, Rattus sikkimensis.

Crops District- Bankura District- Purulia Damage intensity by

Rattus sikkimensis Average production

/year

Average production

/year

(Thousand tonnes) (Thousand tonnes)

Cereals

Rice *997.38 ± 121.71 591.56 ± 110.57 ++++

Wheat 17.15 ± 5.16 7.00 ± 2.2 ++++

Barley xx xx

Maize 0.86 ± 0.44 19.83 ± 4.59 ++

Pulses

Gram xx xx

Tur xx 0.61 ± 0.27 ++

Oil seeds

Rape/

Mustard 9.38 ± 2.08 0.75 ± 0.49 +++

Linseeds xx xx

Fibre

Jute# 2.56 ± 2.87 xx +/-

Mesta xx 0.56 ± 0.78 +/-

Vegetables/

Others

Sugarcane## 0.96 ± 0.43 44.3 ± 39.18 ++

Potato 516.39 ± 97.90 20.4 ± 7.41 +++

Tobacco xx xx


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Tea xx xx

Chillies 1.43 ± 0.25 0.46 ± 0.16 +/-

Ginger 0.28 ± 0.07 xx +/-

++++, heavy damage; +++, moderate damage; ++, low damage; +/-, very low damage. xx,

less than 50 tonnes production; #, production in thousand bales of 180kg each; ##, in terms of

gur.* Mean ±SD.

A

B

C


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Fig. 4: Photographs showing different types of damage in the crop field, (A) Amount of

paddy collected from a single burrow; (B) heavily infestated paddy(Oryza sativa) field

(C) almost destroyed wheat (Triticum vulgare) field; (D) brinjal (Solanum melongena)

plants died due to extensive underground burrow tunnels.

D

G

H


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Fig. 4. Photographs showing the nature of damage to the vegetables. (E) Capsicum; (F)

Cauliflower(Brassica oleracea, var.botrytis); (G) Brinjal (Solanum melongena); (H)

Pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima).

DISCUSSION

The recent topic deals with the extent of damage of crops in the Gangetic and non-Gangetic

plains of West Bengal. Considering the results of this investigation it is found that a huge

amount of crops are being damaged by the Rattus sp. every year in the Gangetic and the non-

Gangetic plains of West Bengal, India. It was estimated that 6-8% of rice and 10-12% of

wheat were lost every year in these regions. No such effective control measures were till then

available which could lead the farmers to rescue themselves from this huge economic loss.

District Nadia and 24-Paraganas (N) of the Gangetic plain of West Bengal produced cereals

like rice, wheat, pulses like gram, tur; oil seed like rape seed, linseed; jute, mesta; vegetables

like sugarcane, potato, chillies, ginger. Almost all the crops were found to be damaged by the

E

F


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Rattus sp.[11]

Rice, wheat, maize, potato, sugarcane and mustard oil seed were found to be

damaged heavily in respect to the other crops.

In the district Nadia of the Gangetic plain along with the major crops, the cauliflower, brinjal

were also heavily damaged by the Rattus sp. Coconut production was also decreased by the

infestation of the Rattus sikkimensis.

In the non-Gangetic plain of West Bengal, the barley, gram and linseed oil seed were not

produced. In both the regions tobacco and tea were not produced though these were the major

crops in West Bengal. Rice, wheat, potato, mustard and sugarcane were heavily damaged by

the Rattus sikkimensis in this region also. In comparison to rice, wheat was more affected.[12]

We observed that in comparison to rice much damage was observed in the wheat fieldin both

the plains. It may be due to their favourite food stuff and a relatively long exposure time and

dense biomass. Dense wheat field may attract rat for response to better cover, more plants

provide rats with more protection.[13]

Rattus sikkimensis damage crops in the field in all stages directly or indirectly because some

time they directly consume the edible part of the crop or store them within the hoarding

chamber indirectly. When they construct their burrow the underground part of the crops were

cut off resulting the death of the plant and the loss of crop yield.

The variations in the predominance of species in different regions relate to the cropping

patterns as B. bengalensis is predominant in fields of paddy-wheat rotation, R. meltada, T.

indica and Mus spp., in cotton- and groundnut-wheat rotations, and B. bengalensis, R.

meltada and T. indica in millet- and maize-wheat rotations.[14]

Now the question arises regarding the damages caused by the Rattus sikkimensis and other

rodent species and their behavior pattern within the complex burrow system in various soil

conditions. Analysis of the soil clearly indicates that the burrow pattern depends on the nature

of clay. Whatever the factors prevail, the complex burrow pattern has a clear correlation to

their survival strategies in various environmental conditions.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors are grateful to the Authority, University of Kalyani, Nadia, West Bengal to do

such types of work in the Districts Nadia, north 24-Parganas, Bankura and Purulia. The tribal


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people of these four districts helped a lot during the time of field study. Sincere thanks are

also due to the Scientists, Zoological Survey of India for proper identification of the species

of rodent present.

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