Mechanized sett treatment: An innovative technology to deliver various agro-inputs for the management of sugarcane diseases including the grassy shoot

As sugarcane is an annual crop with ratooning behavior and propagated by vegetative means, pathogen infection in the stalks is transmitted to main field through the seed cane and that leads to disease epidemics. Earlier studies with various fungicides indicated that overnight soaking is pre-requisite for the management of primary inoculum of sett and soil borne fungal pathogens. Furthermore, rapid sett treatment with sett treatment device showed its equal efficacy as overnight conventional soaking along with more practical solutions. In continuation, application of sett treatment device for the delivery of physical, chemical and biological agents was evaluated to envisage the mechanized sett treatment for integrated disease management in sugarcane. Results of the present study indicated that the sett treatment device can be effectively used for treating setts with physical (hot water), chemical (nutrients, pesticides) and biological (microbes) either individually or in combination for disease management and improvement of crop growth. In this respect, efficacy of all the three treatments had been proven for the management of red rot, smut and grassy shoot diseases. Additionally, their efficacy was proven in improving varietal performance in popular varieties under field conditions.