Outbreaks of the Fall Armyworm (Spodeptera frugiperda), and Maize Production Constraints in Zambia with Special Emphasis on Coping Strategies

The fall armyworm (FAW) (Spodoptera frugiperda J.E. Smith) is an invasive pest of maize, as well as other important cereals and vegetables, threatening food systems and biodiversity in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study aimed to assess the outbreaks of the FAW, farmers’ perceived production constraints, and coping strategies in maize production in Zambia. A participatory rural appraisal (PRA) study was conducted in two FAW-affected maize production districts in Zambia in 2017 and 2018. Data were collected using semi-structured questionnaires, preference ranking, and focused group discussions. Crop losses due to FAW, the high cost of fertilizers, and a limited availability of arable land were the major production constraints across the districts. There were significant differences (X2 = 12.415; p = 0.002) in the severity of FAW infestation between the two districts in 2017. Notable FAW coping strategies used by the respondent farmers included cultural and landscape management practices, chemical pesticides, and crushing of FAW larvae. There was a disparity between male and female respondents who perceived social, agronomic management, and crop protection-related factors that influenced the choice of a maize variety. Information presented here will serve as a basis for FAW-resistant cultivar development and deployment of the integrated pest management methods for Zambia.

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Experiences and Perspectives on Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Management in Sub-Saharan Africa

Journal of Integrated Pest Management ◽

10.1093/jipm/pmab002 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Elizabeth Njuguna ◽

Phophi Nethononda ◽

Karim Maredia ◽

Ruth Mbabazi ◽

Paul Kachapulula ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spodoptera Frugiperda ◽

New Technologies ◽

Integrated Management ◽

Fall Armyworm ◽

Lessons Learned ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Invasive Pest ◽

Published Evidence ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Lepidoptera Noctuidae

Abstract It has been over five years since the first report of an outbreak of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Africa. The highly invasive pest, native to the Americas, has since spread across the African continent attacking many crops and causing significant yield loss to Africa’s staple crop, maize. From the onset of the outbreak, there have been massive and varied responses from farmers, governments and nongovernmental organizations. This mini-review provides various perspectives on S. frugiperda control in sub-Saharan Africa, building on previously published evidence, and experiences of the authors. It also highlights new technologies and lessons learned so far from the S. frugiperda outbreaks in sub-Saharan Africa, based on which suggestions on possible integrated management approaches are proffered.

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Long-term experiments on chernozem soil in the University of Debrecen

Acta Agraria Debreceniensis ◽

10.34101/actaagrar/150/1732 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 357-369

Author(s):

Péter Pepó

Keyword(s):

Winter Wheat ◽

Crop Rotation ◽

Management Practices ◽

Crop Protection ◽

Chernozem Soil ◽

Wheat Varieties ◽

Maize Production ◽

Long Term Experiments ◽

The Impact

The impact of agrotechnical management practices (nutrient and water supply, crop rotation, crop protection, genotype) on the yields of winter wheat and maize and on the soil water and nutrient cycles was studied in long-term experiments set up in 1983 in Eastern Hungary on chernozem soil. The long-term experiments have shown that nitrogen fertilizer rates exceeding the N-optimum of winter wheat resulted in the accumulation of NO3-N in the soil. Winter wheat varieties can be classified into four groups based on their natural nutrient utilization and their fertilizer response. The fertilizer responses of wheat varieties depended on crop year (6.5–8.9 t ha-1 maximum yields in 2011–2015 years) and the genotypes (in 2012 the difference was ~3 t ha-1 among varieties). The optimum N(+PK) doses varied between 30–150 kg ha-1 in different crop years. In maize production fertilization, irrigation and crop rotation have decision role on the yields. The efficiency of fertilization modified by cropyear (in dry 891–1315 kg ha-1, in average 1927–4042 kg ha-1, in rainy cropyear 2051–4473 kg ha-1 yield surpluses of maize, respectively) and crop rotation (in monoculture 1315–4473 kg ha-1, in biculture 924–2727 kg ha-1 and triculture 891–2291 kg ha-1 yield surpluses of maize, respectively). The optimum fertilization could improve the water use efficiency in maize production. Our long-term experiments gave important ecological and agronomic information to guide regional development of sustainable cropping systems.

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Farmers' knowledge, perceptions, and management practices of the new invasive pest, fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) in Ethiopia and Kenya

International Journal of Pest Management ◽

10.1080/09670874.2017.1423129 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 65 (1) ◽

pp. 1-9 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

Author(s):

Teshome Kumela ◽

Josephine Simiyu ◽

Birhanu Sisay ◽

Paddy Likhayo ◽

Esayas Mendesil ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spodoptera Frugiperda ◽

Management Practices ◽

Fall Armyworm ◽

Invasive Pest

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Predatory Ability of Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) and Orius sauteri (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) for Suppression of Fall Armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Insects ◽

10.3390/insects12121063 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (12) ◽

pp. 1063

Author(s):

Ning Di ◽

Kai Zhang ◽

Qingxuan Xu ◽

Fan Zhang ◽

James D. Harwood ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

Functional Response ◽

Natural Enemies ◽

Spodoptera Frugiperda ◽

Harmonia Axyridis ◽

Fall Armyworm ◽

Handling Time ◽

Invasive Pest ◽

Maize Production ◽

First Instar

The lepidopteran pest, Spodoptera frugiperda (JE Smith), spread rapidly after its first detection in China and has caused significant yield loss to maize production in the southwestern part of the country. Although natural enemies of S. frugiperda are present in the field, biological control using naturally distributed predators is ineffective because their underlying populations are too low. To enhance our understanding of the potential role of natural enemies in regulating this invasive pest, functional response experiments were conducted to quantify the response of two predators, Orius sauteri (Poppius) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) and Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), in terms of consumption of S. frugiperda. Experimental results revealed that the predatory effects of nymphs of O. sauteri and H. axyridis on the eggs and larvae of S. frugiperda fitted Holling’s Type II functional response model. Importantly, the theoretical maximum number of prey consumed per day (Na-max), the instantaneous attack rate (a′) and the handling time (Th) of O. sauteri nymphs on S. frugiperda eggs were 15.19, 0.7444 and 0.049 d, respectively; and the parameters on first instar larvae of S. frugiperda were 700.24, 0.5602 and 0.0008 d, respectively. These data contrast to those of H. axyridis, where the Na-max, a′ and Th of adults on eggs of S. frugiperda were 130.73, 1.1112 and 0.085 d, respectively, and on the first instar larvae of S. frugiperda were 1401.1, 0.8407 and 0.0006 d, respectively. These results revealed that H. axyridis is a highly voracious predator of the eggs and young larvae of S. frugiperda and O. sauteri could also be used as biocontrol agent of this pest. Our work provides a theoretical framework for the application of natural enemies to control S. frugiperda in the field. Further research is required to strategize conservation biological control approaches in the field to increase populations of these predators and enhance the suppression of S. frugiperda.

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Assessment of impacts of fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on maize production in Ghana

Journal of Integrated Pest Management ◽

10.1093/jipm/pmaa015 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Djima Koffi ◽

Rosina Kyerematen ◽

Vincent Y Eziah ◽

Yaa Oguabi Osei-Mensah ◽

Kwame Afreh-Nuamah ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spodoptera Frugiperda ◽

Management Practices ◽

Deciduous Forest ◽

Insect Pest ◽

Fall Armyworm ◽

Transitional Zone ◽

African Countries ◽

Maize Production ◽

Ecological Zones ◽

The Impact

Abstract Spodoptera frugiperda was considered an insect pest only in the Americas until its first report in African countries in 2016. In this study, farmers and agricultural officials in Ghana were interviewed on their perceptions and knowledge of the pest, on infestation and maize yield variations across years, and on management practices. Farms were inspected to determine the infestation level of 100 plants per hectare. Interviews revealed that farmers were familiar with the larval stages of this pest and noticed that the pest occurred throughout the year, but populations of S. frugiperda increased only during cropping seasons. Infestation levels reported by farmers in surveys were much lower in 2018 (30.38%) than in 2017 (80.92%). Farm inspections confirmed that infestation levels were much lower in 2018 (20.90%) than 2017 (73.70%). The belt formed by Guinea Savannah, Transitional Zone, and Semi-Deciduous Forest Agro-Ecological Zones (AEZs) recorded the highest infestations while the lowest were observed from the Sudan Savannah and Tropical Rain Forest AEZs. Insecticides were the most commonly used tactic to manage populations of this new pest. Maize yields increased across Ghana between 2013 and 2015 from 1.52 to 1.73 t/ha, decreased between 2015 and 2017 to 1.55 t/ha, and increased to 1.69 t/ha in 2018. The impact of fall armyworm injury to maize production is discussed.

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ASSESSMENT OF INFESTATION OF SPODOPTERA FRUGIPERDA (J.E. SMITH) ON MAIZE AND ITS IMPLEMENTED MANAGEMENT PRACTICES WITH THEIR EFFICACY IN KAILALI, NEPAL

Malaysian Journal of Sustainable Agricultural ◽

10.26480/mjsa.01.2021.10.15 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 10-15

Author(s):

Sagar Bhandari ◽

Ruchita Bhattarai ◽

Krishna Raj Pandey ◽

Safal Adhikari

Keyword(s):

Management Practices ◽

Yield Loss ◽

Local Level ◽

Fall Armyworm ◽

Control Measures ◽

Invasive Pest ◽

Total Production ◽

Average Percentage ◽

And Control ◽

Farming Households

Fall armyworm has been recently introduced to Nepal. In a very less time, the invasive pest has rapidly spread throughout the country causing 21% of yield loss in the total production of maize. It has the potential to attack all the crop stages of maize. If the effect of fall armyworm is neglected, it can result in the loss of 53% in the total production threatening food security and living of millions of farming households. Keeping the fact in mind, two blocks from the Tikapur Municipality of Kailali district, Nepal were surveyed to understand the infestation status of FAW in maize, farmer’s perception, implemented management practices at the local level for its control, and its efficacy. Lack of knowledge regarding the identification and control measures has led to more than 50% of the household being infected by FAW. The average yield loss has reached 129.058 kg/ha in block 10 and 93.052 kg/ha in block 24. The average percentage of infestation has drooped to only 4.15% when all the measure of management was applied in an integrated way. Our study concluded that there is a pivotal need for extension knowledge to farmers on the identification of the pest, its life cycle, effective management practices, and tie for its implementation.

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Genetic Characterization of Fall Armyworm in Africa Indicates a Limited Capacity for Transcontinental Population Movements and Evidence of a Second Introduction

10.21203/rs.3.rs-1025368/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Rodney N. Nagoshi ◽

Georg Goergen ◽

Djima Koffi ◽

Komi Agboka ◽

Anani Kossi Mawuko Adjevi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fall Armyworm ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Invasive Pest ◽

Economic Damage ◽

Broad Host Range ◽

Migration Behavior ◽

Long Distance ◽

Western Africa ◽

Combining Data ◽

Sub Saharan

Abstract The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) is native to the Americas and a major pest of corn and several other crops of economic importance. The species has characteristics that make it of particular concern as an invasive pest, including broad host range, long-distance migration behavior, and a propensity for field-evolved pesticide resistance. The discovery of fall armyworm in western Africa in 2016 was followed by what was apparently a remarkably rapid spread throughout sub-Saharan Africa by 2018, causing economic damage estimated in the tens of billions USD and threatening the food security of the continent. Understanding the history of the fall armyworm invasion of Africa and the genetic composition of the African populations is critical to assessing the risk posed to different crop types, the development of effective mitigation strategies, and to make Africa less vulnerable to future invasions of migratory moth pests. This paper tested and expanded on previous studies by combining data from 22 sub-Saharan nations during the period from 2016-2019. The results support initial descriptions of the fall armyworm invasion, including the near absence of the strain that prefers rice, millet, and pasture grasses, while providing additional evidence that the magnitude and extent of FAW natural migration on the continent is more limited than expected. The results also show that a second entry of fall armyworm likely occurred in western Africa from a source different than that of the original introduction. These findings indicate that western Africa continues to be at high risk of future introductions of FAW, which could complicate mitigation efforts.

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Outbreaks of a new invasive pest, the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) in South Sumatra, Indonesia

IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science ◽

10.1088/1755-1315/912/1/012019 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 912 (1) ◽

pp. 012019

Author(s):

S Herlinda ◽

M E Sinaga ◽

F Ihsan ◽

F Fawwazi ◽

S Suwandi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Population Density ◽

Plant Species ◽

Spodoptera Frugiperda ◽

Fall Armyworm ◽

Invasive Pest ◽

The South ◽

Maize Production ◽

The Mean ◽

Larvae Density

Abstract Spodoptera frugiperda is polyphagous besides attacking maize, it can attack other plant species from various families. Information about the attack and population of S. frugiperda in various maize production centers in Indonesia is still limited. This study aimed to find out the population and attack of S. frugiperda in South Sumatra. Surveys were carried out from the lowlands to the highlands of South Sumatra, such as Palembang City, Pagar Alam City, Lahat City, Ogan Ilir District, Prabumulih City, Muara Enim District, Banyuasin District. The mean percentage severity of S. frugiperda in South Sumatra reached 34.75%, and its percentage of mean incidence reached 78%. The highest larvae density was found in Pagaralam City with an average of 0.29 larvae/100 plants, while the lowest was found in Muara Enim District (0.08 larvae/100 plants). The population density of larvae began to occur at the age of 3 to 5 weeks, after that the larvae were not found in maize fields. We found that outbreaks of S. frugiperda have occured in the South Sumatra.

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Usage and Impacts of Technologies and Management Practices in Ethiopian Smallholder Maize Production

Agriculture ◽

10.3390/agriculture11100938 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (10) ◽

pp. 938

Author(s):

Banchayehu Tessema Assefa ◽

Jordan Chamberlin ◽

Martin K. van Ittersum ◽

Pytrik Reidsma

Keyword(s):

Labor Productivity ◽

Management Practices ◽

Integrated Management ◽

Crop Protection ◽

Maize Yield ◽

Maize Production ◽

Improved Varieties ◽

Large Yield ◽

Potential Benefits ◽

Maize Yields

Maize yields can be improved through many individual technologies and management practices, but the full realization of potential benefits is generally understood to require integrated use of complementary practices. We employed two years of survey data and alternative econometric models to better understand the use of individual and bundled packages of technologies and management practices in Ethiopian maize production, i.e., fertilizers, improved varieties, herbicides, pesticides, manure, intercropping, erosion control and crop rotation (the last three labeled integrated management). Although fertilizer and improved varieties were used on 85% of maize fields, with average yields of 3.4 ton/ha, large yield gaps remain. Complementary management practices improved these yields by as much as 22%, although in variable ways. Integrated management contributed to maize yield only when combined with crop protection (herbicides and/or pesticides). Combining manure with fertilizer and improved variety decreased maize yields, possibly due to manure quality and less inorganic fertilizer used on fields that received manure. Packages including crop protection increased labor productivity by 16–70%, while using integrated management decreased labor productivity by almost half. In summary, the combination of management practices did not automatically lead to increased yields, partly related to the conditions under which practices were applied, indicating the need for site-specific research and recommendations for sustainable intensification.

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Practices and Technologies for the Management of Key Maize Production Constraints during Kharif Season in East Champaran District – Review

Current Agriculture Research Journal ◽

10.12944/carj.7.2.03 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 158-164

Author(s):

Hillary M. O. Otieno

Keyword(s):

Fall Armyworm ◽

Extension Agents ◽

Rabi Season ◽

Maize Production ◽

Kharif Season ◽

Production Constraints ◽

Maize Cultivars ◽

High Prevalence ◽

Storage Methods ◽

Bihar State

Maize production is affected by numerous biotic and abiotic related challenges in East Champaran District, Bihar State, India. The damages caused by these challenges are influenced by the season; high prevalence during Kharif season compared to Rabi season. The solution to these constraints calls for enhanced research-extension-farmer linkages to ensure better development and dissemination of technologies for adoption. Among these constraints, research should target developing varieties that are tolerant to water-stress, fall armyworm, stalk borer and aflatoxin attacks; and better site-specific soil infertility management. Besides, solutions to technical challenges like inappropriate maize spacing, poor and untimely weed control, use of local maize cultivars, poor storage methods, are already available and could effectively be managed through the use of extension agents to train and diffuse them among farmers.

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