Scholarlink

<p>The fall armyworm (FAW), <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i> (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), a major pest of maize (<i>Zea mays L.</i>), threatens crop production in subtropical regions. Conventional control methods rely heavily on synthetic insecticides, raising environmental and resistance concerns. This study evaluated sunnhemp (<i>Crotalaria juncea</i>) as an alternative "push" plant to <i>Desmodium spp.</i> in modified push–pull systems to manage FAW in Taiwan. Sunnhemp was selected for its reported repellent properties, while Napier grass (<i>Pennisetum purpureum</i>) was included as a "pull" crop due to its attractiveness to FAW moths. Field experiments conducted during winter and summer compared three cropping system designs against maize monoculture: maize intercropped with sunnhemp (maize + sunnhemp), maize bordered with Napier grass (maize + Napier grass), maize with both sunnhemp and Napier grass (maize + sunnhemp + Napier grass), and maize monoculture. Across seasons, the sunnhemp-based systems consistently reduced pest pressure and improved yields. The maize + sunnhemp + Napier grass system reduced egg mass numbers by 67.7% in winter and 81.9% in summer and leaf damage by 75.4% and 6.8% in winter and summer, respectively. The maize + sunnhemp system was effective in reducing larvae numbers (43.5% in summer), infestation rates (up to 47.8% in winter), and leaf damage (62.9% in winter and 47.7% in summer). Yield gains ranged from 10.6% to 18.8%, with the highest improvement observed in the maize + sunnhemp system during the summer. Correlation analysis showed seasonal relationships between weather variables (temperature, humidity, precipitation) and infestation parameters. Furthermore, principal component analysis showed clear separation among cropping systems, with sunnhemp-based systems clustered with higher yields and lower pest pressure, whereas the maize monoculture and Napier-only systems clustered with lower yields and greater pest pressures. These findings suggest that integrating sunnhemp into flexible push–pull designs offers a promising and sustainable approach to FAW management, providing a practical alternative to reduce pesticide reliance and safeguard maize yields.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Incorporating sunnhemp (Crotalaria juncea) and Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) for fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) management in sweet maize (Zea mays L.) production

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年12月3日

查看全文
  • Kervin Can,
  • Tsui-Ying Chang,
  • Lekhnath Kafle,
  • Wen-Hua Chen

摘要

The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), a major pest of maize (Zea mays L.), threatens crop production in subtropical regions. Conventional control methods rely heavily on synthetic insecticides, raising environmental and resistance concerns. This study evaluated sunnhemp (Crotalaria juncea) as an alternative "push" plant to Desmodium spp. in modified push–pull systems to manage FAW in Taiwan. Sunnhemp was selected for its reported repellent properties, while Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) was included as a "pull" crop due to its attractiveness to FAW moths. Field experiments conducted during winter and summer compared three cropping system designs against maize monoculture: maize intercropped with sunnhemp (maize + sunnhemp), maize bordered with Napier grass (maize + Napier grass), maize with both sunnhemp and Napier grass (maize + sunnhemp + Napier grass), and maize monoculture. Across seasons, the sunnhemp-based systems consistently reduced pest pressure and improved yields. The maize + sunnhemp + Napier grass system reduced egg mass numbers by 67.7% in winter and 81.9% in summer and leaf damage by 75.4% and 6.8% in winter and summer, respectively. The maize + sunnhemp system was effective in reducing larvae numbers (43.5% in summer), infestation rates (up to 47.8% in winter), and leaf damage (62.9% in winter and 47.7% in summer). Yield gains ranged from 10.6% to 18.8%, with the highest improvement observed in the maize + sunnhemp system during the summer. Correlation analysis showed seasonal relationships between weather variables (temperature, humidity, precipitation) and infestation parameters. Furthermore, principal component analysis showed clear separation among cropping systems, with sunnhemp-based systems clustered with higher yields and lower pest pressure, whereas the maize monoculture and Napier-only systems clustered with lower yields and greater pest pressures. These findings suggest that integrating sunnhemp into flexible push–pull designs offers a promising and sustainable approach to FAW management, providing a practical alternative to reduce pesticide reliance and safeguard maize yields.