Assessment of Integrated Pest Management Modules against Fall Army Worm and Its Economic Impact in Maize

Aim: The present study was undertaken to assess the IPM modules and their economic impact against Fall Armyworm in maize through on farm trail (OFT).

Place and Duration of Study: The present study was carried out in the farmers’ fields of Bhadradri Kothagudem district of Telangana during Rabi 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22.

Methodology: The main objective of on farm trail is to test and evaluate the findings of the research stations at the farmer's field and to refine and modify the technologies, if required for better adoption by farmers. The KVK, Bhadradri Kothagudem conducted on farm trail for the management of fall armyworm in maize during Rabi 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22, as part of technical programme of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Bhadradri Kothagudem in KVK operational area of adopted villages.

Results: In technology assessment plot (On farm trail) the treatments followed were avoiding staggered sowing of maize, installation of pheromone traps @ 8-10 per acre, clean cultivation, balanced application of fertilizers, erection of bird perches @10/acre, spraying of Azadiractin (1500ppm) to repel the egg laying and need based whorl application of Emamectin benzoate @ 0.5g/l and Metarrhizium anisopliae @ 5g/l of water, if more than8 adult moths were trapped in the pheromone trap for three consecutive days. It was compared with the farmers practice plots i.e application of Carbofuran 3G granules @ 3kg/acre and indiscriminate usage of fertilizers and insecticides. The experiment was conducted in five locations. The benefit cost ratio (BC Ratio) was higher in technology assessed plots with 2.78, 2.63 and 2.75 whereas BC ratio was comparatively lower in farmers practice plots with 2.43, 2:21 and 2.25 in corresponding Rabi 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22 respectively.

Conclusion: Technology assessed package proved its effectiveness among maize farmers with increased net returns, lower per cent of FAW incidence and high yield and BC ratio compared to the farmers practiceduring Rabi 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22, respectively. Hence, this on farm trial proved to be feasible for demonstration in wide scale to farming community of Bhadradri Kothagudem district.