Influence of intercrops and border crops on the incidence of fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) on rabi sorghum

Abstract

<: Effects of intercrops and border crops on the incidence of fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda J E Smith, on sorghum was evaluated during rabi 2023-24 at All India Coordinated Sorghum Improvement Project, Main Agricultural Research Station, UAS, Dharwad. Among the different treatments consisting of various intercrops and border crops, sorghum intercropped with french bean and napier grass as border crop found effective against fall armyworm with lower larval population (0.61 larvae/plant) and leaf damage(1.42), followed by the treatment sorghum intercropped with coriander and napier grass as border crop with (0.75 larvae/plant and leaf damage of 1.51). Sole crop of sorghum with napier grass as border crop was the next best treatment with 0.93 and 1.63 larval population and leaf damage respectively. Thus, the results clearly indicate the superiority of sorghum intercropped with either french bean or coriander as inter crop along with napier grass as border crop in reducing fall armyworm infestation when compared to other treatments.