Integrated Pest Management of Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on Sugar Beet
摘要
The management of Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on sugar beet is a significant challenge for growers. This study evaluates the efficacy of different treatments over two seasons (2022–2023 and 2023–2024) using a randomized complete block design. Ten treatments were evaluated: Spinosad (200 mL hL−1) (SD), Nicotiana glauca extract (10%) (NG), Ricinus communis extract (10%) (RC), the fungus Alternaria destruens (1 × 10⁸ conidia mL⁻1) (AD), and their combinations. Treatments were applied seven times per season, starting one month after planting, with subsequent applications at four-week intervals. Key variables assessed included leaf damage, larval density, plant canopy area, and root yield. Combined treatments, especially SD + NG + AD treatment, provided the most effective control. By the fourth month after the first treatment (4 MAFT), the SD + NG + AD treatment reduced leaf damage to 3.8% (2022–2023) and 4.2% (2023–2024), with larval densities dropping to 0.7 and 0.6 larvae/plant, respectively. Combined treatments enhanced plant growth, with SD + NG + AD treatment resulting in the largest plant canopy area (304.2 cm2 in 2022–2023 and 291.9 cm2 in 2023–2024). Root yield was significantly higher for combined treatments, with SD + NG + AD yielding 74.9 t/ha in 2022–2023 and 74.4 t/ha in 2023–2024. The untreated control exhibited the lowest efficacy. The treatment SD + NG + AD proved to be the most effective in reducing pest populations, improving plant growth, and enhancing root yield, providing a promising strategy for integrated pest management.