Qualities of honeybees which make them good pollinators
- Body covered with hairs and have structural adaptation for carrying
- nectar and pollen.
- Bees do not injure the plants
- Adult and larva feed on nectar and pollen which is available in plenty
- Considered as superior pollinators, since store pollen and nectar for
- future use
- No diapause is observed and needs pollen throughout the year
- Body size and proboscis length is very much suitable for many crops
- Pollinate wide variety of crops
- Forage in extreme weather conditions also
Effect of bee pollination on crop
- It increases yield in terms of seed yield and fruit yield in many crops
- It improves quality of fruits and seeds
- Bee pollination increases oil content of seeds in sunflower
- Bee pollination is a must in some self incompatible crops for seed set
Crops benefited by bee pollination
Fruits and nuts: Almond, apple, apricot, peach, strawberry, citrus and litchi
Vegetable and vegetable seed crops: Cabbage, cauliflower, carrot, coriander cucumber, melon, onion, pumpkin, radish and turnip.
Oil seed crops: Sunflower, niger, rape seed, mustard, safflower, gingelly.
Forage seed crops: Lucerne, clover.
Yield increase due to bee pollination
Mustard – 43%
Sunflower – 32-48%
Cotton – 17-19%
Lucerne – 112%
Onion – 93%
Apple – 44%
Management of bees for pollination
- Place hives very near the field source to save bee’s energy
- Migrate colonies near field at 10 per cent flowering
- Place colonies at 3/ha for Italian bee and 5/ha for Indian honey bee
- The colonies should have 5to6 frame strength of bees, with sealed
brood and young mated queen - Allow sufficient space for pollen and honey storage
