Crop Loss Induced by Avian and Rodent Pest Infestations of Lowland Rice (Oryza Sativa L.) Grown in a Savanna Transition Environment of Nigeria

Abstract

<title>Abstract</title> Rice (<italic>Oryza sativa</italic> L.) belongs to the family poaceae and has become the most popular food. Cultivation of this crop is been faced with the menace of vertebrate pests of which birds and rodents are the most implicated. This research, carried out during the 2020 and 2021 cropping seasons was to identify the bird and rodent pest species associated with lowland rice, determine their infestation status and quantify the losses induced. The experiment was a split-plot arrangement fitted into a Randomized Complete Block Design. Main plots were protection and no-protection, sub-plots were four rice varieties: Ofada, NERICA-L-34, ARICA-3, and WITA-4. Data collected were subjected to Analysis of Variance (p ≤ 0.05) and means were compared using Least Significant Difference (LSD). The bird pests identified were: Passeriformes - <italic>Ploceus melanocephalus</italic> Linnaeus (Ploceidae), <italic>Ploceus cuculatus</italic> Muller (Ploceidae) and <italic>Spermestes cucullatus</italic> Swainson (Estrildidae) while the rodent pest identified was <italic>Thryonomys swinderialus</italic> Fitzinger (Thryonomyidae). In 2020 and 2021, the infestation levels of birds and rodents were significantly (p &lt; 0.05) higher under the no-protection plots (1.21 and 5.24) and (2.31 and 2.62) than the protected plots (0.00 and 0.56) and (0.00 and 0.18) respectively, the estimated bird- and rodent-induced losses ranged between 85.59% − 92.01% and 83.44% − 95.98% in 2020 and 2021, respectively. In conclusion, bird and rodent pests cause significant loss to rice crops and therefore, protection measures are recommended for optimum grain yield.