Experts suggest integrated pest management for spring maize crop

Maize is an important cereal crop in Punjab after wheat and paddy. The spring crop of maize is attacked by various insects and pests from time to time, causing economic losses to farmers. The integrated pest management strategy is a rational approach to tackle this menace.

Dr Jawala Jindal, Principal Entomologist (Maize) at Punjab Agricultural University, and Dr Rakesh Kumar from PAU’s Farm Advisory Service Centre, shared views about the popular pests that can attack maize crop.

Insect pest

Maize shoot is the most serious insect pest of spring maize. It attacks young (3-7 days old) seedlings, producing deformed, twisted and dead-hearted plants. The damaged plants produce side tillers which may also be attacked. Sowing must be completed before the first fortnight of February so that the crop escapes shoot fly infestation. For its control, treat the seed with 6ml Gaucho 600 FS (imidacloprid) per kg of seed. The treated seed should be sown within 14 days. If seed treatment is not done, then apply 5 kg of Furadan 3G (carbofuran) per acre in the furrows at the time of sowing.

Armyworm and silk cutter

Larvae feed on tender leaves from the margin inward. In case of severe attack, leaves including midribs are eaten away. Larvae excrete faecal matter in the form of pellets which are seen in the plant whorls. Larvae also damage immature ears. Attack is relatively more on the border rows adjoining wheat ?eld in March. For its control, hand-picking and destruction of larvae should be done. Silk cutter feed on silk and may damage a few grains in developing cobs. Timely sown crop escapes the damage. In case of attack, collect and destroy the larvae.

Fall armyworm

It is more serious in kharif maize but late sown spring maize face fall armyworm infestation. The young larvae feed by scrapping the leaf surface, making papery windows. The bigger larvae feed voraciously on the central whorl leaves, causing round to oblong holes and produce a large amount of faecal matter. The larva can be identified by a predominant white-coloured inverted Y-shaped mark on the head and presence of four spots arranged in square pattern at the tail-end.