Pesticide treated sawdust and early planting salvage maize yield through reduction of termite infestation and damage

Abstract

Termites (Isoptera: Termitidae) infestation is a key constraint to maize production in Uganda. This study was conducted to determine the effect of integrating planting time and imidacloprid-treated wood sawdust in the control of termites. Three experiments were established at Ikulwe Satellite Station in Mayuge in 2017B, 2018A, and 2018B in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Planting time was at the onset of rains and 2 weeks later. The treatment regime comprised (i) sawdust treated with imidacloprid (IM + SD), (ii) sawdust only (SD), (iii) imidacloprid only (IM), and (iv) the control (no treatment). Data were collected on the number of lodged plants, termite numbers, and grain yield, among other parameters and subsequently analyzed. The results revealed that the use of imidacloprid-treated wood sawdust and early planting significantly reduces termite infestation. This was justified by the significantly lower (p < 0.05) average population of termites (442 termites ha−1), the negligible number of lodged plants (293 plants ha−1), and just a handful of damaged cobs (167 cobs ha−1) compared to 3455 termites ha−1, 760 lodged plants ha−1, and 782 damaged cobs ha−1, respectively, in the untreated sawdust control. Grain yield of 5.0 t ha−1 was realized under imidacloprid-treated sawdust in early planting, compared to only 3.5 t ha−1 under imidacloprid treated sawdust but in late planting. Therefore, the use of imidacloprid-treated sawdust as a bait to control termites damage and early planting of maize proved effective in reducing termite prevalence, infestation, and consequently optimized maize yield.