Efficacy of chemicals, botanicals and biopesticides against fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) on fodder maize (Zea mays L.)
The efficacy of selected chemicals, botanicals and biopesticides against fall armyworm (FAW; Spodoptera frugiperda) on fodder maize var. African Tall was conducted from 2019 to 2021 at five locations in India. The pooled data revealed that at 3 days after spraying, the FAW population was lowest (16.53% infestation of plants) in T1 treatment (Emamectin benzoate 5 SG @ 5 ml/10 L of water), significantly superior to the rest of the treatments. In addition, the other best treatments were T2 (chlorpyriphos 20 EC @ 20 ml/10 L; 26.36%) followed by T8 (Metarhizium rileyi (Nomuraea) 1.15% WP@ 75 g/10 L; 30.73%), T4 (M. anisopliae 1.15% WP @ 75 g/10 L; 31.30%), T6 (Beauveria bassiana 1.15% WP@ 75 g/10 L; 32.13%), and T5 (B. bassiana 1.15% WP@ 50 g/10 L; 32.96%). Moreover, a similar trend was observed at 7 and 10 days after spraying. The highest green fodder yield (GFY; 37.49 t/ha) was recorded in treatment T1 as compared to the control (22.42 t/ha). Likewise, T1 was the best economical treatment (BC ratio: 1:1.55), followed by T2 (BC ratio: 1:1.31) and T8 (BC ratio: 1:1.23).