Characteristics of Bandicota bengalensis burrows during different growth stages of wheat crop in Punjab

Abstract

Burrowing is an activity used by rodents for resting, sleeping and food hoarding purposes and is affected by different abiotic and biotic factors. In the present study, an attempt has been made to describe the burrow structure of Bandicota bengalensis in relation to different crop stages of wheat crop. We observe that as the growth stages of wheat crop change from tillering to lean period, there is change in pattern of burrow structure by rodents. The length of burrow was maximum (200.80±2.84cm) during tillering stage and minimum (172.40±2.97cm) during lean period, whereas the depth of burrow was minimum (52.50 ±1.65cm) during tillering and maximum (68.90±2.83cm) in lean period to keep the environment of burrow optimum when mean soil moisture (%) and soil temperature recorded were 25.62%, 14.72°C and 14.88%, 25.84°C, respectively. The mean number of open ends, blind ends, number of nest chambers and number of burrow branches were highest during dough stage and lowest during lean period. Present study will help in development of policies that include strategies for rodent pest management i.e. for placing poison baits in burrows so that the rodent damage to crops may be reduced to a minimum level and farm income may be increased.