REDUCTION IN RODENT POPULATIONS THROUGH INTERMITTENT CONTROL OPERATIONS IN THE CROPPING ECOSYSTEM OF THE INDIAN DESERT

Authors

Ranjan Advani, Vector Research Control, City of New York, Department of Health
Ishwar Prakash, Professor of Eminence (Rodent Scheme), Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur, India
R. P. Mathur, Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur, India

Date of this Version

March 1988

Abstract

Control operations at 6-month intervals, continued for four years in crop fields, reduced the rodent population to 5.08 percent losses to agricultural production. After eight crop seasons, a significant reduction in rodent density was observed in treated areas when compared with that of the control areas (P < 0.01). Correlation between pre-treatment population index (y) and number of seasons (log of x) was found to be 0.91 (P < 0.01). A relationship was established between y and x : y = 0.804.0-0.9621 log x. From this equation, it can be inferred that rodent population will reach zero level after treating crop fields continuously for6.85 or say 7.0 (seven) seasons. After control, the numbers of predominant rodents, Tatera indica, Meriones hurrianae and Rattus meltada. were significantly reduced and the residual population was composed of Mus booduga. Gerbillus spp., Rattus gleadowi. Golunda ellioti and Funambulus pennanti.