Succession of Insect Pest in Maize and Management of Maize Stem Borer Chilo Partellus (Swinhoe)

Abstract

An investigation on “Succession of insect pests in maize and management of maize stem borer Chilo pertellus (Swinhoe)” was carried out at Crop Research Center, Chirori, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut (U.P.) during Kharif 2018. Regarding the insect pests succession on maize crop, five insect species viz., maize stem borer (Chilo partellus), Pink stem borer (Sesamia inferans), shoot fly (Atherigonna soccata), corn aphid (Rhopalosiphun maidis) and cob borer (Helicovarpa armigera) were as the major insects pests on maize. Among these, the seasonal incidence of maize stem borer was started from 3rd week of August and reached its peak during 4th week of September. The period of maximum maize stem borer percent infestation leaf injury rating (LIR) and dead hearts were 34.14%, 8.76% and 35.38% respectively was noticed during 2nd week of September and 4th week of September during experimentation. The seasonal incidence of pink stem borer was started from 3rd week of August and reached its peak during the 3rd week of September. The efficacy of different treatments viz.,Spinosad 45% SC @200 ml/ ha, Thiamethoxam 25% WG @200 gm/ha, Emamectin benzoate 5%SG @ 200gm/ha, Flubendiamide 20% WG @ 250 gm/ha, Chlorantraniliprole 18.5% SC @ 150 ml/ ha, Dichlorvos 76% EC @ 1.0 liter/ha, B. basssiana 1x108 c.f.u/ml @ 2.0 kg/ha and B. thuringiensis var. kurstaki @ 2.0liter/ha was also evaluated against maize stem borer. The Chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC @ 150 ml/ha was superior also all the spray treatments in reducing the infestation of maize stem borer, leaf injury rating, dead hearts per cent and stem tunnel in maize crop. The highest grain yield (4330 kg/ha) and cost benefit ratio (1:6.68) was obtained in the treatment of Chlorantraniliprole18.5% SC @150 ml/ha followed by Spinosad 45% SC @ 200ml/ha. However, the minimum yield (2840 kg/ha) and cost benefit ratio (1:1.85) was obtained from the treatment B. bassiana @ 2.0 kg/ha.