Effect of tillage and nutrient management practices on banded leaf and sheath blight of Maize

Abstract

Banded leaf and sheath blight caused by Rhizoctonia solani fsp sasakii is highly destructive diseases of maize crop worldwide including India. Depending upon weather conditions they cause the significant yield reduction ranging from 11 to 40 % in maize crop. It is present in all tropical and temperate maize growing regions. Growing conditions creating hot and humid condition are most favourable for the development of the disease. Under tarai condition of Uttrakhand an experiment was carried out by integrating tillage practices like- permanent raised beds, zero tillage and conventional tillage along with different nutrient management approaches like- Recommended Dose of Fertilizers (RDF), Site Spesific Nutrient management (SSNM) and Farmer’s practices (FP) for the management of maize diseases. Results of present study indicated that conventional tillage followed by permanent raised bed and zero tillage and in nutrient management SSNM followed by RDF management practices were found equally good with respect to diseases incidence and severity. Highest grain yield was recorded in permanent raised beds (5817 Kg/ha) while conventional tillage (5748 Kg/ha) was found at par with permanent raised beds. Minimum yield was recorded in zero tillage (5617 Kg/ha). Thousand grain weight in conventional tillage (306 g) and permanent beds (305 g) were at par, followed by zero tillage (282 g).