Silicon (Si) can improve plant resistance to herbivorous insect attack. Early shoot borer (ESB), is one of the most solemn lepidopterans borers on sugarcane in India. Even with insecticide application, management of this pest is difficult. The management requires a fresh new approach. As a result, the current study aims to determine the effect of silicon on the early shoot borer, Chilo infuscatellus Walker, through biophysical factor analysis and mandibular wear documentation. When sugarcane leaves were treated with calcium silicate at 1000 kg/ha, scanning electron microscopy revealed the presence of silicified cells and trichomes, as well as increased cell wall thickness, silicon content, and waxes content. Furthermore, larvae of an early shoot borer fed silica-treated plants showed a complete wearing of mandibles as compared to untreated check.

Microplot field experiment was conducted to study the effect of silicon sources and growth regulator against maize fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda at Thoppur village of Virudhunagar district during Rabi, 2021-22. Basal application of different doses of calcium silicate and foliar application of silicic acid and potassium silicate were carried out. The results revealed that basal application of 150 kg of calcium silicate/ha + 0.2% silicic acid @ 15 DAS + 50 ppm GA @ 30 DAS was found to be effective in reducing leaf damage (42.88% per plant), whorl damage (36.05% per plot ) and cob damage (26.92% per plot) followed by treatment with 75 kg of calcium silicate/ha + 0.2% silicic acid @ 15 DAS + 50 ppm GA @ 30 DAS with leaf, whorl and cob damage of 44.74 per cent/plant, 39.24 per cent/plot and 26.92 per cent/plot respectively. Regarding yield, maximum yield of 7, 287 kgs/ha was recorded in the treatment with basal application of 150 kg of calcium silicate/ha + 0.2% SA @ 15 DAS + 50 ppm GA @ 30 DAS followed by treatment with 75 kg of calcium silicate + 0.2% SA @ 15 DAS + 50 ppm GA @ 30 DAS (7, 092 kg/ha). Hence in the present study, the basal application of calcium silicate 150 kg/ha combined with foliar application of silicic acid (0.2%) and gibberellic acid (50 ppm) at 15 and 30 DAS reduced the leaf, whorl and cob damage level of fall armyworm on maize at field condition.

In the Virudhunagar district's Thoppur village from rabi 2021–22, a field trial was carried out to examine the impact of silicon sources and growth regulator on the harm caused by maize fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda). Basal soil application of calcium silicate at six different doses and foliar applications of silicic acid, gibberellic acid and potassium silicate in maize crop revealed that basal application of 150 kg of calcium silicate/ha + 0.2% silicic acid @ 15 DAS + 50 ppm GA @ 30 DAS was found to be effective in reducing leaf damage (42.88% per plant), whorl damage (36.05% per plot) and cob damage (26.92% per plot), followed by treatment with 75 kg of calcium silicate/ha + 0.2% silicic acid @ 15 DAS + 50 ppm GA @ 30 DAS with leaf, whorl and cob damage of 44.74% per plant, 39.24% per plot and 26.92% per plot respectively. The treatment with a basal application of 150 kg of calcium silicate/ha + 0.2% SA @ 15 DAS + 50 ppm GA @ 30 DAS produced the highest yield (7, 287 kg/ha), which was followed by the treatment with 75 kg of calcium silicate + 0.2% SA @ 15 DAS + 50 ppm GA @ 30 DAS (7, 092 kg/ha). As a result, in the current research, the basal application of calcium silicate 150 kg/ha along with foliar application of silicic acid (0.2%) and gibberellic acid (50 ppm) at 15 and 30 DAS decreased the level of leaf, whorl, and cob damage caused by fall armyworm on maize at the field condition.