Regional Agricultural Research Station (I.G.K.V.), Sarkanda Farm, Bilaspur (M.P.)
An experiment was conducted during 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995 to find out the significance of sowing dates, number of spray, meteorological factors and their interaction on the epidemiology of leaf blast of rice. In 1992 and 1993, due to favourable weather conditions, the disease was epidemic in the crop sown on 25h July (PDI> 65.0) while, crop sown on 25th June escaped from severe epidemic (PDI < 11.0). Hinosan (0.05%) sprayed once and twice was found economical only in later dates. There was significant interaction between dates of sowing and number of spray. Due to unfavourable weather conditions and late appearance, the incidence of leaf blast was very low in 1994 and 1995. All weather parameters were responsible for the development of leaf blast however, total rain fall (r = 0.0666*) and average rains (r = 0.623*) were significant during the period of disease development.
