Efficacy and economics of some fungicides for the management of Banded Leaf and Sheath Blight in maize

Abstract

Banded leaf and sheath blight (BLSB), caused by Rhizoctonia solani f.sp. sasakiiis, is a devastating disease, causing huge yield losses in maize growing areas throughout the world. In India, grain yield loss varied from 10-40% on various maize cultivars and most of the cultivated varieties, advanced breeding material and potential inbred lines are susceptible. Hence, fungicides are a viable alternative and an important component of integrated disease management. Keeping this in view, eight fungicides were evaluated as two foliar sprays for its management. The test fungicides were effective in reducing percent disease intensity (PDI) and increasing yield compared with the unsprayed check. According to Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT), MDI and mean yield of 33.11 % & 34.63% and 53.14 & 36.13 q/ha were recorded during the years 2014 and 2016, respectively and the effect of years on disease intensity and yield was found to be significant. Amistar 250 SC sprayed @0.05% with mean disease control (MDC) of 63.18% over the unsprayed check plots was the most effective, resulting in mean yield of 46.62q/ha with 36.02 per cent increase over the unsprayed check (34.28 q/ha). It was followed by Valigan, Monoceren 250SC and Bavistin 50WP@ 0.1% resulting in PDI of 30.37, 31.19 and 31.72 with 54.68, 52.43 and 50.96 per cent MDC over the check. The highest mean grain yield (51.95 q/ha) was recorded in Valigan @0.1% with 51.55% increase over check, resulting in net profit of Rs. 27999 with cost: benefit ratio of 1:10.03, followed by 47.78 and 46.62 q/ha yield in two foliar sprays of Folicur 25 EC and Amistar 250 SC @0.1% with mean yield increase of 39.39 and 36.02% over the unsprayed check with net profit of Rs. 19710 and 16525 and corresponding cost: benefit ratio of 1:5.86, and 1:4.17, respectively. The identified effective fungicides may be used further in strengthening the plant disease management in maize against BLSB. Doi.org/10.25174/2582-2675/2020/102256