EFFECT OF DIFFERENT PLANTING DATES OF MAIZE ON INFESTATION OF MAIZE STEM BORER CHILO PARTELLUS (SWINHOE) PYRALIDAE: LEPIDOPTERA

Studies on the effect of different planting dates of maize against the infestation of maize stem borer (Chilo partellus) were carried out at Agricultural Research Institute (ARI) Tarnab, Peshawar in June 2003. The results revealed that minimum percent infestation (1.39) was recorded in plots sown in the 3rd week of July while the highest (4.82) was recorded in the plots sown in 2nd week of July. The moderate infestation was recorded in the plots of 3rd and last weeks of June. Cobs weight data (per m²) showed that maximum yield was recorded in plots sown on 20th June and 8th July with cobs weight of 0.297 and 0.259 Kg respectively, while the minimum yield was recorded in plots sown in the last week of June and July where yield was 0.159 and 0.168 Kg, respectively. These values were significantly different from each other as well as from the other plots. Thousand grain weight observations were maximum (280.0) and 263.8gm respectively in plots sown on 20th and 26th June and minimum yield of 166.3 and 135.0gm respectively, was observed in plots sown in the 3rd and 4th weeks of July. The current study suggests that the percent infestation of maize stem borer can be minimized by sowing the crop in mid July.