Evaluation of four rodenticidal dust for the control of Rattus argentiventer in rice fields

Y. M. Lam

Abstract

Coumatetralyl, warfarin, pyrinuron and zinc phosphide dust were evaluated in rice fields for the control of Rattus argentiventer. All the four rodenticides gave significant reduction in the number of active rat burrows. In the first trial, O.5% warfarin, 3% pyrinuron and 3% zinc phosphide dust achieved the same degree of reduction in rat burrow activity. In the second and third trial,O.5% warfarin at 20 g/burrow gave better control than 0.75% coumatetralyl, achieving 84-100% reduction in rat burrow activity. Rodenticidal dust gave effective control of R. argentiventer during the reproductive phase of the rice crop and this method is recommended for rat control at this growth stage of rice.

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