This process applies to organizations and individuals growing raw sugarcane in Tay Ninh province and sugarcane growing areas with similar cultivation conditions.

1. Seed measures

Select good sugarcane varieties that are less susceptible to brown-headed sugarcane borer with high yield and quality such as sugarcane varieties KK3, LK92-11, etc.

The cutting propagation used for breeding are purebred varieties with clear origin, selecting cuttings from sugarcane plants that are 7 - 10 months old.

The cutting propagation are taken from 1/3 of the middle part of the sugarcane stem, the length of the cuttings is about 2 - 3 buds, with strong dormant buds.

The cutting propagation must meet the standard of level 3 varieties according to TCVN12369:2018 on "Sugarcane varieties - Technical requirements" or higher. Specifically: Purity > 95%; sugarcane age 6 - 10 months; young crop or 1st stem; the plant does not lean more than 30o from the ground, has no axillary buds; stem diameter >80% of the typical stem diameter of the variety; maximum internode length does not exceed 20% of the average internode length of the variety; the number of abnormally developed buds on the sugarcane does not exceed 5% of the total number of buds of the plant; the number of buds that have grown and developed beyond 1 cm from the surface of the sugarcane internode does not exceed 5% of the total number of buds of the plant; not infected with anthracnose, red rot, grass shoot disease and white leaf disease of sugarcane; the rate of plants damaged by stem borers <3%; the rate of plants damaged by red mealybugs <5%; the rate of plants damaged by white cotton fiber aphids <5% and no black soot has appeared.

When planting, cover the cuttings tightly, do not let the cuttings protrude above the field surface to limit pests from coming to lay eggs and cause damage.

2. Field sanitation measures

Clear weeds, clear the bank, collect and chop up remaining sugarcane leaves to destroy the source of pests from the previous crop.

Sugarcane fields with severe pests must collect and burn the leaves to destroy the source of pests before replanting. Absolutely do not throw away sugarcane cuttings in the field and around the bank.

3. Cultivation measures

Planting sugarcane at the right time ensures that sugarcane avoids peak periods of pests, avoids weather risks and achieves high productivity. Focus on planting sugarcane in the main season (from November to January of the following year), depending on each land to arrange the season and suitable sugarcane varieties to create conditions for sugarcane to grow and develop well.

Proper soil preparation creates conditions for loose soil that is always moist to help sugarcane grow well.

Balanced fertilization, reasonable and timely top dressing for sugarcane to grow well, ensuring the amount of fertilizer for 1.0 ha/sugarcane crop is 200 kg N + 100 kg P2O5 + 180 kg K2O.

Additional irrigation during the peak of the dry season (from January to March), irrigation water volume is 500 m3/ha/time, watering 1-2 times/month. At the same time, drain water from sugarcane fields after heavy rains.

Crop rotation to improve the soil (plant other crops such as legumes from 6 months to 1 year) at the end of a sugarcane cycle.

Other techniques such as planting density, weeding... apply according to the Temporary Technical Process for Intensive Sugarcane Cultivation issued under Decision No. 383/QD-TT-CCN dated August 27, 2015 of the Department of Crop Production

4. Manual and mechanical measures

Regularly visit the fields, collect and thoroughly destroy sugarcane parts infected with brown-headed four-line sugarcane borer by removing egg nests, pruning sugarcane leaves, cutting sugarcane stems damaged by the borer and removing them from the sugarcane field, then drying and burning them.

Use light traps to catch adult brown-headed four-line sugarcane borers. The number of traps is 10 - 15 light traps/ha, placed along the sugarcane field banks from 30 - 40 m long, with 01 light trap. The time to set light traps starts from April every year (the beginning of the rainy season).

Sugarcane fields are severely damaged by brown-headed four-line sugarcane borer, so priority should be given to harvesting sugarcane early from the beginning of the harvest season. For fields with little or no damage, cover with leaves, do not burn leaves after harvesting to keep the sugarcane base moist, limit weeds and protect the population of natural enemies of brown-headed four-line sugarcane borer.

When harvesting, cut close to the base so that no worms remain in the stem, and at the same time help the sugarcane base regenerate better, ensuring density for the next crop.

5. Biological measures

Protection of natural enemies:

Protect available parasitic and predatory species such as bees (red-eyed bees, black bees, white cocoon bees), beetles (yellow beetles, black beetles) by not spraying chemical pesticides when not necessary, not using pesticides that directly affect natural enemies; or at the edge of sugarcane fields, plant nectar-producing flowers that are not hosts of sugarcane pests.

Release parasites and predators

Breeding and releasing additional biological agents such as red-eyed wasp Trichogramma chilonis Ishii, pintail beetle Euborellia annulipes, ... into the fields to control brown-headed four-striped sugarcane borer.

Release red-eyed wasp Trichogramma chilonis Ishii every 15 days, with a density of 50,000 bees/time/ha, 5-6 times/sugarcane crop starting from the 3rd to 7th month after planting.

Release pintail beetle Euborellia annulipes with a density of 3,000 individuals/ha, released only once when the sugarcane is 5 months old.

Use pheromone traps to predict and kill adult stem borers of all kinds.

Spraying biological products

When the rate of plants damaged by brown-headed four-line sugarcane borer is at the tillering - spreading stage (< 10% of the rate of damaged plants), use some biological products containing Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki 16,000 IU + Granulosis virus 108 PIB.

6. Chemical measures

Regularly visit the fields, detect early outbreaks of brown-headed four-line sugarcane borer, spray pesticides selectively and locally to destroy the initial source of infection while still being able to protect natural enemies.

When the rate of plants damaged by brown-headed four-line sugarcane borer exceeds the economic damage threshold at the spreading stage (>10% of damaged plants), use pesticides containing active ingredients such as Carbosulfan (min 93%), Cartap (min 97%), Chlorantraniliprole... 35% (w/w).

Limiting the spraying of chemical pesticides to protect natural parasites and predators contributes to the control of brown-headed sugarcane borer.

Pesticides containing the active ingredients Carbosulfan (min 93%), cartap (min 97%), Chlorantraniliprole … 35% (w/w), biological products containing Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki 16,000 IU + Granulosis virus 108 PIB, are only recommended for use after being registered in the List of pesticides permitted for use in Vietnam to control brown-headed sugarcane borer on sugarcane.

According to khuyennongvn.gov.vn