Effect of belt expert (Flubendiamide + Thiacloprid), Imidacloprid, Thiamethoxam seed treatment and economic impact on fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) infestation on Maize in Nigeria

Figures & data

Table 1. Larval infestation, yield and economic analysis of maize treated with insecticides in Nigeria

			Grain Yield t/ha
Treatment	Mean live larval count/20 plants	Damage severity	2018	2019	Mean	% Yield increase over untreated	Total cost (US$/ha)	Net benefit (US$/ha)	Benefit-cost ration
Belt Expert*	1.3b	1.7b	3.7a	3.0a	3.4a	19.3	668.2	2,113.6	3.2
Ematex	1.8b	1.6b	3.4a	3.1a	3.2a	17.8	664.1	1,954.1	2.9
Ampligo	0.9b	2.0b	3.5a	3.1a	3.3a	18.6	711.4	1,988.6	2.8
Untreated	6.5a	4.5a	2.3b	2.2b	2.3b	-	629.6	1,252.2	1.9
SE± P-value	0.6 0.01	0.4 0.01	0.9 0.01	0.2 0.01	0.6 0.01	-

*New insecticide; with only two applications for each insecticide, starting from when a 20% FWA infestation was observed; a combined data for three locations.

Table 2. Effect of seed treatment and time of foliar insecticide application on maize grain yield and economic return

Seed treatment	Period of foliar application with Ampligo	Mean live larval count/20 plants	Grain yield (t/ha)	% yield increase over untreated	Total Cost (US$/ha)	Net benefit (US$/ha)	Benefit-cost ration
Thiamethoxam	2WAP	8.2b	3.1b	42.0	729.6	2,115.9	3.0
Imidacloprid	2WAP	6.5b	3.1b	40.0	722.5	1977.5	2.7
Apron star	2WAP	6.8b	2.9b	31.6	727.9	1,644.8	2.3
Thiamethoxam	4WAP	6.4bc	4.1a	49.8	729.6	2,461.3	3.4
Imidacloprid	4WAP	4.1c	3.9a	48.0	722.5	2,386.6	3.3
Apron star	4WAP	6.7b	2.9b	35.7	727.9	1,644.8	2.3
Thiamethoxam	6WAP	7.2b	3.2b	41.4	729.6	2,052.2	2.8
Imidacloprid	6WAP	6.5b	3.0b	31.2	722.5	1,732.0	2.4
Apron star	6WAP	8.9 ba	3.0b	33.9	727.9	1,726.6	2.4
Thiamethoxam	8WAP	8.2 ba	2.9bc	29.6	729.6	1,643.1	2.3
Imidacloprid	8WAP	9.1 ba	2.9bc	30.5	722.5	1,650.2	2.3
Apron star	8WAP	7.3b	2.5c	17.3	727.9	1,317.6	1.8
Untreated Control	-	11.0a	2.1c	-	639.9	1,078.3	1.7
SE± P-value		1.20 0.001	0.181 0.001	-

WAP: week after planting. Each treatment was sprayed twice, with subsequent spray done 10 days after each first spray.