Eficiencia de tres bioinsecticidas para el control de gusano cogollero (Spodoptera frugiperda) en maíz, La Troncal.

Abstract

Maize (Zea mays L.) production faces economic losses caused by Spodoptera frugiperda, whose management relies heavily on the use of synthetic insecticides, which negatively affect ecological balance and human health and highlight the need for more sustainable management alternatives. In response to this problem, this study aimed to determine the efficacy of three bioinsecticides in reducing S. frugiperda populations and their effects on crop yield, and to analyze the economic profitability of the treatments evaluated. A Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) was used, with four replications and four treatments: T1, potassium soap (1 L ha⁻¹); T2, Prontius IO (1 L ha⁻¹); T3, Micos Plag (100 g ha⁻¹); and T4, untreated control. The variables evaluated were population density, damage severity using the Davis scale, incidence rate, and yield per hectare. The data were statistically analyzed using Tukey’s test at the 5% significance level with Statistix 9.0 software. The results indicated that none of the evaluated variables showed statistically significant differences between the bioinsecticide treatments and the untreated control. Mean yield was 6,246.1 kg ha⁻¹, remaining within the yield range of the ADV 9139 hybrid. The economic analysis showed that T4 achieved the highest benefit-cost ratio (1.25), whereas T2 was not profitable, with a benefit-cost ratio of 0.84. In conclusion, under the conditions of this study, the bioinsecticides showed the same efficacy. Therefore, further studies are recommended to evaluate these bioinsecticides in combination with releases of natural enemies and under different edaphoclimatic conditions to determine their actual potential for integrated pest management programs.