Performance of frontline demonstrations on integrated management of fall armyworm in maize at Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu

Maize (Zea mays) is an important crop cultivated in Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu. ICAR - SCAD Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu conducted frontline demonstrations on fall armyworm management in maize at north Karaseri village of Karunkulam block, Tamil Nadu during rabi season of 2019-20. The integrated management of fall armyworm in maize strategies included summer ploughing, border crop with sorghum (2-4 rows), seed treatment with cyatranilprole 19.8 per cent + thiamethoxam 19.8 per cent (Fortenza Duo 480FS) @ 2 ml/kg, installation of pheromone traps @ 4/acre at the time of sowing, collection and destruction of egg masses (8^th day onwards), azadirachtin 10,000 ppm @ 1 ml/l (8-15 days after crop emergence), if infesation was 5-10 per cent, spray of Bacillus thuringiensis formulation @ 2 ml/l or Metarhizium anisopliae @ 2 ml/l or Beauveria bassiana @ 5 ml/l and if infestation was more than 10 per cent, spray of emamectin benzoate 5SG @ 0.4 g/l or spinetoram 11.7SC @ 0.3 ml/l (30-60 DAS). The results revealed that adoption of IPM practices recorded the lower incidence of fall armyworm (16.0%) as compared to the farmers’ practices (29.0%). Similarly, higher population of natural enemies (coccinellid population – 0.30 grubs and adult/plant) was recorded in IPM plots compared to farmers’ practice (0.11 grubs and adults/plant). IPM demonstration plots recorded higher yield (37.5 q/ha), net return (Rs 38,000/ha) and benefit-cost ratio (2.03).