Evaluation of Integrated Pest Management Technologies against Fall Armyworm in Maize
M. Swathi *
ANGRAU - District Agricultural Advisory and Transfer of Technology Centre, Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh, 535001, India.
K. Lakshmana
ANGRAU - District Agricultural Advisory and Transfer of Technology Centre, Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh, 535001, India.
K. Tejeswara Rao
ANGRAU - District Agricultural Advisory and Transfer of Technology Centre, Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh, 535001, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The evaluation of integrated pest management technologies against fall armyworm in maize was conducted by District Agricultural Advisory and Transfer of Technology Centre (DAATTC), Vizianagaram in five farmer’s field during 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22. The results revealed that the pest incidence was lower in IPM module compared to the historically adopted farmer’s practices, featuring here as a control. The increase in yield of 6.78% was observed in IPM demonstration (8503 kg/ha) compared to the control (7963 kg/ha). The net returns of Rs. 10,3214.00/ha and Rs. 91,145.00/ha were obtained in the IPM and control, respectively. The extension gap, technology gap and technology index were 747 kg/ha, 540 kg/ha and 8.07%, respectively. The lower technology index indicates that the technology implementation is feasible providing better education and popularization of the new programs thus reducing the gap between extension programs and new technologies.
Keywords: Fall armyworm, maize, technology gap, extension gap, technology index