Comparative efficacy of selected chemicals and biopesticides against fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) on maize

Introduction

Maize (Zea mays L.) is the third major and most important cereal crop of the world after wheat and rice and is grown in tropical, subtropical and temperate regions of the world (Hussain et al., 2016) [5] . It has been referred as the "Queen of cereals" due to its highest yield potential among all the cereals. It has short growing season and is drought resistant that make it very easy to grow everywhere in different climatic conditions of the world. (Chouraddi et al., 2017) [3] . Maize has high nutritious value in human diet as well as in poultry and livestock feed due to valuable components such as starch, fibre, protein, fats, oil, vitamins and minerals. It is a good source of high-quality edible oil. Due to high yielding capacity and short growth duration, maize increasingly gaining important position and is also used as a fodder crop for silage. (Iqbal et al., 2017) [6] . India is the fifth largest producer of Maize in the world contributing 3 percent of the global production. At present, out of the total maize produced, 55% is used for food purpose, about 14% for livestock, 18% for poultry feed, 12% for starch and one percent as seed. (Kumar and Kumar, 2017) [9] . It is also grown in Andhra Pradesh (20.9%), Maharashtra (9.1%), Karnataka (16.5%), Rajasthan (9.9%), Bihar (8.9%), Uttar Pradesh (6.1%), Madhya Pradesh (5.7%). Maize is the principal cereal crop of Sikkim occupying nearly 37percent of the area under cultivation with annual production of 66,192 tons (Rameash et al., 2012) [15] . Among the various insect pests, fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda is the most dominant contributing 90-95 percent of the total damage in Kharif season (Jalali and Singh, 2002) [8] . Maize is most vulnerable to Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) which causes severe losses to it (Songa et al., 2001) [19] . In recent years various types of insecticides belonging to different chemical group were used as spray to manage the pest complex. Sometimes we don't know about best insecticide for Fall armyworm control, so best one can be identified for the management of Fall armyworm on maize by potential evaluation of few selected insecticides and biopesticides through their comparative effectiveness.

Materials and Methods

The experiment was conducted at the experimental research plot of the Department of Entomology, Central Research Farm, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture Technology and Sciences, during the Kharif season of 2023. The experimental design was Randomized Block Design with 8 treatments, each replicated thrice. The plot size was 2m × 1m with a spacing of 60×20 cm. The treatments included Lambda cyhalothrin 2.5% EC @ 1ml/lit., Metarhizium anisopliae 5.8×10 4 @ 2.5ml/lit., Flubendiamide 480% SC @ 0.24ml/lit., Emamectin benzoate 5% SG @ 0.4ml/lit., Neem oil 1500ppm @5ml/lit.,Spinosad 45% SC @ 0.25ml/lit., Chlorantraniliprole18.5% SC @ 0.4ml/lit. and a control. Application of the two rounds of Insecticidal treatments were applied at 15 days interval. The numbers of larvae were counted on 5 randomly selected plants in each plot. The pretreatment count was made a day before the spray whereas, the post-treatment count were made on 3 rd , 7 th and 14 th day after each spray. The larval population over control against fall armyworm was calculated by the mean of three observations recorded at 3 rd , 7 th and 14 th day after spray.

Cost benefit ratio

𝑮𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒔 𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒏 = 𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒆𝒕𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒀𝒊𝒆𝒍𝒅 𝒙 𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒆𝒕 𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝑵𝒆𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒏 = 𝑮𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒔 𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒏 -𝑻𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒕 (Sidar et al., 2017) [18] .

Results and Discussion

The data on the larval population of fall armyworm on 3 rd , 7 th and 14 th day after first spray revealed that all treatments were significantly superior over control. Among all the treatments lowest larval population of fall armyworm was recorded in Spinosad 45% SC (5.45) but it was higher than the check treatment i.e Chlorantraniliprole 18.5% EC (5.13) followed by Emamectin benzoate 5%SG (6.20), Lambda cyhalothrin (6.33), Flubendiamide (6.73), Neem oil 1500 ppm (7.13) and Metarhizium anisopliae (7.53) found the highest population of fall armyworm and is population significantly superior over the control (12.53). After second spray the data revealed that all treatments were significantly superior over control. Among all the treatments lowest larval population of fall armyworm was recorded in Spinosad 45% SC (2.60) but it was higher than the check treatment i.e Chlorantraniliprole 18.5% EC (2.17) followed by Emamectin benzoate 5%SG (2.97), Lambda cyhalothrin (3.38), Flubendiamide (3.77), Neem oil 1500 ppm (4.17) and Metarhizium anisopliae (4.62) found the highest population of fall armyworm and is population significantly superior over the control (15.75). The yield among the treatments were significant. The highest yield was recorded in Chlorantraniliprole 18.5% EC (42.72 q/ha) followed by Spinosad 45% SC (40.80 q/ha), Emamectin benzoate 5%SG (37.44 q/ha), Lambda cyhalothrin 2.5%EC (34.79 q/ha), Flubendiamide 480% SC (31.68 q/ha), Neem oil 1500ppm (28.54 q/ha), Metarhizium anisopliae 5.8 ×10 4 (26.49 q/ha) as compared to Control (23.57 q/ha). Among the treatment studied the best and most economical treatment was Chlorantraniliprole 18.5% EC (1:1.94), Spinosad 45% SC (1:1.89), Emamectin benzoate 5% SC All insecticides were significantly superior over control in reducing the larval population of fall armyworm recorded at 3 rd ,7 th and 14 th day after first and second spray. Among all these Chlorantraniliprole 18.5% EC (3.6) was most effective similar findings were reported by Amjad et al., (2001) [2] , Konar et al., (2013) [10] , Neupane et al., (2016) [14] . Followed by Spinosad 45% SC (4.04), was found to be the next effective treatment and its results are supported by Kurl and Kumar (2021) [11] , Neuptane et al., (2016) [14] . Emamectin benzoate 5%SG obsreved (4.53) larval population and it is supported by Reddy and Kumar (2021) [16] , Aher et al., (2022) [1] , Krishna and Kumar (2018) [12] . Higher yield (42.72q/ha) and high-cost benefit ratio (1:1.94) was obtained from Chlorantraniliprole 18.5% EC and lowest in control plot. Similar findings made by Konar et al., (2013) [10] and Krishna and Kumar (2018) [12] . Kurl and Kumar (2021) [11] and Aher et al., (2022) [1] who reported Chlorantraniliprole 18.5% EC and Spinosad 45% SC was the best and most economical treatment recorded 40q/ha. Emamectin benzoate 5% SG and Flubendiamide 480%SC recorded the yield and cost benefit ratio of 34q/ha(1:1.71) and 31 q/ha (1:1.49) respectively which was reported by Kulkarni et al., (2015) [13] and Ilyas and Ajab (2019) [7] . Sranya and Samiayyan (2016) [17] and Choudhary et al., (2017) [4] reported that Neem oil 1500ppm (28q/ha) and Metarhizium anisopliae 5.8 ×10 4 (26q/ha) was best economical treatment.

Conclusion

References

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