Status of sheath blight of rice in Haryana and its chemical control

Roving surveys conducted in ten major rice (Oryza sativa L.) growing districts of Haryana revealed that Pusa Basmati 1121 occupied the highest acreage of 34.2% and 31.1% among the rice varieties cultivated in the state followed by Basmati CSR 30 (12.3% and 5.3%) and Pusa Basmati 1 (10.8% and 15.7%) during 2014 and 2015, respectively. Rice variety PR 114 and hybrids Sawa 127 and 25P35 were the next preferred cultivars in the order of acreage occupied in the surveyed districts. The severity of sheath blight was the highest in Basmati CSR 30 in district Kurukshetra followed by PR 114 in district Kaithal during 2014 and in Pusa Basmati 1 and PR 114 in Yamunanagar and Jind, respectively during 2015. Among the fungicides evaluated, azoxystrobin 25 EC at 500 ml/ha was observed to be the most effective and significantly superior to other fungicides in reducing the severity of sheath blight along with a significant increase in grain yield of rice.