EFFECT OF PESTICIDE APPLICATION TIMING ON HONEY BEE FORAGING IN MUSTARD FIELD AND ROLE OF HONEY BEE ON MUSTARD YIELD

Abstract

The study was conducted in the field at Nagarpur, Tangail, Bangladesh, during November 2016 to February 2017 to evaluate the effect of pesticide application timing on honey bee foraging in mustard field and role of honey bees on mustard yield. Honey bee (Apis mellifera) was found as the main insect pollinator during mustard flowering season. The results on the effect of pesticide application timing P1 = 8.30-9.30 am, P2 = 9.30-10.30 am, P3 = 10.30-11.30 am, P4 = 11.30-12.30 pm, P5 = 12.30-1.30 pm, P6 = 1.30-2.30 pm, P7 = 2.30-3.30 pm and P8 = 3.30-4.30 pm on honey bee foraging and netting without bees (T1) and netting with bees (T2) compared with control (T3) in mustard field to observe yield differences. At the hour of 10.30-2.30 highest number of honey bees was recorded in mustard field. As a result, optimum time for pesticide application was recorded at the hour of 8.30-10.30 and also the application of pesticide during this time decreased the percent of mortality of honey bees. It was observed that honey bees helped mustard pollination, decreased the flowering period and increased the number of pod per plant. Pod length of mustard was higher as well. The most impressive result was recorded in mustard yield. Mustard yield was considerably higher in honey bee foraging plots.