Large scale field validation of Integrated Pest Management Strategies in Maize for Enhanced Productivity and Sustainability

Mukesh Kumar Khokhar; Anoop  Kumar; Deepak Jain; Suby S B; Richa Varshney; Rakesh Kumar; Licon Kumar Acharya; Ajanta Birah; Manoj Choudhary; Rashid  Parvez

doi:10.56093/ijas.v96i6.175307

Authors

Mukesh Kumar Khokhar ICAR-National Research Institute for Integrated Pest Management, Rajpur Khurd, Mehrauli, New Delhi 110 068, India
Anoop Kumar ICAR-National Research Institute for Integrated Pest Management, Rajpur Khurd, Mehrauli, New Delhi 110 068, India
Deepak Jain Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Vidya Bhawan, Badgaon, Udaipur 313 011, Rajasthan, India
Suby S B ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research, Ludhiana 141 004, Punjab, India
Richa Varshney ICAR-National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources, P.B. No. 2491, H.A. Farm Post, Bellary Road, Hebbal, Bengaluru 560 024, Karnataka, India.
Rakesh Kumar ICAR-National Research Institute for Integrated Pest Management, Rajpur Khurd, Mehrauli, New Delhi 110 068, India
Licon Kumar Acharya ICAR-National Research Institute for Integrated Pest Management, Rajpur Khurd, Mehrauli, New Delhi 110 068, India
Ajanta Birah ICAR-National Research Institute for Integrated Pest Management, Rajpur Khurd, Mehrauli, New Delhi 110 068, India
Manoj Choudhary ICAR-National Research Institute for Integrated Pest Management, Rajpur Khurd, Mehrauli, New Delhi 110 068, India
Rashid Parvez ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110012, India

https://doi.org/10.56093/ijas.v96i6.175307

Keywords:

integrated pest management, maize, Fall armyworm, Maydis leaf blight, Natural enemies

Abstract

This study focuses on the synthesis, validation, and promotion of an Integrated Pest Management strategy in maize cultivation through farmer participation in Udaipur, Rajasthan, from 2022 to 2024. The results showed significantly lower mean infestation of fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda in IPM (17%) compared to farmer practices (32.9%) and control (55%). Maydis leaf blight severity was 14.6% in IPM fields, 23.2% in FP, and 30.1% in control, while Banded leaf and sheath blight severity averaged 7.4% in IPM, 11.5% in FP, and 18.6% in control demonstrating the effectiveness of IPM in reducing pest infestation over farmer practices. Natural enemy populations were recorded highest in control plots (11.9/50 plants), followed by IPM (7.2/50 plants) and FP (3.6/50 plants). The economic analysis demonstrated the superior profitability of the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach, which recorded the highest grain yield (36 q/ha) and net returns (₹48,780/ha). In contrast, farmers’ practice (FP) fields exhibited comparatively lower yields (29.8 q/ha) and net returns (₹32,334/ha), while the control plots recorded the lowest yield (18 q/ha) and net returns (₹14,942/ha). The Benefit-Cost ratio in IPM (2.39) further emphasized its profitability, compared to FP (1.87) and control (1.27). Knowledge dissemination through farmer field schools, IPM field day and training programs improved farmers’ understanding of pest identification, natural enemy conservation, and ETL-based interventions. The study concludes that participatory IPM validation in maize enhances yield, profitability and promoting environmental sustainability.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biography

Mukesh Kumar Khokhar, ICAR-National Research Institute for Integrated Pest Management, Rajpur Khurd, Mehrauli, New Delhi 110 068, India

References

Abebe D. 2023. A mini review on achievements of planting dates on the incidence of stem borer. Merit Research Journal of Agricultural Science and Soil Sciences 11:087–091.

Chabi-Olaye A, Nolte C, Schulthess F, Borgemeister C. 2005. Relationships of intercropped maize, stem borer damage to maize yield and land-use efficiency in the humid forest of Cameroon. Bulletin of Entomological Research 95(5):417–427. doi:10.1079/BER2005373.

Dhakal A and Poudel S. 2020. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) And Its Application In Rice – A Review: Reviews In Food And Agriculture 1 (2): 39-43. DOI: http://doi.org/10.26480/rfna.02.2020.39.43.

Devi B, Thakur B R. 2018. Integrated management of banded leaf and sheath blight of maize caused by Rhizoctonia solani f. sp. sasakii. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India, Section B: Biological Sciences 88:769–777. doi:10.1007/s40011-017-0833-5.

Early R, González-Moreno P, Murphy S T, Day R. 2018. Forecasting the global extent of invasion of the cereal pest Spodoptera frugiperda, the fall armyworm. NeoBiota 40:25–50. doi:10.3897/neobiota.40.2816.

Garhwal A, Yadav U. 2024. Comparative study of synthetic insecticides with biopesticides against spotted stem borer, Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) on maize (Zea mays L.). Archives of Current Research International 24(5):288–294. doi:10.9734/acri/2024/v24i5704.

Gogoi R, Hooda K S, Kaur H, Khokhar M K, Basandrai A K, Rathee V K, Gupta P K, Singh R P, Mehra R. 2020. Relooking yield losses caused by maydis leaf blight, and banded leaf and sheath blight in maize. Journal of Mycology and Plant Pathology 50(3):225–235.

Gogoi R, Khokhar M K, Bisht S. 2022. Ecofriendly alternative for sustainable management of banded leaf and sheath blight of maize (Zea mays). Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences 92(5):633–636.

Gurr G M, Wratten S D, Landis D A, You M. 2017. Habitat management to suppress pest populations: Progress and prospects. Annual Review of Entomology 62:91–109. doi:10.1146/annurev-ento-031616-035050.

Hooda K S, Khokhar M K, Parmar H, Gogoi R, Joshi D, Sharma S S, et al. 2017. Banded leaf and sheath blight of maize: historical perspectives, current status and future directions. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India, Section B: Biological Sciences 87:1041–1052. doi:10.1007/s40011-015-0688-5.

Jagtap G P, Rani S, Yadav R. 2023. Fungicide resistance in Rhizoctonia solani: Challenges and management strategies. Crop Protection 158:106114. doi:10.1016/j.cropro.2022.106114.

Kaur H, Kumar S, Hooda K S, Gogoi R, Bagaria P, Singh R P, Mehra R, Kumar A. 2020. Leaf stripping: an alternative strategy to manage banded leaf and sheath blight of maize. Indian Phytopathology 73:203–211. doi:10.1007/s42360-020-00220-0.

Meena S, Nirupma S. 2021. The impact of climate change on changing pattern of maize diseases in Indian subcontinent: A review. In: Maize Genetic Resources Breeding Strategies and Recent Advances. El-Esawi M A (Ed.). London.

Overton K, Maino J L, Day R, Umina P A, Carnovale D, Ekesi S, Meagher R, Reynolds O L. 2021. Global crop impacts, yield losses and action thresholds for fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda): A review. Crop Protection 145:105641. doi:10.1016/j.cropro.2021.105641.

Patel H, Yadav S, Sharma N. 2023. Cultural practices for sustainable maize production under disease pressure. Agronomy Journal 115(3):789–798. doi:10.1002/agj2.21287.

Pretty J, Bharucha Z P. 2015. Integrated pest management for sustainable intensification of agriculture in Asia and Africa. Insects 6(1):152–182. doi:10.3390/insects6010152.

Pretty J, Benton T G, Bharucha Z P, Dicks L V, Flora C B, Godfray H C J, et al. 2018. Global assessment of agricultural system redesign for sustainable intensification. Nature Sustainability 1(8):441–446. doi:10.1038/s41893-018-0114-0.

Sharma P, Meena R S, Bisht J K. 2020. Role of Trichoderma in sustainable agriculture. International Journal of Bio-resource and Stress Management 11(1):1–10.

Sharma R, Kumar S, Singh P K. 2022. Integrated management of banded leaf and sheath blight in maize: A review. Journal of Plant Pathology 104(2):345–356. doi:10.1007/s42161-021-00965-3.

Singh A, Shahid M, Srivastava M, Pandey S, Kumar V. 2018. Trichoderma: A potential biological control agent for managing soil-borne fungal pathogens. Acta Phytopathologica et Entomologica Hungarica 53(2):229–252. doi:10.1556/038.53.2018.011.

Singh V, Meena S K, Patel R. 2023. Biocontrol agents in maize disease management: Current status and future prospects. Biological Control 176:105112. doi:10.1016/j.biocontrol.2022.105112.

Srinivasan R, Paola S, Lin M Y, Chhun H Y, Sareth K, Sor S. 2019. Development and validation of an integrated pest management strategy for the control of major insect pests on yard-long bean in Cambodia. Crop Protection 116:82–91. doi:10.1016/j.cropro.2018.10.022.