Weather – based crop protection stewardship at Pattambi, Kerala

Kerala, a bowl of rice is continuously facing problem of using maximum pesticide for controlling outbreak of major rice pests. Weather data, synoptic conditions have been used to predict outbreaks of certain important tropical rice pests. Weather influences on the bionomics of pests is examined the context of forecasting outbreaks.  The synoptic situations as well as weather based indices are considered to forewarn the outbreaks of stem borer and leaf folder at and around Pattambi, Kerala. An attempt is made to work out optimal time of pesticide application using weather based forewarning system approach with an aim to reduce the pesticide consumption and environmental pollution.