Aural and photonic spectrum based digital pest controller for Oryza Sativa (rice)

Abstract

A research study was conducted in Western Philippines University, Aborlan, Palawan from November 2013 to January 2014 to test a prototype of an alternative digital pest controller for rice which eliminates the use of chemicals. Two modules were developed to ascertain the attraction of pests: the day module operation covered the determination of frequency (60 Hz, 80 Hz, 100 Hz, 120 Hz) and sound intensity (20 dB, 50 dB, 80 dB); the night module operation determines the light color (white, yellow, blue, UV) and the light intensity (10 lux, 40 lux, 80 lux). The results for the day module operation showed that insects responded to 80 Hz at 50 dB. For the night module, the most number of insects were attracted to UV, at 80 lux intensity. These results indicated that insects are diversely attracted on different sound frequencies but are more inclined with modulated sound level and are attracted to lights with short wavelengths on higher light intensities.