Vol. 11, Issue 12 (2022)

Author(s):
C Parhi, A Khuntia, US Nayak, AKB Mohapatra, BS Rath, A Nanda, AP Acharya and DS Priyadarshi

Abstract:
Field investigation was conducted during Rabi seasons of 2021 at Regional Research and Technology Transfer Station (RRTTS), Ranital, Bhadrak of Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha to study the Effect of different sowing dates and varieties on the incidence of Fall Army Worm (Spodoptera frugiperda) in hybrid maize. The experiment was carried out with the objective of studying the effect of sowing date and variety on the incidence of Fall Army Worm (FAW) in hybrid maize. The experiment laid out in a split plot design replicated thrice with 4 varieties i.e. two normal maize hybrids (DKC9081, 900M gold) and two sweet corn varieties (Sugar 75 and NSCH130) in the main plot and four dates of planting (9^th January, 19^th January, 29^th January and 8^th February) in the sub-plots. Results of this systematic investigation revealed that the FAW (Spodoptera frugiperda) (J.E. Smith) larvae infested the sweet corn varieties earlier than the normal maize hybrid under the same date of sowing. The larval population was more in between 22^nd February to 19^th March, where a sizable crop damage occurred in all the varieties and sowing dates. The sweet corn variety Sugar 75 was more susceptible to the FAW, where the maximum damage to the tune of 64.84% and larva (1.18 /plant) was recorded, followed by the sweet corn variety NSCH130, where a crop damage up to 61.21% and larval intensity (1.05 /plant) was noticed. The hybrid DKC 9081 caused a damage up to 39.09%, whereas, in 900M gold it was 35.45 percent. The maximum insect infestation was observed under the third sowing date in all varieties with a maximum 60.83% in sweet corn variety, Sugar 75. The maximum insect infestation was observed in the third sowing date (up to 60.83%) followed by D4 (up to 54.16%), D1 (up to 49.16%) and D2 (47.50%) as the crop stage coincided with the peak population build up of FAW.