Ammonium sulphate fertiliser increases larval populations of Anopheles arabiensis and culicine mosquitoes in rice fields

Publication Type

Journal Article

Journal Name

Acta Tropica

Publication Date

1-1-2004

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted in central Kenya, to study the effect of ammonium sulphate fertiliser ((NH4)2SO4) on mosquito larval populations in rice fields. The experiments used a complete randomised block design having four blocks with two experimental ponds per block, and the fertiliser and control treatments allocated randomly among the ponds. Student's two-sample unpaired t-test was used to test for the significance of differences between the relative counts of larvae in fertiliser and control treatments. The results showed a significant overall increase in the larval populations of An. arabiensis (P< 0.01) and culicine mosquitoes (P< 0.05), after ponds were treated with the fertiliser. Significantly more fourth instar larvae of An. arabiensis were collected in fertiliser than control plots (P< 0.001). An. arabiensis data indicated that the first fertiliser application had the most impact, compared to the second and third applications. This was evident in a significant peak of combined first and second instar An. arabiensis larvae observed 5 days after the first fertiliser application (P< 0.05). The studies suggest that ammonium sulphate fertiliser reduces turbidity of water in rice fields, thereby making them visually more attractive for egg-laying by An. arabiensis and culicine mosquitoes. © 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Keywords

Ammonium sulphate, Anopheles arabiensis, Fertiliser, Kenya, Larval control, Malaria, Rice fields, Water turbidity

Disciplines

Entomology | Epidemiology | Immunology and Infectious Disease

PubMed ID

14732240

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