EFFECT OF FREQUENCY OF HANDPICKING OF FALL ARMYWORM (SPODOPTERA FRUGIPERDA) ON THE INFESTATION OF MAIZE (ZEA MAYS)

ABSTRACT

The study was conducted to investigate the effect of frequency of handpicking of fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) on the infestation of maize (Zea mays). The experiment was carried out at the Teaching and Research Farm, Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture University of Benin during the late planting season October to December 2023. Four treatments: No Handpicking (NH), Weekly Handpicking (WH), Bi-weekly Handpicking (BWH) and Bi-monthly Handpicking (BMH) were assigned in a Randomised Complete Block Design (RCBD) was used. There were 3 replications per treatment. Each plot measured 3 x 2m and was separated by 1m apart as alley way. The number of larvae, severity of damage, plant damaged were assessed. The parameters measured were analysed using GenStat analysis of Variance (ANOVA). There was significant difference (p<0.05) among the treatments. Handpicking was effective at 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 5 weeks after sowing in terms of the abundance of FAW larvae. No handpicking treatment (NH) had the highest mean of FAW larvae 9.87(3.22), Bi-monthly handpicking (BMH), Bi-weekly handpicking (BWH) and weekly handpicking (WH) had the lowest mean of 0.00(0.71) of FAW larvae. More frequency of handpicking FAW larvae and crushing their eggs can help reduce their abundance and thus limit their damage and severity on maize crops.