Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera Frugiperda) Management and Baby Corn Yield Under Organic, Conventional, and Integrated Farming Systems in Sub-humid Tropics

Publication Type

Journal Article

Journal Name

Journal of Crop Health

Publication Date

6-1-2026

Abstract

Fall armyworm (FAW) remains a significant threat to corn production, particularly among smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). To manage the pest, most farmers rely on synthetic insecticides, whose indiscriminate use poses risks to the environment and human health. This calls for safer approaches, such as the use of homemade botanicals, to reduce reliance on synthetic insecticides. However, the efficacy of these botanicals as components of farming systems on FAW remains unexplored. Our study evaluated the efficacy of these botanicals in an organic farming system (Org), a conventional farming system with synthetic insecticides (Conv), and an integrated farming system (Int) combining both strategies. These systems were tested against control (Ctr), without FAW management and soil fertilization, during the long and short rainy seasons of 2021. FAW larval incidences were significantly lower in the Int compared to other systems, while the Conv system led to the highest (p < 0.05) FAW larval mortality. The natural enemy (Cotesia spp.) population was highest in the Ctr, followed by the Org system. Babycorn yields were highest in the Integrated farming system (p < 0.05), and least in the unfertilized treatment (Ctr). Our study showed that whilst synthetic insecticides effectively led to mortality of FAW, their use was harmful to biodiversity and thus not a sustainable pest management practice. A combination of botanicals and synthetic insecticides managed FAW, attracted more natural enemies, and enhanced yield compared to the sole use of synthetic insecticides.

Keywords

Crop yield, Food safety, Pest management, Plant extracts, Sustainability

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