Organic alternative and management of leaf blight of mustard

Abstract

Mustard is commonly known as Sarson and valuable for its oil while black mustard is also used as a spice. It is second most important oil seed crop in India next to soybean. Average yield losses occur due to various pest and diseases among which Alternaria blight is an important disease. Hence, a trial was conducted at crop research farm, School of Basic Sciences, SHUATS, Allahabad during Kharif, 2016 to observe the impact of bio-agents and botanicals as foliar sprays along with incorporation of different manure in replications on mustard blight. The treatments were Trichoderma harzianum 10%, Trichoderma viride 10%, Pseudomonas flourescens 10%, Neem oil 10%, Eucalyptus oil 10%, Terminalia arjuna bark extract, Oscimum sanctum leaf extract 10% and control (water irrigated). The results showed that treatments T. viride (38.92%) and Neem oil (40.89%) were most suited to lower the disease intensity followed by Eucalyptus oil (43.12%), T. harzianum (44.25%), Oscimum sanctum leaf extract (49.04%), Terminalia arjuna bark extract (49.34%), Pseudomonas flourescens (50.90%) and Control (54.72). It was also found that cost benefit ratio was maximized in treatment T. viride (1: 3.62) and Neem oil (1: 3.54) with least expenditure.