IPB University Expert Reveals Rice Field Rat Control Strategy: Not Just Relying on Owls
The Javan burrowing owl (Tyto alba), a rat predator that has proven effective in oil palm plantations outside Java, is now being explored for its potential in controlling rice field rats in Java.
The effectiveness of this owl as a natural controller is a major concern given the significant losses experienced by farmers due to rat infestation.
Dr Swastiko Priyambodo, an expert in Vertebrate Pest Management and Plant Pest Science at IPB University, explained that the success of Tyto alba in controlling rats in oil palm plantations needs to be supported by stable prey availability throughout the year.
“The continuous availability of palm fruit allows the rat population and its predator, Tyto alba, to continue to be sustainable,” explained the lecturer at the Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture (Faperta) IPB University.
However, he continued, conditions in the rice field ecosystem are significantly different. The population of field mice tends to decrease dramatically after the rice harvest, which results in Tyto alba losing its main food source.
“Consequently, this owl will look for alternative prey such as rice field snakes, frogs, and lizards,” he added.
Furthermore, Dr Swastiko also explained three basic principles in biological control: inoculation (introduction of natural enemies), inundation (release of natural enemies in large numbers), and conservation (preservation of existing natural enemies).
According to him, the government’s idea to implement inundation through the mass release of Tyto alba is not suitable for controlling field mice in rice fields.
Nevertheless, he emphasized that the presence of Tyto alba as a natural predator does not have a negative impact on the rice ecosystem. On the contrary, this owl has the potential to enrich the biodiversity of rice field agroecosystems.
“This is different from chemical pest control using pesticides that often have detrimental effects on the environment,” he added.
Dr Swastiko emphasized that effective control of rice field rat pests requires a more comprehensive strategy, one of which is through the application of the Trap Barrier System (TBS).
“This method will achieve more optimal results if combined with other techniques such as pengemposan and gropyokan, which is a mass rat hunt after rice harvest. The combination of these three biological control methods is currently proven to be quite effective in suppressing the population of paddy rats,” he explained.
He also suggested the application of technical culture, which includes simultaneous planting and harvesting between farmers, crop rotation with secondary crops, and spacing of rice using the jajar legowo system.
“With an integrated approach that integrates biological control, including the role of Tyto alba, with TBS and technical culture practices, it is expected that the population of field mice can be controlled more effectively and sustainably, without causing damage to the agricultural ecosystem,” he concluded. (AS) (IAAS/PRP)
