Studies on Seasonal Incidence and Management of Stem Borer, Cllilo Partellus (Swinhoe) and Shoot Fly, Atllerigona Soccata (Rondani) Iii Maize

Abstract

An investigation to study the seasonal incidence and management of stem borer, Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) and shoot fly, Atherigona soccata (Rondani) in maize was carried out for two consecutive seasons i.e. 2013 and 2014, at Crop Research Centre, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture & Technology, Meerut. Nine treatments with insecticides and bio-products were tested in a randomized block design with three replications. During the crop season, eleven insect species were found attacking on maize crop at different crop growth stages. Of these, stem borer, Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) and shoot fly, Atherigona soccata (Rondani) were recorded as major pests. While two insect Rhopalosiphum maidis and Pyrilla pe1pusilla was recorded as stray pests in maize crop. Remain all other seven insects were appeared with low economic status as minor insects to this region. The incidence of stem borer recorded first on third week of March and reached to its peak during end of April during both years of experimentation. The incidences of shoot fly recorded first time at first week of February and reached to its peak during end of March during both years of experimentation. The correlation analysis showed that among the weather factors, maximum and minimum temperature showed a positive correlation with stem borer incidence while, morning, evening relative humidity and rainfall had negative correlation. In case of shoot fly incidence among the weather factors, only morning and evening relative humidity showed positive correlation while other had negative correlation. Efficacy of different insecticides and bio-products viz. Imidacloprid 70WS, Thiamithoxam 70WS, Carbofuran 3G, Phorate lOG, NKSE, Cow urine-NSKE, Imidacloprid 70WS-NSKE and Thiamethoxam 70WS-NSKE were tested on stem borer and shoot fly. Result revealed that all the treatments were found significantly effective in reducing the incidence of stem borer and shoot fly and thus increasing the yield as compared to control. Among all the treatments NSKE prove the more safer insecticides to the spider and coccinellides than other treatments. The most effective treatment was Imidacloprid 70WS-NSKE followed by Thiamethoxam 70WS-NSKE. The higher grain yield (42.93 q/ha) and cost benefit ratio (1:16.10) were also obtained from lmidacloprid 70WS-NSKE.