Integrated Disease Management in Rapeseed Mustard Using Bioagents, Plant Products and Fungitoxicants

A field trial was laid out (2006–07 to 2008–09) to manage prevailing diseases (white rust, Alternaria blight, stem rot) and a pest (aphid) of rapeseed-mustard through integrated approach using bioagents (Trichoderma, Pseudomonas), plant products (garlic, neem) and chemicals (Apron (metalaxyl 35 SD), Ridomil MZ (metalaxyl + mancozeb 72%WP), Bavistin (carbendazim 50% WP), Metasystox (oxymethyl dematon 25 EC)) for seed treatment (ST) and foliar sprays (FS) twice at 50 and 70 days crop stage individually or in different combinations. ST with Apron @ 6 g/kg and FS of Ridomil MZ @ 0.2% controlled white rust significantly. Least severity of Alternaria blight was noted in the treatment where ST with Bavistin @ 2 g/kg and crop was sprayed with Ridomil MZ @ 0.2% insignificantly followed by the treatment where ST (@ 6 g/kg) and FS (@ 0.2%) was provided with Apron and Ridomil MZ, respectively and ST with T. harzianum (@ 10 g/kg) and FS with either T. harzianum or P. fluorescens @10 ml/l or ST (10 g/kg) followed by FS (10 ml/l) of T. harzianum or ST followed by FS of garlic bulb extract @ 1% w/v proved most effective against stem rot exhibited 3.3 and 4.7% incidence respectively which statistically at par with each other. When seed treated with Apron and crop was sprayed with Ridomil MZ, maximum average produce of 2441 kg/ha, higher plant count and test weight was obtained insignificantly followed by the treatments where Bavistin applied as ST and FS provided with Ridomil MZ, ST with T. harzianum and FS was provided with T. harzianum or P. fluorescens and the treatment where ST and FS provided with garlic bulb extract. The highest incremental economic benefit (886) was achieved when seed treated with Bavistin @ 2 g/kg followed by ST with garlic bulb extract @ 1% w/v and ST with T. harzianum @10g/kg.