Cite This Article as: Iqbal A, Kanwal BA, Ali A and Sohail A, 2023. Evaluation of micronutrients on physio-morphic traits and insect pest incidence on maize, Zea mays (L). Trends in Animal and Plant Sciences 2: 42-50. https://doi.org/10.62324/TAPS/2023.016

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Maize is an important crop in the world which is used as a food and in other beneficial items but several insect pests produce harmful effects on the production of maize crop. Current work was done to evaluate the effect of Silicon (Si) and Sulphur (S) alone and in combined form on physio-morphic traits and insect pest incidence on maize plants under field condition. The concentrations of Si 0.4g, 0.6g, and 0.8g and S 0.4g and 0.8g were tested against different insect pests of maize and its physio-morphic traits. Highest population reduction of shoot fly (2.00±0.57) was observed in combined application of Si and S at highest dose rate while minimum was recorded (6.33±1.45) at lowest dose rate of Si (0.4g) alone. Similarly trends in population reduction were recorded for fall army worm, aphids and stem borer of maize. Similarly, significant difference in physio-morphic characters was observed in all treatments. Highest increase in leaf length (97.90±1.18) was observed in combined application of Si and S while at highest dose rate, while lowest was recorded at (60.06±0.91) lowest dose rate of Si (0.4g) compared to control. Similarly, stem diameter, leaf width, plant height and trichome density exhibited the same response towards treatments. It was found that in maize crop, both Si and S enhances the physio-morphic characteristics and induce physical and mechanical defense against insect pest and posed negative impact on insect pest incidence. Application of Si and S is a recommended as a promising strategy to control insect pest to enhance crop production.