Impact of Different Sowing Windows and Legume Intercrops on the Incidence of Fall Army Worm (FAW) (Spodoptera frugiperda) and Yield of Hybrid Maize in Western Agro Climatic Zone of Tamil Nadu

Abstract

The present investigation was undertaken during the Kharif and Rabi seasons of 2019 to study the influence of different sowing windows and intercropping of legumes on the level of infestation of fall armyworm on maize crop. Three dates of sowing were adopted in each season and intercrops like cowpea, soybean, sunnhemp, and tephrosia were included besides sole maize with and without insecticide sprays. The results showed that the maize sown during July and October months has reported less FAW infestation and provided a higher grain yield than the rest of the sowing windows taken in Kharif and Rabi seasons, respectively. The maize intercropped with cowpea and sunnhemp has performed well in terms of yield and the leaf damage was also found to be lower apart from the insecticide applied maize crop.