Vol. 10, Special Issue 10 (2021)

Author(s):
HS Varma, DB Sisodiya, MB Zala, MB Patel, JK Patel, KH Patel and PK Borad

Abstract:
The present investigation was carried out to evaluate the indigenous materials against fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) in maize. The multi-location field experiment was conducted at three places viz., Main Maize Research Station, AAU, Godhara, Entomology farm, Department of Entomology, BACA, AAU, Anand and Agricultural Research Station, AAU, Sansoli during kharif 2019 and 2020 in Randomized Block Design with seven treatments including control and three replications to evaluate indigenous materials on S. frugiperda infesting maize. Effect of different indigenous materials was evaluated by recording observations on number of FAW larvae/10 plants, plant damage (%), cob damage (%), grain yield (kg/ha) and dry fodder yield (kg/ha). The significantly lowest (1.90 larvae /10 plants) S. frugiperda incidence and highest grain and dry fodder yield was recorded in the treatment of whorl application of soil @ 5 g/ plant and it was found equally effective with whorl application of sand @ 5 g/plant. Among all the indigenous materials evaluated, the whorl application of saw dust @ 4 g/plant recorded the highest FAW incidence and lowest grain and dry fodder yield of maize and proved as most inferior indigenous material in their efficacy. Whorl application of soil @ 5 g/plant or whorl application of sand @ 5 g/plant at 30 and 45 days after sowing was emerged as effective in controlling fall armyworm, S. frugiperda infesting maize. The eco-friendly, no cost input indigenous materials that showed high efficacy against FAW can be used as components of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for FAW management by small and marginal farmers to obtain the rich harvest and to keep the environment safe forever.