In Vitro and In Vivo Study on the Effect of Wheat Straw Biochar against Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) in Maize
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Date
2024
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MPUAT, Udaipur
Abstract
The proposed investigation on "In Vitro and In Vivo Study on the Effect of Wheat Straw Biochar against Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) in Maize" was carried out at the Department of Entomology, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, MPUAT, Udaipur during Kharif 2023.
Results of the current study indicated that S. frugiperda fed on the maize plants treated with wheat straw biochar at the rate of 5, 10, 15, and 20 per cent and control showed that the mortality per centage, larval development time, pupal period of fall armyworm were more in the larvae fed with biochar treated leaves as compared to larvae fed with leaves taken from control and food consumed, larval weight, pupal weight, fecundity and adult female longevity were decreased as the biochar amendment level increased. This shows that the application of biochar has negative consequences on the developmental performance of fall armyworms.
The results of field application of wheat straw biochar show that the biochar is effective in reducing the infestation of fall armyworms in maize fields. The results show that the overall mean per cent infestation in the control plot was 59.2 per cent; in the treated plot, it was 29.86 per cent, much lower than the control. The overall mean number of larvae per plant in the control plot was 1.26, and in the treated plot, it was 1.03. The Davis scale reading was also taken, and it found that the overall mean Davis score in the control plot was 3.95 and in the treated plot, it was 2.63. The overall mean plant height in the control plot was 122.41 cm and in the treated plot, it was 138.9 cm. After harvest, grain yield recorded from the control plot (37.33 q ha-1) was lower as compared to the biochar treated plot (53.33 q ha-1).
Plant samples were collected from pot culture and the field, and then the silica content was analysed. In pot culture, the higher silica content was recorded in the 20 per cent (1.63%) amendment level of biochar. In the field experiment, the silica content recorded was maximum in biochar-treated plants at 40th days after germination (1.98%).
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Vijay J. and Babu S. R.