Effective scheduling of fungicide and insecticide combination for the management of Rice Sheath rot caused by Sarocladium oryzae (Sawada) W. Gams & D. Hawksw

Abstract

Sheath rot caused by Sarocladium oryzae was recorded in more than 65% locations surveyed in the North coastal zone of Andhra Pradesh. A field trail was conducted at Agricultural Research Station, Ragolu during 2010-13 to study efficacy of fungicide (carbendazim and propiconazole) and insecticide (Profenofos, Cartap hydrochloride) combinations for the management of sheath rot and stem borer in paddy. Scheduled prophylactic spray with propiconazole @ 1 ml/l + cartap hydrochloride (2 g/l) for two times i.e., first spray at 50% of panicle initiation and II spray at 50% flowering resulted in significant reduction of sheath rot (10.6% incidence) in comparison to 29.7% disease recorded in untreated control. Profenofos + propiconazole/ carbendazim treatment combinations were also found effective, but keeping in view the environmental risks posed by Profenofos, scheduled prophylactic foliar spray with propiconazole + cartap hydrochloride could be an effective means in managing stem borer and sheath rot in paddy.