Efficacy of some new chemistry insecticides against fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda and estimation of maize crop water productivity under different irrigation regimes

Maize is an important cereal crop worldwide. Maize crop production is hampered by various factors including the insect pest infestation. The current research was executed to probe out the toxic effect of Flubendiamide, Spinetoram, Chlorantraniliprole, Tetraniliprole and Chlorfenpyr against fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda . Results revealed that larvae count per plant were found reduced with increase in post-treatment period and comparatively lower larvae count (1.10 mean larvae plant ^− 1 ) was recorded in case of Spinetoram after 7 days of first spray which further reduced to minimum count i.e. 0.12 larvae plant ^− 1 with application of second spray of the insecticide. Flubendamide was the next effective one (0.37 larvae plant ^− 1 ) while chlorfenpyr was found comparatively less effective (0.92 larvae plant ^− 1 ) after exposure period of 7 days but was superior over control plot (4.23 mean larvae plant ^− 1 . Results of infested plants per plot showed that maximum infestation (5.89 mean infested plants plot ^− 1 ) were recorded in case of control plot while the minimum (1.96 mean infested plant per plot ^− 1 ) were enumerated in case of Spinetoram treated plot. Outcomes of crop water productivity showed that maximum crop water productivity (2.78 kgm ^− 3 ) was recorded in case of Spinetoram treated plot followed by flubendiamide plot (2.65 kgm ^− 3 ), chlorantraniliprole (2.27 kgm ^− 3 ) under drip irrigation while the lowest value i.e. 1.35 kgm ^− 3 was calculated in control plot under flood irrigation. Hence, use of new chemistry insecticide along with high efficiency irrigation system can be effective for the control of fall armyworm leading to maximization of crop yield and productivity.