Evaluation of difenconazole 25% EC against paddy sheath blight

Abstract

Plant diseases are among the major biotic constraints limiting crop productivity and contributing to the global food crisis. In rice cultivation, diseases pose a serious threat, causing both qualitative and quantitative yield losses. Among fungal diseases, sheath blight—caused by Rhizoctonia solani—is recognized as the second most destructive disease of rice after blast. A field experiment was conducted at the Agricultural Research Station, Gangavati, to evaluate the efficacy of Difenoconazole 25% EC against sheath blight of rice. The trial included six treatments, replicated four times in a Randomized Block Design (RBD). The performance of Difenoconazole 25% EC was compared with standard checks and an untreated control. Results revealed that Difenoconazole 25% EC was highly effective in reducing sheath blight severity. Application of Difenoconazole 25% EC at 250-500 ml/ha significantly decreased disease incidence and enhanced grain yield. The treatment with 500 ml/ha recorded the lowest Percent Disease Index (PDI) of 8.56 and 10.12, with corresponding grain yields of 67.3 q/ha and 66.0 q/ha during Kharif 2012 and 2013, respectively. The study clearly indicates that Difenoconazole 25% EC at 250-500 ml/ha is effective for managing sheath blight in rice and can be recommended for sustainable disease control.