Evaluation of insect pest infestation and yield losses in maize crop in Maina, district Malakand
Journal Title: Advances in Agriculture and Biology - Year 2018, Vol 1, Issue 1
Abstract
Maize (Zea mays) is the third most significant cereal crop in Pakistan. It plays a crucial role in the local diet and serves as a vital component in livestock fodder and poultry feed. Moreover, it has gained commercial importance in the food industry, contributing to the production of items such as corn oil, cornflakes, popcorn, and Rafhan. Its yield is severely affected by insect pests. Therefore, this study investigated the insect pest infestation and associated yield losses in maize crops in Maina, District Malakand. The experiment recorded the percentage of plant infestation by insect pests and quantified the resultant losses. Maize stem borer (Chilo partelus) exhibited a significant infestation of 23.50 %, followed by maize aphid (Rhopalosiphum maidis) at 15 % during the tasseling stage. Shootfly (Atherigona soccata) showed early-stage infestation with 9 %, and maize jassid (Zygenia sp) appeared with a population of 2 jassids/sweep net. Armyworm (Mythimna unipuncta) was also identified as a pest with 7.1 % plant infestation. The cumulative grain losses due to these pests were calculated as 1112 kg/ha. Maize cultivation in Pakistan holds significant economic importance, contributing to various sectors, and sustaining local diets. In this context, effective pest management strategies are crucial for optimizing maize yields. The study provides valuable insights into the dynamics of insect pest infestation and emphasizes the need for proactive measures to mitigate yield losses in maize cultivation. © 2018 The Author(s)
Authors and Affiliations
Maqsood Ahmad and Shahzad Ahmad
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP764562
- DOI https://doi.org/10.63072/aab.18005
- Views 10
- Downloads 0
Current status and challenges to sugarcane crop in Pakistan: A review
In Pakistan sugarcane is an important agricultural cash crop after cotton. Availability of cultivated land resources and competition between supply of energy and various other commodities like food, sugar, milk and grain...
Evaluation of agronomic performance and grain yield stability of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) genotypes in East Shewa zone, Oromia
A field experiment was conducted at Adami Tulu Agricultural Research Center, as well as in the Lume and Dugda Districts, during the main cropping seasons of 2022 and 2023. The purpose of this study was to identify stable...
Current status, challenges and technological breakthrough of organic agriculture with a focus on Pakistan
The world's population growth and environmental deterioration pose a threat to food production, and it is urgent to find suitable solutions. Organic farming is an environmentally beneficial method of agricultural product...
Effect of sowing time, advanced genotype, and potassium application on seed cotton yield in relay cropping with wheat
This research study was conducted at Central Cotton Research Institute Multan during 2016 to evaluate the effect of sowing dates on seed cotton yield of different Bt cultivars. Experimental design was split plot. Sowing...
Assessment of nitrate levels in soil and water quality for sustainable agriculture in district Muzaffargarh, Pakistan
This research study focuses on assessing the levels of nitrate (NO3-) in soil and groundwater in various regions of district Muzaffargarh, Pakistan. Nitrate, a compound comprising one nitrogen atom and three oxygen atoms...