Integrated management of dry stalk rot disease of maize

Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important crop of the world and ranks third after rice and wheat. Plant stand was maximum (97.33%) with treatment of Tricoderma harzianum + FYM and FYM + Neem cake + T. harzianum + T. viride. Green manuring gylricidia and sunhemp did not perform better but enhanced the biocontrol activities. Presowing application of FYM neemcake and T. harzianum was most effective in avoiding the infection and a reduses the stalk rot at later stage. The treatment increased yield levels by reducing the lodging at 105 days to the extent of 10.19%. Significant effects of irrigation levels was recorded at 105th day with stress at tasseling and silking resulted in more disease i.e. 39.51%. Treatment (FYM + Neem cake + T. harzinum + T. viride) recorded highest grains (Le. 1363.14 kg/ha) followed by T. harzinum + FYM with 1253.89 kg/ha.