RICE SCIENCE ›› 2007, Vol. 14 ›› Issue (1): 56-66 .

• Review or Special Topic • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effect of Nitrogen Fertilizer on Herbivores and Its Stimulation to Major
Insect Pests in Rice

LU Zhong-xian1, YU Xiao-ping1, Kong-luen HEONG 2, HU Cui3   

  1. 1 Institute of Plant Protection and Microbiology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China;2 International Rice Research Institute, DAPO Box 7777, Metro Manila, Philippine; 3 Institute of Applied Entomology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310029, China
  • Received:2006-09-28 Online:2007-03-28 Published:2007-03-28
  • Contact: LU Zhong-xian
  • Supported by:

    the National Natural Science Fundation of China (Grant No. 30471170).

Abstract: Nitrogen is one of the most important factors in development of herbivore populations. The application of nitrogen fertilizer in plants can normally increase herbivore feeding preference, food consumption, survival, growth, reproduction, and population density, except few examples that nitrogen fertilizer reduces the herbivore performances. In most of the rice growing areas in Asia, the great increases in populations of major insect pests of rice, including planthoppers (Nilaparvata lugens and Sogatella furcifera), leaffolder (Cnaphalocrocis medinalis), and stem borers (Scirpophaga incertulas, Chilo suppressalis, S. innotata, C. polychrysus and Sesamia inferens) were closely related to the long-term excessive application
of nitrogen fertilizers. The optimal regime of nitrogen fertilizer in irrigated paddy fields is proposed to improve the fertilizer-nitrogen use efficiency and reduce the environmental pollution.

Key words: nitrogen fertilizer, herbivore, insect pests, rice, fertilizer-nitrogen use efficiency