Whorl application of soil mixed chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC is effective against invasive fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda J.E. Smith (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in maize

Fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) is an invasive insect pest recently reported from India and foliar sprays of insecticides is the usual management strategy. In the present investigation, a slight modification was made in the application methodology, i.e., insecticides mixed with soil and applied to the whorl region. Results of two seasons conducted during kharif 2020 and 2021 indicated that chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC @ 0.4 ml/kg soil was found to be effective in lowering the larval population of 97.44% with the least plant damage score (0.98) with the highest grain yield (60.3 q/ha) and C: B ratio (2.91). It was superior to the same chemical applied through a foliar spray. Due to soil in the whorl, the number of adult moths hiding in the whorl region and egg mass per plant has decreased. The study demonstrated that whorl application requires half the quantity of insecticide compared to spray application. The advantages of insecticides mixed with soil over foliar spray of insecticides in Maize are discussed.