Management of the Fall Army Worm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) in Maize

Background: Fall army worm is an invasive insect pest in India during year 2018 which caused severe damage to the crop and economic loss to the farmers. So, the main objective of the study is to evaluate the efficacy and effectiveness of seed treatment, biological and insecticidal applications for the management of fall army worm in maize. Methods: The study was conducted Kharif, 2018 and 2019 at Regional Agricultural Research Station, Chintapalle, Visakhapatnam during. It was evaluated with eleven treatments, after seed treatment with Cyantraniliprole 19.8% + Thiamethoxam 19.8 FS 5 ml per kg seed in 03 windows of application at 20, 35 and 50 DAS with battery operated sprayer. Data was collected on number of larva per plant (20 DAS), per cent plant infestation and % cob infestation, yield (q/ha) and cost benefit ratio. Result: Among three windows of applications, third window application with different insecticides was found most significant, followed by second window application (poison bait with Thiodicarb 75WP) in comparison to control (20.96). In 3rd window treatments application, spinetoram 11.7SC @ 0.5ml (T3 with 0.74 and T8 with 1.14 %) and spinosad 45SC @ 0.3 ml (T4 with 1.35 and T9 with 1.39 %), were found most significant, followed by Chlorantraniliprole 18.5SC (T2 with 1.76 and T7 with 1.25 %) in the management of fall army worm. Least Cob damage per cent (T3 with 7.23 and T8 with 8.00 %) and maximum yield (T3 with 72.55 and T8 with 73.00 q/ha) was recorded in Spinetoram 11.7 SC. Thus Spinetoram 11.7SC followed by Spinosad 45SC and Chlorantraniliprole 18.5SC found effective against S. frugiperda in Maize.