Eco-friendly approaches for the management of corn borer

Issue Date

10-2013

Abstract

In the Philippines, research in rainfed areas has been very limited and there is an urgent need to increase farm profitability for poverty alleviation without jeopardizing the environment. To address the present dilemma, a field experiment was conducted to enhance further the existing pest management practices in corn production by way of introducing the use of Trichogramma, earwigs or the combination of the two latter, applied at the right growth stage of corn plants. An alternative mechanical control (light trapping) was also established, to identify other associated corn pests infesting corn plants during vegetative stage. Within the duration of the study, five treatments were used namely: the study treatment 1-no pest management done, Treatment 2-Trichogramma, Treatment 3-earwigs, Treatment 4-light trapping and Treatment 5-Trichogramma and earwigs, replicated three times. Specifically, the study aimed to evaluate the economics and effectiveness of Trichogramma and earwigs in the suppression of corn borer infestation to sustain the production of IES-8906 OPV glutinous corn. Results revealed that releases of Trichogramma alone or in combination with earwigs resulted in the highest number of parasitized egg mass of corn borers at 35 and 45 days after planting. In terms of yield per sampling area, there were highly significant diffrerences among treatments. Moreover, the results showed that the most effective pest management practice without jeopardizing the ecosystem is the combination of Trichogramma and earwigs as indicated by the lowest number of unparasitized egg masses of corn borer. Highest return of investment was attained in the combination of Trichogramma and earwigs with a monetary amount of Php 1.78 per peso invested. Remarkably, the use of Trichogramma alone or in combination with erawigs, is an effective as use of insecticides in controlling corn borer and has greater economic benefit to farmers. Considering that the typical Filipino farmers are resource-poor the technology on the use of Trichogramma and earwigs is recommended. It could help the farmers to produce safer food at a lesser cost of production and even enhance good condition of the environment.

Source or Periodical Title

The Philippine Entomologist

ISSN

0048-3753

Volume

27

Issue

2

Page

202

Document Type

Article

Frequency

semi-annually

Language

English

En – AGROVOC descriptors

DERMAPTERA; INSECTA; TRICHOGRAMMA; PESTS OF PLANTS; PEST MANAGEMENT; INFESTATION; PEST CONTROL

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