Expert Advisory Details

Drainage system to avoid water stagnation in Maize fields

Maize: Proper drainage system should be maintained in the fields to avoid stagnation of water in the field as rain is expected in the upcoming days. Keep monitoring the maize crop for fall army worm pest as it is an invasive pest of maize. Its symptoms are peeling of leaves, small to medium long holes, and irregularly shaped holes on the leaves. To monitor this pest, install 5 pheromone traps per acre (1-2 traps/bigha). If one moth per trap is found per day in pheromone trap then 5% of plants are infestated, then neem seed kernel extract (5 percent NSKE) in the crop @ 5 ml per liter of water. If the damage is 5 to 10 percent then spray with organic insecticides like Bacillus thuringiensis (2 g/Ltr of water) or Metarhizium anisopliae (5g/Ltr of water). Chemical insecticide clorentraniliprol 18.5 sc., if the pest infestation is more than 10 percent then 4 ml per 10 liters of water or spinetoram 11.7 sc. (5 ml per liter of water) or Emamectin Benzoate 5 S.G. Spraying (4 g per liter of water) is recommended.