Multi-season evaluation of ready-mix fungicides against leaf blast of rice and validation of most effective fungicides on farmer fields
摘要
Rice blast caused by Pyricularia oryzae is a major constraint to rice production, necessitating effective and economically viable management strategies. Field experiments were conducted for four consecutive seasons (kharif 2019 and 2020; summer 2019–20 and 2020–21) to evaluate the efficacy of different ready-mix fungicides against leaf blast. Among the treatments, the application of propiconazole 10.7% + tricyclazole 34.2% SE at 1.0 ml/L and tebuconazole 50% + trifloxystrobin 25% WG at 0.4 g/L demonstrated superior and consistent disease suppression and yield enhancement. The pooled data of both kharif and summer seasons showed that minimum per cent disease index (12.83 and 12.98, respectively) and incidence (49.74 and 42.59, respectively) were recorded in propiconazole 10.7% + tricyclazole 34.2% SE at 1.0 ml/L. This was at par with tebuconazole 50% + trifloxystrobin 25% WG at 0.4 g/L, where the per cent disease index was 14.60 and 15.00, respectively and per cent disease incidence was 54.28 and 49.89, respectively during both kharif and summer seasons. The pooled results of both seasons showed that maximum grain (6898 and 6978 kg/ha, respectively) and straw yield (10340 and 10382 kg/ha, respectively) were recorded in propiconazole 10.7% + tricyclazole 34.2% SE at 1.0 ml/L, while these were (6749 and 6852 kg/ha, respectively) and (10162 and 10204 kg/ha, respectively) in tebuconazole 50% + trifloxystrobin 25% WG at 0.4 g/L. The performance of tebuconazole 50% + trifloxystrobin 25% WG at 0.4 g/L was further validated through front-line demonstrations (FLDs) conducted on farmer fields during the summer seasons of 2023–24 and 2024–25. The FLD plots recorded minimum per cent disease index of leaf blast (11.91%) and more grain yield (3472 kg/ha) compared to the local check plots (42.47% PDI; 2489.50 kg/ha). The technology demonstrated high economic viability with an incremental cost-benefit ratio (ICBR) of 5.17.