Use of Web Based Decision Support System for the Management of Late Blight of Potato in Punjab

A web based decision support system for late blight of potato is in place since 2008 for giving advice on late blight management to the farmers in Punjab. For late blight forecasting weather data were collected from six automatic weather stations installed at six potato growing districts. These data were analyzed to determine the disease severity values so as to issue farm advisory weekly, for the application of fungicide. The fungicide spray pattern data based on web based advisory was compared with conventional recommended fungicide spray schedule for crop season 2012–13, 2013–14 and 2014–15 for disease prone areas of district Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, SBS Nagar, Ropar and less disease prone area like Bhatinda. Web based advisory adoption provided useful information on prevailing weather conditions favourable/unfavourable for disease development and appropriate timing of fungicide sprays. Monitoring of weather data revealed that during crop season blanket sprays were usually applied even when prevailing weather was found to be unfavourable for disease development and no fungicide sprays were actually required. Based on web based advisory adoption farmers mean savings on fungicide cost per hectare was in the range of6501 to 6468 during 2012–13, 6502 to 6762 during 2013–14 and3880 to 4108 during 2014–15 crop seasons in the six districts where automatic weather stations were working If one contact fungicide was saved on 50000 ha of the area under potato cultivation saving comes out to be approximate41.7 million and if one systemic spray is avoided on the same area saving on fungicide cost is165 million