Management of pea root rot/wilt complex disease in Lahaul valley- a dry temperate zone of Himachal Pradesh

Garden pea (Pisum sativum L.) is most remunerative crop of Lahaul valley of Himachal Pradesh. The crop is grown as an off - season cash crop during summer season (April to September) and is cultivated over an area of about 1690 ha with an average productivity of 58.42 q/ha. Due to extensive cultivation of some parts especially in tribal area (Zone IV) of the state, root rot/wilt complex become the major constraints of pea productivity. Due to soil borne and complexity of the pathogen the disease is very difficult to combat with existing management practices. The trials on the effect of fungicides and biocontrol agent on pea root/wilt complex were conducted during 2009 and 2010 at farmers field under on farm trial scheme of Krishi Vigyan Kendra. The seed treatment with vitavax gave best management (64.3%) and resulted in highest green pod yield (83.5q/ha). Seed treatment with carbendazim @ 0.25% resulted 56.5% and 22.8% disease control and increase in yield, respectively. Trichoderma viride @ 1.0% gave better control than 4g/kg of seed as seed treatment. Soil Application with Trichoderma viride @ 2.5 kg/ha with 62kg FYM resulted 27.2% disease control along with 7.8% hike in green pod yield.