AbstractMaize is one of the most important cereal crops, but its productivity is increasingly threatened by the invasive pest fall armyworm, which causes severe damage at both vegetative and reproductive stages. The erratic nature of its population buildup and limited location-specific information on its seasonal incidence in relation to prevailing weather parameters often hinder timely and effective pest management. In this context, the present study was conducted at the Experimental Farm of the Plant Protection, Department of Agricultural Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, to investigate the population dynamics of Spodoptera frugiperda on maize during Kharif 2022 and 2023 from SMW 21-32. In 2022, larval population ranged from 0.2 to 2.8 larvae/plant, causing 40.2% plant damage and 13.4% cob damage, with a peak in SMW 28. In 2023, larval abundance varied between 0.3 and 3.0 larvae/plant, resulting in 42.8% plant damage and 14.2% cob damage, with an earlier peak in SMW 27. Relative humidity showed the strongest positive correlation with larval population (2022: r = 0.987; 2023: r = 0.913), while rainfall also contributed significantly, particularly in 2022. Maximum temperature exhibited a negative influence in both years. Regression models explained 98.9% variability in 2022 and 93.1% in 2023, confirming that FAW population dynamics were primarily moisture-driven across both seasons. The findings provide a scientific basis for weather-based forecasting and timely management of fall armyworm in maize under similar agro-climatic conditions.
Sumera et al. (Wed,) studied this question.