TITLE:
Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates and Pesticides Interaction Effect on Maize and Fall Armyworm Performance in Northern Ghana
AUTHORS:
Peter Quandahor, George Y. Mahama, Iddrisu Yahaya, Francis Kusi, Julius Yirzagla, Issah Sugri, Abdul Karim Alhassan, Mohammed Mujitaba Dawuda, Abdul-Salam Azizi, Theophilus Kwabla Tengey, Asieku Yahaya, Mary Aku Ogum, Rofela Combey, Vincent Kunlen, Anslem B. Nyuor, Emmanuel Asibi Aziiba, Ibrahim Hashim, Rahinatu Yakubu, Alhassan Nuhu Jinbaani
KEYWORDS:
Fall Armyworm, Nitrogen Fertilizer, Fertilizer Rate, Egg Mass, Leaf Injury, Pestisticides
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.10 No.9,
September
22,
2023
ABSTRACT: Maize is in high demand due to its significant contribution to food security and income generation. However, in Ghana, its production is adversely affected by low soil fertility and fall armyworm (FAW) infestation. The application of fertilizers and sound FAW control could contribute to increased maize yield in the country. This study was conducted to determine the effect of nitrogen fertilizer rates and FAW pesticide application on growth and yield of maize. The experiment involved four levels of fertilizer rates (No N-fertilizer, N-fertilizer at 40 kg·ha-1, N-fertilizer at 60 kg·ha-1, N-fertilizer at 80 kg·ha-1,N-fertilizer at 100 kg·ha-1), and two levels of pesticides application (Emastar 125 EC, Pesticide-free plot) in split-plots design with four replications. The results show that generally, fall armyworm number of egg mass, larvae, and leaf injury severity were significantly (p