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Journal of Integrative Agriculture  2026, Vol. 25 Issue (10): 3951-3958    DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2026.05.049
Special Focus: Advancing China–Africa Agricultural Science and Technology Cooperation: Innovation and Pathways Advanced Online Publication | Current Issue | Archive | Adv Search |
On-farm evaluation of integrated management strategies for fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) in maize across Kenya and Ghana

Tiantao Zhang1#, George Ongamo3, Baogen Gu2, Maged Elkahky2, Qingpo Yang2, Jean Claude Rwaburindi2, Iddrisu Mumuni4, Arnold Sylvester Amppiah4, Daibin Yang1#

1 State Key Laboratory for the Biology of the Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China

2 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome 00153, Italy

3 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Nairobi 00100, Kenya

4 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Accra GA184, Ghana

 Highlights 

● Emamectin benzoate and chlorantraniliprole performed best against Spodoptera frugiperda in Kenya and Ghana, whereas lambda-cyhalothrin was ineffective.

● Sand-mediated whorl application is a low-cost, practical delivery method for smallholder maize farmers.

● Resistant local maize varieties offer a valuable component for sustainable integrated management of fall armyworm.

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摘要  

草地贪夜蛾(Spodoptera frugiperda,FAW)是全球玉米生产中危害最严重的害虫之一。该虫于2016年入侵非洲,2019年传入中国,造成农作物大幅减产,在撒哈拉以南非洲地区危害尤为严重。为筛选适宜小农户应用的实用害虫防控技术,联合国粮食及农业组织(FAO)依托南南合作草地贪夜蛾项目,在肯尼亚(Bungoma、Embu)和加纳(Kpong、Pampaso)开展田间小区试验。基线调查结果显示,玉米田草地贪夜蛾侵染率达73.3%~93.7%,百株幼虫虫口密度为95~532头。试验设置6种处理并以空白不防治为对照,供试防控药剂包括印楝油、苏云金杆菌(Bt)制剂、甲维盐和氯虫苯甲酰胺,加纳用高效氯氟氰菊酯替换氯虫苯甲酰胺;化学农药分别采用背负式喷雾、拌沙撒入心叶两种施用方式,植物源农药和Bt制剂采用拌沙撒入心叶方式。每周调查记录玉米叶片受害级别及单株存活幼虫数量。

    经过一个生长季试验结果表明:在加纳Kpong和Pampaso试验点,无论喷雾还是心叶撒施甲维盐,玉米叶片受害级别均表现最低,为1.06±0.02 ~ 1.35±0.07,防控效果显著优于空白对照(3.21±0.16 ~ 4.60±0.16);在肯尼亚Bungoma和Embu试验点,甲维盐处理叶片受害级别为1.21±0.03 ~ 3.17±0.09,同样远低于空白对照(4.48±0.05 ~ 6.30±0.18)。Bt制剂在加纳防效优异,叶片受害级别仅1.20±0.04 ~ 1.29±0.07,但在肯尼亚防控效果较差,叶片受害级别达3.98±0.08 ~ 6.97±0.16。印楝油对草地贪夜蛾仅具中等抑制效果,在加纳试验点叶片受害级别1.31±0.06 ~ 2.04±0.12,肯尼亚试验点为3.13±0.08 ~ 3.58±0.16;而高效氯氟氰菊酯基本无防控效果。

    同时,本研究对5个加纳本地玉米品种和11个肯尼亚本地玉米品种开展自然抗虫性鉴定:加纳Omankwa品种叶片受害级别为1.91±0.12 ~ 2.73±0.21,显著低于Lake杂交种(2.78±0.31 ~ 3.93±0.17);肯尼亚Pioneer、SC 73 Tumbo、WH508品种叶片受害级别分别为2.52±0.12、2.58±0.14、2.44±0.11,显著低于DK777、W301、Tembo(Seedco)、Sungura(Seedco)等品种(受害级别依次为5.44±0.08、5.47±0.07、5.71±0.07、3.76±0.07)。本研究田间试验结果可为小农户制定经济高效、适配当地生产条件的草地贪夜蛾防控策略提供直观的对比依据与数据支撑。



Abstract  

Fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, is one of the most destructive pests of maize worldwide. Since invading Africa in 2016 and China in 2019, it has caused substantial crop losses, especially across Sub-Saharan Africa. To identify practical, smallholder-friendly pest management tactics, the FAO-China South-South Cooperation FAW Project conducted on-farm trials at two sites in Kenya (Bungoma and Embu) and two in Ghana (Kpong and Pampaso). Baseline surveys revealed infestation rates of 73.3–93.7%, with larval densities of 95–532 larvae per 100 plants. Six treatments were compared against an untreated control: neem oil, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), emamectin benzoate and chlorantraniliprole (Kenya) or lambda-cyhalothrin (Ghana), each applied either as a knapsack-spray or as sand granules dropped into the maize whorl. Leaf damage levels (LDL) and number of living larvae (NLL) per plant were recorded weekly. After one season, emamectin benzoate both sprayed and sand-applied consistently provided the lowest leaf damage level ((1.06±0.02)–(1.35±0.07)) compared with the control ((3.21±0.16)–(4.60±0.16)) in Kpone and Pampaso of Ghana. In Kenya, emamectin benzoate also resulted in lower leaf damage levels ((1.21±0.03)–(3.17±0.09)) compared with the control ((4.48±0.05)–(6.30±0.18)) at Embu and Bungoma. Bt sand granules were highly effective in Ghana ((1.20±0.04)–(1.29±0.07)) but performed less well in Kenya ((3.98±0.08)–(6.97±0.16)). Neem oil provided moderate suppression with leaf damage levels ((1.31±0.06)–(2.04±0.12)) in Ghana and ((3.13±0.08)–(3.58±0.16)) in Kenya, whereas lambda-cyhalothrin failed completely. In parallel, we screened five Ghanaian and eleven Kenyan local maize varieties for natural resistance; The Omankwa variety showed significantly lower leaf damage level ((1.91±0.12)–(2.73±0.21)) than the Lake (hybrid) variety ((2.78±0.31)–(3.93±0.17)) in Ghana; In Kenya, Pioneer (2.52±0.12), SC 73 Tumbo (2.58±0.14) and WH508 (2.44±0.11) showed significantly lower leaf damage levels compared with DK777 (5.44±0.08), W301 (5.47±0.07), Tembo (Seedco) (5.71±0.07), and Sungura (Seedco) (3.76±0.07). These trials offer smallholder farmers direct, comparative evidence to support cost-effective and locally adapted FAW management decisions.

Keywords:  Spodoptera frugiperda        integrated pest management       smallholder farming system        maize varietal resistance        biological and chemical control  
Received: 03 March 2026   Accepted: 27 April 2026 Online: 30 May 2026  
Fund: 

The authors acknowledge the scientists and technical staff of the Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Directorate and the University of Ghana Soil and Irrigation Research Centre (SIREC), as well as KALRO–Embu, KALRO–Kitale, and Mabanga ATC in Kenya, and the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, for their support during field trials. The facilitative role of the FAO country offices in Ghana and Kenya is also gratefully acknowledged. This work was supported by the FAO-China South-South Cooperation Project (GCP/GLO/479/CPR).

About author:  #Correspondence Tiantao Zhang, Tel: +86-10-62815614, E-mail: zhangtiantao@caas.cn; Daibin Yang, Tel: +86-10-62815641, E-mail: yangdaibin@caas.cn

Cite this article: 

Tiantao Zhang, George Ongamo, Baogen Gu, Maged Elkahky, Qingpo Yang, Jean Claude Rwaburindi, Iddrisu Mumuni, Arnold Sylvester Amppiah, Daibin Yang. 2026. On-farm evaluation of integrated management strategies for fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) in maize across Kenya and Ghana. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 25(10): 3951-3958.

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