Nonlinear modelling of rice leaf folder infestation on Boro rice in Pundibari (A part of Cooch Behar district)

To an agricultural scientist crop pest is a major problem as it creates enormous damage to crops. Hence, a study was undertaken to study the dynamics i.e., pattern of growth of the insect population over time during the life-term of the crop related to the occurrence of pest-growth on rice at Terai region, Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Pundibari, Cooch Behar, West Bengal in the year 2015. Appropriate models have been investigated to model the pest-dynamics (per hill) on the rice crop, the pest and the crop being Rice-Leaf Folder and Boro Rice respectively. Out of the many models explored, the Cubic model provides the best fit and the said model has been employed to find out the date at which the maximum infestation has occurred. The data emanated from the present experiment (after analysis) reveal that the date (at which the maximum rate of growth with respect to infestation is observed) lies around 51 DAT in 2015.