Sustainable Management of Late Leaf Spot of Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) in Semi Arid Tropics

Efforts were made to standardise effective management schedule for tikka late leaf spot in groundnut grown in Semi Arid Tropics, by growing pearlmillet as an intercrop in groundnut and by spraying 4% neem kernel suspension. Growing of pearlmillet as an intercrop in groundnut was found to reduce tikka late leaf spot incidence in groundnut while realizing additional returns in intercropping system. Three sprays of neem kernel suspension in groundnut + pearlmillet intercrop was on par with fungicide sprayed on sole groundnut crop in yields. The present study revealed that control of tikka late leaf spot with three fungicidal sprays of carbendazim 0.1% + mancozeb 0.25% was found economical. Single fungicide spray on a 70 days-old crop gave significantly higher yield over all the other treatments except in sole groundnut crop where three sprays of fungicides were given.