Abstract
The invasive fall armyworm (FAW) is threatening maize production and the livelihoods of millions of smallholder farmers in the newly invaded areas in Africa and Asia. To control this new key pest and to overcome health, environmental, and resistance problems related to the indiscriminate use of insecticides, effective and sustainable alternative pest control approaches are needed. Here, we report on field trials that tested maltodextrin, neem-based products, ash, and soil, as well as the locally produced alata samina soap, in the Upper West and Greater Accra regions, Ghana. Significant reductions of larval numbers and crop damage, together with increased yields, were mostly achieved by applying the insecticide emamectin benzoate, which was considered the positive control in this set of trials. However, high efficiency and cost–benefit ratios were also achieved with two neem-based products. Maltodextrin was only efficient at one of the two sites, with a clear dose-dependent effect, while the higher dosage was nearly as effective as emamectin benzoate. Due to its relatively high product cost, maltodextrin is generally less cost-efficient. Ash and soil, as well as alata samina soap treatments, did not efficiently reduce FAW larval numbers or crop damage at the dosages tested; thus, they also did not significantly increase maize yields.
Highlights
fall armyworm (FAW) larval numbers were significantly different among treatments on 5 August (χ2 4,15 = 12.8, p = 0.012), 12 August (χ2 4,15 = 11.7, p = 0.019), 5 September (χ2 4,15 = 35.5, p < 0.001), 12 September (χ2 4,15 = 21.2, p < 0.001), 26 September (χ2 4,15 = 50.9, p < 0.001), and 3 October (χ2 4,15 = 708, p < 0.001), and went down after the first and third application dates at site 1 but not after the second
We report on field trial testing of several alternative approaches for the control of FAW, aiming to help close the aforementioned knowledge gap and in light of the severe effects of FAW on maize cropping systems in Africa and Asia
We found that maltodextrin was effective for one of our two test sites, with at least the highest dose nearly reaching the yields of the positive control
Summary
The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), is a polyphagous migratory insect pest that is able to cause considerable economic losses in over 80 different crops [1]. The pest is native to the tropical and sub-tropical regions of North, Central, and South America, where it has been considered a key pest in maize and several other crops for decades. Fall armyworm was detected for the first time on the African continent in January 2016 in Nigeria [2], and by 2019 had been reported in almost all of sub-Saharan Africa, as well as in South- and Southeast Asia, causing substantial yield. Published pest distribution and climatic suitability models have indicated that the environmental requirements for this pest to establish itself permanently and thrive are present through large parts of Africa, the warmer regions of Asia, and even some parts of southern Europe [5].
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