Progressive Agriculture

Sheath rot rice incited by Sarocladium oryzae (Sawada) Gams and Hawksworth is the most important disease of rice. Regular occurrence of disease and heavy yield losses caused by this disease in Bihar prompted us to undertake the studies. Keeping in view, a field experiment was conducted during Kharif season 2007 and 2008 to control the sheath rot of rice through new fungicides and bio pesticides. Out of seven fungicides tested Antracol 75 WP and Saaf 75 WP inhibited mycelial growth of the fungus by more than 80 per cent at 200 ppm concentration as well as reduced the disease severity 47% and increased the yield more than 50% in field condition. Among bio pesticide Achook and Tricure (10%) concentration has some potential to inhibit the mycelial growth. Spraying of bio pesticides resulted in 12.9 to 21.4 per cent disease control only.