Evaluation of Eco-Friendly Integrated Pest Management Modules against Major Insect Pests of Sorghum (Sorghum Bicolor L.)

DOI: 10.22161/ijeab.114.3

Abstract:
A field experiment was conducted during the kharif seasons of 2024 and 2025 at the Instructional Dairy Farm, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, to evaluate the efficacy of eco-friendly integrated pest management (IPM) modules against the major insect pests of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.), namely shoot fly (Atherigona soccata Rondani), stem borer (Chilo partellus Swinhoe), and fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda J.E. Smith). The study aimed to identify sustainable and environmentally safe alternatives to conventional chemical pesticides for effective pest management and enhanced fodder productivity. Thirteen treatments comprising botanical formulations (neem oil, Neemastra, Agniastra, Brahmastra, Dashparni Ark, Panchgavya), biological control agents (Trichogramma chilonis, Metarhizium anisopliae, Bacillus thuringiensis), cultural practices, and a chemical check were evaluated in a randomized block design with three replications. The observations on shoot fly eggs and deadhearts, stem borer damage, and fall armyworm whorl damage were recorded at different crop growth stages. The results showed that 3% neem oil was the most effective treatment during both the years, recording the minimum deadhearts (10.00%) by shootfly, minimum deadhearts by stem borer (10.00 and 16.67%) and least fall armyworm damage (13.33 and 16.67%). The yield data revealed significantly more fodder yield from neem oil-based treatment (544.79 and 557.71 q/ha) as compared to control during both the years respectively. The findings demonstrate the potential of neem-based botanical formulations as a key component of sustainable IPM strategies, offering effective pest suppression, enhanced fodder yield, and reduced reliance on synthetic insecticides for residue-free sorghum production.

Keywords:
Agniastra, fall armyworm, neem oil, Pantnagar, sorghum.

Article Info:
Received: 30 May 2026; Received in revised form: 25 Jun 2026; Accepted: 01 Jul 2026; Available online: 08 Jul 2026

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