Location and Planting Date Influenced Fall Armyworm Infestation and Maize Yield in the Guinea and Sudan Savanna Zones of Ghana

Maize production in Ghana faces significant yield losses due to fall armyworm (FAW) infestations. This study evaluated the impact of planting dates and location on FAW infestation and maize yields in the Guinea and Sudan savanna zones of Ghana. Using a split-plot design, the effects of location and Planting date were evaluated across three locations, namely Damongo, Nyankpala, and Manga, under both early and late planting dates during the 2023 season. There were significant differences observed due to the interaction between location and Planting date on Larvae count, Leaf damage, plant and ear height, and grain yield. The interaction effect of location and Planting date revealed that early planting recorded the highest FAW infestation and damage in Nyankpala and the lowest in Damango. The low pest pressure in Damongo supported vigorous plant growth and the highest yields (4,252 kg/ha), while heavy FAW infestation and damage in Nyankpala resulted in stunted growth and poor yields (2,235 kg/ha) in the early planting date. During the late planting date, observations indicated that pest infestation and damage were reduced in Damongo and Manga, but infestation persisted in Nyankpala. Despite this, Nyankpala achieved the highest late-planting yield (3,372 kg/ha), while Damongo saw reduced yields (1,304 kg/ha). The superior yield performance in Nyankpala can be attributed to an interaction between the crop’s growth stage at the time of the pest attack, its inherent physiological resilience, and the favorable environmental conditions that supported recovery and grain filling. The significant difference in FAW infestation and grain yield observed across planting dates and locations demonstrates that agroecological conditions and seasonal stress factors strongly influenced yield. These results emphasize the need for location-specific planting schedules to mitigate fall armyworm damage and improve maize yields.

Fall Armyworm, Location, Planting

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