Integrated botanical and cultural strategies for management of major insect pests in maize.

Abstract

Maize (Zea mays L.) is a staple crop for millions of people worldwide, yet its productivity is constantly under threat from pests such as fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda J.E. Smith), stem borers (Busseola fusca Fuller and Chilo partellus Swinhoe), maize aphids (Rhopalosiphum maidis Fitch), and maize weevil (Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky). These pests can cause devastating losses of 20-50% in the field and up to 40% during storage. The pests are increasingly resistant to chemical insecticides, and there are growing concerns about environmental and health impacts. Sustainable alternatives are urgently needed. This review brings together insights from 34 studies (2000-2025) on plant-based insecticides, cultural practices, and their integration for maize pest management. Across the selected studies, larval mortality due to botanical extracts ranged from 45% to 92%, depending on the plant species used, formulation, and target pest. These values reflect the range reported in different studies rather than results from a formal meta-analysis. Cultural practices like intercropping, crop rotation, adjusting planting dates, and field sanitation lowered pest pressure by 18-80% and boosted yields by 8-45%. Combining these approaches was even more powerful, reducing fall armyworm damage by 65-88%, increasing yields up to 52%, and supporting beneficial insects. Despite these successes, challenges remain, especially in understanding how farmers adopt these methods and how they perform across different locations and seasons. Overall, this evidence shows that integrated, environmentally friendly strategies can protect maize, support farmers, and promote resilient, low-input farming systems. Future work should focus on long-term field trials, practical adoption, and socio-economic benefits to make these strategies widely accessible. A systematic literature search was conducted using databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar covering studies published between 2000 and 2025.