CHERUKURI SREENIVASA RAOKUNTUMALLA JAGADEESH2023-12-012023-12-012023-12-01D6404https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810202017The studies were carried out on occurrence of insect pests, insecticide usage pattern by Maize farmers in West Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh during rabi 2021-22 with special reference to use and handling. Studies on pesticide residues in maize samples collected from farm-gate were carried out at Pesticide Formulation and Residue Analytical Centre (PFRAC), Pesticide Management Division, National Institute of Plant Health Management (NIPHM), Hyderabad, Telangana. Seasonal occurrence of insect pests revealed that Fall armyworm larval population was observed from 44th standard meteorological week (29th Oct- 4th Nov) to 6th SMW (5th Feb- 11th Feb) with the average population of 0.32 larva per plant and the peak population was noticed at 51st SMW with 0.548 larva/plant. One week after germination the initial infestation was 25.6 %, which gradually increased to 29.44 % during 45th SMW with maximum infestation (32.4%) at 51st SMW, and then decreased to low levels. Leaf damage severity scale was 1.79 at 44th SMW, which increased to 2.40 at 45th SMW and 2.06 at 46th SMW. Later, the damage severity gradually decreased and reached to minimum of 0.94 at 51st SMW. The cob severity scale was 0.48 at 44th SMW, increased to 0.54 at 1st SMW and the peak scale (0.72) noticed at 6th SMW. The pheromone trap data were recorded for fall armyworm adult male moths’from first week after sowing to harvesting stage. Initially, during 44th Standard meteorological week, 5.1 moths/week/trap were recorded and peak adult catch (13.2 moths/trap/week) was noticed at 46th SMW. The aphid infestation was noticed from the 52nd SMW to 6th SMW. Initially 1.36 aphids/cm2 leaf area was recorded at 52nd SMW, then the population was gradually increased and reached the maximum at 3rd SMW with the average population of 5.17 aphids/cm2 leaf area. A total of 19 pesticides were commonly used by the maize farmers in study area during rabi 2021-2022. Out of 19 pesticides used by the maize farmers of the study xvi area, nine are non -recommended for use in maize as per CIBRC. A total of 270 sprays/applications were given by 30 farmers during the season, with an average of seven sprays in each field where as five farmers have applied seven sprays and the two farmers have applied thirteen sprays. Out of a total of 270 applications given by 30 farmers during the entire crop season, fungicides were applied frequently (100 sprays) followed by insecticides (92 sprays), herbicides (52 sprays) and bactericides (26 sprays). Out of a total of 270 pesticide sprays / applications given by all farmers during the season, 65.6% of them are with recommended pesticides, while 34.4% of sprays with non recommended pesticides. In case of insecticides, 95.6% sprays / applications are with recommended insecticides, where as 40% fungicide sprays are with using recommended fungicides and 60% sprays with non-recommended fungicides. Out of 52 sprays of herbicides, 49 are with recommended herbicides while only 3 sprays are with non recommended herbicides. Majority of the sprays (51%) of various pesticides are sprayed at higher doses (>10%) than recommended, where as 17% of the sprays are lower doses (<10%) than recommended, and 32.00% of the total applications of various registered pesticides are used at recommended doses. A study on general awareness and knowledge on pesticide usage reveals that 63% of the farmers are aware about recommended pesticides and 37% are not aware about recommended pesticides, twenty three per cent farmers are aware about the pesticide classification and 77% farmers are not aware. Majority of the farmers (63%) use bottle cap for measurement of pesticide while 27% of them measure approximately. Majority of spray men (54%) did not use any personal protection equipment (PPE) such as hand gloves, goggles, nose masks, and full sleeve shirts during spraying, while 20% use nose mask, and 26% of them wear full sleeve shirts during the spraying of pesticides. About 38% of farmers are unaware about that the issue of pesticide residues in food commodities, while 12% of farmers know about that pesticide residues. Among the 30 farmers, 3% of them aware about that export rejections due to presence of pesticide residues, whereas 90% of the framers are unaware about the pre harvesting intervals. The farm maize gate samples collected from 30 farmers and analyzed at NIPHM, Hyderabad, an ISO/IEC 17025:2018 accredited laboratory. None of the sample is detected with any pesticide residues. This is because of sufficient period between harvest and last spray, as all farmers stopped using pesticides at least 30-45 days before harvesting.EnglishThesis