Evaluation on Integrated Method of Fall Army Worm Pest Management in Maize Hybrid in Namakkal District of Tamil Nadu, India
Authors: Pushpanathan K. R. , Murugan P. 
Published: January 2024

Maize (Zea mays L.) on farm trials were conducted by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Namakkal to assess the management modules against Fall Army Worm (FAW) in maize crop in terms of plant height, number of cob/ plant, cob length (cm), number of grain row/cob, 100 grain weight (g), grain yield, stalk yield and net return, first incidence of FAW days after sowing (no.), damage percentage, natural enemies occurrence (no./sq.m), number of adult moth trapped in sex pheromone trap per day per hectare during Kharif 2019 in Namakkal district. The treatment T6 followed is summer ploughing, seed treatment with Fortezaduo (Cyantraniliprole +Thiamethoxam) @ 4ml/kg, Border crop with grain sorghum as trap crop (advance sowing) and legume intercrop (cowpea) to promote natural enemies (few rows at interval), Collection and destruction of egg masses, installation of sex pheromone trap @ 10 numbers per hectare, Azadirachtin 10000 ppm @ 1 per cent spray at 10 to 15 days after sowing; spraying of Emmamectin Benzoate 5SG @ 0.4g/ litre on 24 days after sowing and Metarhizium anisophilae(1x107) @ 2 ml/ litre on 35 days after sowing and farmers practice on application of pesticides four to five times in crop period revealed that maize hybrid (NK 6240) recorded highest plant height of (105.7 and 194 cm) on 60 and 90 DAS, yield attributes viz., number of cobs per plant is 1.7; cob length is 14.4 cm; number of grain row/cob is 10.8; number of adult moth trapped in pheromone trap (1.3 number), natural enemies occurrence 3.2 number per m2, and found to be non significant in plant height and growth attributes of Maize followed by Treatment T4 and T5, whereas higher grain yield of 64.25 quintal ha-1 and Stalk yield of 94.8 tonnes ha-1, and first incidence of fall army worm larvae 17 days after sowing, lesser damage of fall army worm percentage (7.2%), were found to be significant as compared to farmers practice. The lesser plant height of 89 cm, 171.3 cm, number of cob/ plant 1.3, cob length 11.4 cm, number of grain row/ con is 8.5, and 100 grain weight is 19.1 gm and grain yield of 56.6 quintal ha-1, stalk yield of 61.5 quintal ha-1 and net return of Rs. 10550 /hand first incidence of FAW days after sowing on 11 days, and damage percentage of 11.4 % was recorded under treatment T7. Treatment T6 plot recorded higher net return of Rs.21,575/ ha, respectively by cultivating maize hybrid (NK 6240) as against the T7 with net return of Rs. 10, 550/- with higher damage of cob, respectively by cultivating Maize hybrid (NK 6240). Farmers were very satisfied with Maize hybrid (NK 6240), as crop find fewer incidences of fall army worm and higher return compared to other practices. Maize hybrid (NK 6240) followed under T6 recommended practices would be a better option for management of  Fall Army Worm in kharif  season in Namakkal district of Tamil Nadu. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of cultural practices, insecticide application at different plant growth stages between seedling emergence and flowering on yield loss caused by FAW in maize.