The effectiveness between biological and chemical method in controlling rats population in oil palm plantation at Mados’s Lenggor, Kahang, Johor / Muhammad Safbihin Safbani

摘要

Oil palm is one of major crop as this crop could generate high income and profit and also encourage the development of economy in Malaysia. However there are various obstacles like pest and disease that limits the production of oil palm and its sustainability. The rat species is mostly the dominant pest in Malaysia Oil Palm Plantation. There are three species of rats which are Rattus tiomanicus, Rattus argentiventer, and Rattus rattus diardii. They tend to attack the oil palm tree mostly at the bunches part and gives a serious damage to the Oil Palm trees which eventually reduce the rate of oil palm yield production. Based on individual species, R. tiomanicus was reported in 68% of the estates, followed by R. argentiventer 46% and R. rattus diardii 28%. Most of the oil palm plantation have two methods that are commonly been used in controlling rat population which are biological control and chemical control. The using of rodenticide as a chemical control while Tyto alba ( Barn Owl) represented the biological control mostly are used as major control method in order to eradicate the rats population in Oil Palm Plantation. ududThe main objectives of these study is to determine the suitable method that can be used for controlling rat. In this study also to compare the effectiveness between both method which is biological method and chemical method. The outcome of this study indicate that the biological control are more effective control method in controlling rat population in oil palm plantation compared to chemical control. The correct method is needed to reduce the rat population efficiently to achieved high yield and production of oil palm.