Cereal stem borer management practices in subsistence farms of eastern Ethiopia

In eastern Ethiopia, empirical information regarding farmers’ perceptions and implementation of research results about stem borer management is either scarce or unavailable. A survey of 120 farmers from four maize- and sorghum-growing districts of eastern Ethiopia was carried out in 2014 to study common management practices of cereal stem borers. Drought, pests, and land shortage were reported as the main constraints to maize and sorghum production in the area. Stem borers were perceived as the most important pests in these crops. The estimated yield losses from stem borers ranged from 10% to 50%. The majority of the farmers reported not using chemical insecticides to control these pests due to lack of capital, unavailability, and lack of knowledge. Moreover, most farmers were not using improved maize varieties. Cultural practices were found to be the most promising control method of cereal stem borers. Despite differences among districts, farmers practiced crop rotation, intercropping, manipulation of planting dates, crop residue disposal, and post-harvest tillage as common control strategies, even though a considerable proportion of the farmers was not implementing these practices sufficiently. The design of appropriate strategies for stem borer management based on farmers’ needs and priorities should be promoted.     

Fall armyworm [Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith)] damage in maize: management options for flood-recession cropping smallholder farmers

Abstract

We determined fall armyworm abundance, infestation and damage on maize in smallholder farmers’ fields in the Zambezi Valley in northern Zimbabwe. Data were collected through field measurements at four sites and interviews with 101 farmers. Fall armyworm abundance ranged from 13.7 to 33.3 larvae per 30 plants, with infestation exceeding 94% and leaf, silk and tassel damage levels ranging between 25 and 50%. Most larvae on maize plants (P?<?0.05) were at instar stages 2 to 3. Estimated grain yield decrease was 58%. Echinochloa colona and Amaranthus spp. were also damaged by fall armyworm. Farmers experimented with 28 combinations of pesticides, ash, and washing powders. Sixty five percent of the farmers used restricted to highly restricted pesticides. High fall armyworm abundance, infestation and maize damage levels suggest that the Zambezi Valley could become a fall armyworm hotspot. Sequential damage of plant parts signified the persistence of this pest in the study area. We recommend large-scale interventions that include chemical and biological control methods as well as destroying ratoon hosts, publishing information about locally available pesticides for the control of fall armyworm, and farmer training on fall armyworm biology and correct use of pesticides.     

草地贪夜蛾对云南德宏玉米经济损失评估及防治措施调查

草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda自2019年1月入侵我国云南以来,快速蔓延为害,严重威胁我国的玉米生产和粮食安全。本研究基于云南省德宏州351份玉米农户调查数据,利用以直接经济损失和防治费用为基础的经济损失评估模型,估算了2019年草地贪夜蛾对德宏州玉米生产造成的经济损失,并分析了农户实际采用的防治措施。结果表明,2019年草地贪夜蛾对德宏州玉米生产造成的经济损失约为1 399.29万元,其中,玉米产量变化造成的直接经济损失约为366.51万元,农户防治投入增加和政府宣传、培训和防治等费用支出约为1 032.78万元。本研究不但为了解草地贪夜蛾对我国不同地区作物生产造成的经济损失提供例证,也为因地制宜地制定草地贪夜蛾防治策略提供科学依据。     

国外草地贪夜蛾化学防治技术的研究与应用

草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda(J. E. Smith)是一种适应性和迁徙能力很强的农业害虫,并具有暴发为害的特点。几十年来,化学防治一直是防治草地贪夜蛾的重要技术措施。20世纪80年代以前,美洲国家防治草地贪夜蛾以有机磷类和氨基甲酸酯类杀虫剂为主;随后拟除虫菊酯类杀虫剂得到了广泛使用;20世纪90年代中后期,美洲特别是美国推广种植转基因Bt玉米后,防治草地贪夜蛾杀虫剂的用量显著减少;近年来,甲氨基阿维菌素苯甲酸盐、乙基多杀菌素、除虫脲、虱螨脲、茚虫威、氯虫苯甲酰胺、氟苯虫酰胺、溴氰虫酰胺等一系列新型杀虫剂品种在防治草地贪夜蛾中发挥了突出的作用。伴随着不同种类杀虫剂的使用,草地贪夜蛾对杀虫剂抗性也相应地呈现出明显的变化,20世纪80年代后,美洲的草地贪夜蛾先后对有机磷类和氨基甲酸酯类杀虫剂产生了抗药性,截至2017年,美洲地区的草地贪夜蛾至少对包括氨基甲酸酯类、有机磷类、拟除虫菊酯类及Bt杀虫蛋白等不同类型共29种杀虫剂产生了抗药性;2016年,采自北美洲波多黎各的草地贪夜蛾田间种群对双酰胺类杀虫剂氟苯虫酰胺和氯虫苯甲酰胺抗性倍数最高分别达500倍和160倍。草地贪夜蛾的抗药性机制主要是解毒代谢增强和靶标基因突变。种子处理可以预防作物苗期草地贪夜蛾的为害,并且有利于天敌保护。雾滴粒径不仅影响杀虫剂对草地贪夜蛾的防治效果,还影响草地贪夜蛾对杀虫剂抗药性的发展,因此,防治田间草地贪夜蛾适宜采用细雾喷雾方式。使用得当,化学杀虫剂可以与天敌和生物杀虫剂协同增效防治草地贪夜蛾。航空施药要和地面施药联合使用才能对玉米田严重发生的草地贪夜蛾达到好的防治效果。     

Tackling fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) outbreak in Africa: an analysis of farmers’ control actions

Abstract

Since its emergence in Africa in 2016, fall armyworm (FAW) has spread rapidly and poses a severe threat to the food security and livelihood of millions of smallholder farmers in the continent. Using survey data from Ghana and Zambia, we examined FAW prevention and control methods implemented by farm households and their impacts on maize output and household consumption of self-produced maize. The main control methods used included pesticide application and handpicking of larvae, while access to information on FAW was a key driver behind the implementation of the control methods. Results from an endogenous switching regression showed that the implementation of a FAW management strategy significantly enhanced maize yield and households’ own maize consumption. When disentangling the impacts of the main control methods, we found that the combination of pesticide application and handpicking of larvae produced the highest yield gain of 125%. We concluded that the current interventions put in place by farmers to tackle FAW infestations are providing positive outcomes, but successful management of the pest will require more actions, including raising awareness to enhance the adoption of control interventions and exploring other control options.     

麦田草地贪夜蛾农药防治技术研究

草地贪夜蛾可为害苗期至灌浆期的小麦, 但国内目前尚未进行麦田农药防治的研究工作。我们利用农业农村部推荐的草地贪夜蛾防控药剂在云南完成了对拔节期麦田草地贪夜蛾的防治试验, 结果表明, 不同类型农药7 d后的防治效果有显著差别。25%乙基多杀菌素WG、200 g/L氯虫苯甲酰胺SC、5%多杀霉素SC、5%甲维盐ME、10%虫螨腈SC、50 g/L虱螨脲EC、150 g/L茚虫威及10%高效氯氟氰菊酯EC防效为70.4%~97.2%, 拟除虫菊酯类杀虫剂10%高效氯氰菊酯EC和有机磷杀虫剂40%氧乐果EC的防效分别为49.8%和46.8%。生物农药32 000 IU/mg苏云金杆菌WP防效为65.1%, 100亿孢子/mL短稳杆菌SC、300亿孢子/g球孢白僵菌WP和10亿PIB/L斜纹夜蛾核型多角体病毒SC的防效为35.3%~41.9%。因此, 麦田草地贪夜蛾种群高密度下建议使用乙基多杀菌素、氯虫苯甲酰胺等化学农药防治, 低密度下可选择苏云金杆菌、短稳杆菌等生物农药, 研究结果为麦类作物草地贪夜蛾的应急防控提供了依据。     

草地贪夜蛾对杀虫剂的抗性研究进展

草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) 是一种杂食性害虫，原产于美洲热带和亚热带地区，于2019年1月在中国云南省首次被发现后，已迅速向广西、贵州、广东及湖南等地蔓延。草地贪夜蛾寄主广泛，常用化学防治药剂为有机磷类、氨基甲酸酯类和拟除虫菊酯类，田间抗性监测数据显示，其对上述 3 类常用药剂已达中至高等抗性水平。此外，已有研究证明氯菊酯抗性草地贪夜蛾对二嗪类杀虫剂茚虫威无交互抗性；同时已有关于草地贪夜蛾对氟苯虫酰胺和氯虫苯甲酰胺田间和室内抗性的报道，表明其对上述 2 种药剂存在极高的交互抗性风险。草地贪夜蛾的抗药性机理主要涉及表皮穿透性降低、解毒作用增强和靶标敏感性下降等几方面，其中代谢解毒作用增强和靶标敏感性下降是导致草地贪夜蛾对杀虫剂产生抗性的主要机制。文章综述了草地贪夜蛾对传统杀虫剂和新型作用机制杀虫剂的抗性现状及抗性机理等方面的研究进展，以期对当前中国的草地贪夜蛾田间防治及抗性研究和防控提供参考。     

Farmers' knowledge,attitudes and practices of rice crop and pest management at Ifugao Rice Terraces,Philippines

A survey of 150 rice farmers in three municipalities of the Ifugao Rice Terraces, Philippines, carried out in June 1998, aimed to assess the farmers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices of rice crop and pest management. The survey revealed that: 54% of the farmers fall within a narrow age range (31-50 years), the majority having 11-30 years of rice farming experience; they are of average literacy; and they have large households. Non-farm activity such as woodcarving was the most common source of additional income. The majority of farmers planted a single crop of rice per year and followed traditional cultivation practices. Major rice crop production constraints were drought due to the El Nino phenomenon and insufficient irrigation infrastructure. Zinc deficiency was widespread. Major, non-insect pests known to farmers were earthworms, rats, golden apple snails, and house sparrows. These pests damage either the rice plant or the terrace wall. Earthworm damage to the terrace wall is most obvious. Farmers had very little exposure to integrated pest management and new rice technologies.     

Impact of push–pull cropping system on pest management and occurrence of ear rots and mycotoxin contamination of maize in western Kenya

Push–pull involves intercropping of cereals with Desmodium as a “push” crop and planting Napier grass/Brachiaria as the “pull” crop at the border. The technology has been reported to effectively control stemborers, striga weed, and fall armyworm (FAW), and to improve soil nutrition, resulting in increased grain yield. This study evaluated the impact of stemborer and FAW management using this technology on incidence of maize ear rots and preharvest contamination of grains with aflatoxin and fumonisin in western Kenya. The study was conducted during three cropping seasons on maize grown under the push–pull system and as a monocrop. Incidence of stemborer and FAW damage was determined as percentage of damaged plants, while incidence of ear rots was determined as percentage of ears with symptoms. At harvest, fungi were isolated from kernels and aflatoxin and fumonisin were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Stemborer and FAW damage was significantly (p = .001) reduced by over 50% under the push–pull system. There was also a significant (p < .001) reduction in the incidence of Fusarium verticillioides (60%) and Aspergillus flavus (86%), which was reflected in a reduced incidence of ear rots (50%) with the push–pull system (p = .001). Fumonisin in maize from push-pull farms was significantly (p = .048) reduced (39%) but the technology had no significant (p > .05) effect on aflatoxin. The study showed that push–pull is an effective strategy for managing maize ear rots and fumonisins, and therefore could play a role in improving food safety among smallholder maize farmers in the region.     

草地贪夜蛾抗药性现状及化学防治策略

本文就草地贪夜蛾抗药性研究的历史、现状以及如何进行化学防治进行了比较系统的分析。针对国内外草地贪夜蛾发生的现状,从抗药性程度及交互抗性、种群遗传、抗药性机制以及化学防治的关键技术等方面进行了讨论。提出了化学防治要尽量做到药剂品种、时间和空间的配合;掌握好药剂防治的两个窗口期,一是害虫本身敏感的窗口期即从孵化到3龄初,二是孵化后到钻蛀前;分阶段选择适宜药剂类型用于化学防治。除了考虑杀虫剂作用机制类别外,作用方式也要考虑。卵高峰期施用具有触杀活性的药剂配合具有杀卵活性的药剂添加具有渗透功能的助剂,孵化高峰期施用触杀药剂配合胃毒药剂,后期大龄幼虫可以考虑胃毒药剂为主的化学防治策略。     

Farmers' perceptions of sorghum stem-borer and farm management practices in eastern Ethiopia

A survey of 90 farmers, randomly selected over six sorghum-growing districts in eastern Ethiopia was carried out during July to August, 2001 in the long rainy season. The study investigated farmers' perceptions of the importance of stem-borer and farm practices influencing the pest. Sorghum farming was characterized by smallholdings with an average land size of 4.3 ha, an average family size of 6 and an average yield of 878?kg ha^???1. Farmers cited pests, drought, and shortage of seed, land and labour as the main constraints upon sorghum production. Stem-borers were perceived to be the major pests requiring control. The majority of the farmers never applied chemical insecticides against stem-borers due to lack of capital and unavailability of insecticides. Because of restricted access to improved varieties, farmers largely used local cultivars of sorghum selected for yield potential but with little emphasis on insect resistance. Very few farmers destroyed sorghum residues after harvest. The majority of farmers grew sorghum under intercropping mainly due to the high yield expected. Crop rotation in sorghum fields was not widely practised due to land shortage.     

Efficacy of insecticides against the Rice Stem-borer,Chilo suppressalis (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), and use of sex pheromones to time accurately the yearly application

Larvae of the Rice Stem-borer, Chilo suppressalis (Walker), cause extensive crop losses worldwide. Since pesticide application is the major management tactic in China, judicious timing of a minimal dose of insecticides is important in developing an IPM program for that pest. Pheromone trap captures of male moths were used to time the single insecticide application in two seasons (2010 and 2011). In 2010, six pesticides – deltamethrin, cygon, chlorpyrifos, cartap, fipronil, and esfenvalerate – gave >90% control of stem-borers, and reduced damage to less than 5.0%. In 2011, control exceeding 90% and a damage level of <5.0% and was achieved with 0.35 kg/ha deltamethrin and chlorpyrifos. Cygon, at either 0.30 or 0.35 kg/ha, provided control exceeding 90% and a damage level of <4.0%. With the proviso that the impact of insecticides on biological control agents remains to be investigated, these three insecticides are recommended for use by Chinese rice farmers.     

绿僵菌油悬浮剂与减量化学农药联用对冬玉米草地贪夜蛾的防控效果

杀虫真菌农药安全性高，不易产生抗药性但速效性不足，而化学农药速效性好，大量使用会导致抗性产生。按照化学农药减量原则，采用绿僵菌制剂与噻虫嗪或氯虫苯甲酰胺减量联用方法进行田间防控试验。试验结果显示金龟子绿僵菌对草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda（J.E.Smith）的速效性虽然低于化学药剂组，但持续防控明显优于化学药剂效果。在施用化学农药参考用量的50%时，联用药剂在5、15 d时，草地贪夜蛾幼虫防效得以保持甚至更优。25 d后，防效可分别达到82.60%、77.20%。金龟子绿僵菌与减量化学农药联用，防效优于单独使用金龟子绿僵菌的67.40%。冬玉米茎秆基部喷洒绿僵菌油悬浮剂可以有效感染草地贪夜蛾老熟幼虫/茧蛹，使其带菌入土，助力草地贪夜蛾的绿色防控，降低越冬繁殖地田间虫口基数。     

Farmers' knowledge and perceptions of the stunting disease of Napier grass in Western Kenya

Production of Napier grass, Pennisetum purpureum, the most important livestock fodder in Western Kenya, is severely constrained by Napier stunt (Ns) disease. Understanding farmers' knowledge, perceptions and practices is a prerequisite to establishing an effective disease management approach. Using a random sample of 150 farmers drawn from Bungoma, Busia and Teso districts of Western Kenya, this study sought to: (i) assess farmers' perceptions and knowledge of Ns disease, including its effects on the smallholder dairy industry; (ii) record farmers' current practices in managing Ns disease; and (iii) identify Ns disease management challenges and intervention opportunities in order to develop an efficient integrated disease management approach. The majority (86·7%) of the farmers were aware of Ns disease and observed that it was spreading rapidly in the region, which was perfectly predicted by farmers' access to agricultural information (marginal effect = 0·164), indicating a need for extension platforms for knowledge sharing among the industry stakeholders. The disease had affected Napier grass yields so most farmers could not feed their livestock on the amounts they produced, and they were buying Napier grass. Those who relied on income from selling Napier grass received less due to loss in productivity. Milk production had reduced by over 35%. The cause of the disease was unknown to the farmers, with no effective disease management strategy available to them. An integrated disease management approach needs to be developed to fit within the mixed farming systems, supported by simple decision aids.     

中国应对草地贪夜蛾入侵研究的主要进展

草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda(J. E. Smith)是严重威胁我国粮食生产的重大入侵性害虫。自2019年草地贪夜蛾入侵我国以来,我国植保工作者在其生物学和发生规律、迁飞与种群监测、生态调控和理化诱控、生物防治和化学防控技术等方面取得一系列重要进展：基本明确了草地贪夜蛾在我国的发生规律,建立了以监测预警、生物防治、理化诱控和应急化学防控为一体的草地贪夜蛾综合防控技术体系。本文综述了草地贪夜蛾在我国的总体研究概况及在灾变和治理研究中取得的主要进展,并展望了农民接受、社会认可、生态可持续的草地贪夜蛾安全治理工作,以期为提升我国草地贪夜蛾的安全治理能力提供有力的科技支撑。     

草地贪夜蛾对我国小麦产业造成的潜在经济损失评估

为明确草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda入侵是否会对我国小麦生产造成较大影响,通过从文献及国家统计局、中国粮油信息网收集草地贪夜蛾在我国的为害及防治相关数据与小麦的种植面积、产量及价格等相关数据的基础上,利用随机模型@RISK分别预测其在不防治场景与防治场景下对我国小麦产业造成的潜在经济损失。结果显示,如果在草地贪夜蛾入侵我国后不进行防治场景下,其对小麦生产造成的潜在经济损失总量的90%置信区间为1 023.44亿～5 299.79亿元,此情景下草地贪夜蛾对小麦的为害率是影响我国小麦产业潜在经济损失最大的变量;而在草地贪夜蛾入侵后投入防治场景下,其对小麦生产造成的潜在经济损失总量的90%置信区间为109.24亿～631.66亿元,单位面积防治成本是影响我国小麦产业潜在经济损失的关键输入变量;可挽回的经济损失总量的90%置信区间为779.07亿～4 903.97亿元,对其影响最大的变量是草地贪夜蛾对小麦的为害率。表明在草地贪夜蛾入侵我国的现实条件下,应积极增强对草地贪夜蛾的防控力度,以降低其对我国小麦产业造成的潜在经济损失。     

Farmers’ perceptions of sorghum production constraints and Striga control practices in semi-arid areas of Tanzania

The objectives of this study were to investigate constraints affecting sorghum production and farmers' approaches of Striga management in the semi-arid regions of Tanzania. Focus group discussions based on a semi-structured questionnaire and observations following transect walks were used for data collection. Only 35%, 15%, and 10% of the farmers from Igunga, Kishapu, and Meatu districts, respectively, reported growing newly released varieties. The major constraints affecting sorghum production in the study areas included Striga infestation, drought, storage pests, damage by birds, a lack of access to improved varieties, and a lack of access to production inputs, such as fertilizers, insecticides, fungicides and herbicides. Hand weeding, crop rotation, fallowing, intercropping, and organic manure application were the most common practices of farmers for reducing Striga infestations, but most farmers (79.7%) had little knowledge of the best recommended Striga management practices. About 65% of the farmers did not use fertilizers and herbicides for soil fertility improvement and weed management, respectively, creating favourable conditions for Striga infestation. A systematic breeding programme aiming at improving sorghum varieties for Striga resistance, including farmers' preferred traits, should be designed and implemented to increase the adoption of these new varieties by the farmers.     

Applications of sugar solutions to maize,and the impact of natural enemies on Fall Armyworm

Abstract

Natural enemy abundance and impact on fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), populations were compared in sugar-treated and water-treated maize fields in Honduras. Counts of natural enemy abundance were made immediately after and also 1 week following sugar applications. Higher numbers of natural enemies were found in sugar-treated maize than in maize treated with water alone. The most abundant species were Solenopsis geminata (F.) (Hymenoptera; Formicidae), Lespesia archippivora (Riley) (Diptera; Tachinidae) and Doru taeniatum (Dorhn) (Dermaptera; Forficulidae). Of these species, S. geminata and L. archippivora showed consistently higher numbers in sugar-treated maize than in water-trated maize. Coccinellids were also consistently concentrated in sugar-treated maize, although they were not as abundant as either S. geminata and L. archippivora . In sugartreated maize, average leaf area damaged by fall armyworm was reduced by 35% and average fall armyworm infestation rates were 18% lower. These findings suggest that applications of sugar to maize can concentrate natural enemies and that these natural enemies reduce fall armyworm populations and damage.     

Changing rainfall patterns and farmers’ adaptation through soil water management practices in semi-arid eastern Kenya

There is limited documentation of soil and water management technologies that enhance adaptation to climate change in drylands of Kenya. Rainfall patterns were analyzed in the semi-arid Machakos and Makueni counties of eastern Kenya using historical data. A total of forty-three smallholder farmers implementing soil water management practices were sampled, and an estimate of the seasonal water budget for current crop and livestock production systems computed. Analysis of rainfall amounts and distribution shows increasing variability, with the average annual total amounts decreasing over the past 50 years. Furthermore, the number of rainy days within the March-April-May season that can support crop growth is gradually decreasing. These decreases are however not significant at P < 0.05. There were more seasons with low rainfall amounts compared to those with high rainfall amounts. All these subject the smallholder crop and livestock production system to limited soil moisture. Farmers address the risk by harnessing and utilizing green (rainfall stored in soil) and blue (rainfall collected into storage tanks) water technologies. The study found that farmers in these semi-arid counties practice fifteen diverse soil and water management interventions on their farms. The most popular practices are cut-off drains, retention ditches, terracing, run-off harvesting, and agroforestry. The estimated seasonal water budget indicates the need for integrated soil and water management interventions to address the crop and livestock production constraints.     

2019年性诱监测草地贪夜蛾在山东省的分布与发生动态

2018年底草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda入侵我国,2019年在我国大规模迁飞扩散。山东省地处草地贪夜蛾的重点防范区,我们在山东省的30个监测点利用性诱方法监测了草地贪夜蛾在山东省的迁飞路径、分布和发生动态。结果显示:总共诱捕到428头草地贪夜蛾,其中97%以上个体分布在胶东地区,推测东部沿海是其在山东省南北迁飞的主要路径;6月20日在郯城监测点首次监测到1头草地贪夜蛾成虫,9月中旬至10月中旬监测到其余的427头,在此阶段草地贪夜蛾可能有4次从南向北的迁飞。随着草地贪夜蛾在我国定殖和种群扩张,亟需探索高效的草地贪夜蛾早期监测技术,建立网络化监测预警体系和区域性防控体系。