Evaluation of Bio-pesticides against Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) in Maize

Abstract

An experiment was conducted under field condition at three locations viz., Entomology Farm, B. A. College of Agriculture, AAU, Anand, Agricultural Research Station, Sansoli and main maize research Station, Godhra during Kharif, 2019 to determine the efficacy of different biopesticides against the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda in maize (GAYMH-1) by using Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications. The lowest larval population (1.81 larvae /10 plants and 2.03 larvae /10 plants), minimum plant damage (15.34% and 17.70%) and cob damage (15.19 % and 15.19%) was observed in the plot treated with Nomuraea rileyi 1% WP @ 40 g/10 lit water and it was at par with Bacillus thuringiensis var.kurstaki 1 % WG @ 20 g/10 lit water, respectively. Of the tested biopesticides, the highest grain and fodder yield was recorded from the plot treated with N. rileyi 1% WP (2957 and 4069 kg/ha) and followed by B. thuringiensis (2932 and 4033 kg/ha).