Efficacy of Bleaching Powder on the Incidence of Late Wilt and Grain Yield in Maize

Field experiments were conducted to determine the number of applications and the appropriate stage at which bleaching powder is to be applied for effective control of late wilt (Cephalosporium maydis). Grain yield was significantly corre-lated with the late wilt incidence and the coefficients were negative. The regression coefficients were highly significant and the yield losses per unit score of the disease incidence were estimated to be 1.79 q ha^−l in 1983 and 5.15 q ha⁻¹ in 1984 with an estimated mean of 4.11 q ha⁻¹. Application of bleaching powder at 1000 ppm thrice at 45, 55 and 65 days after sowing was most effective. It increased the yield by 28.05 and 153.51% in 1983 and 1984 respectively with a mean of 77.75% and a corresponding decrease of the late wilt incidence by 45.9, 53, 46 and 49.7%.