Efficacy of Fungicides on the Management of Sheath Blight of Rice

Sheath blight of rice is an economically important disease affecting rice production. Nine fungicides and two bioagents in combination were tested to know their efficacy in controlling the disease in the field for kharif 2016. Out of nine fungicides tested hexaconazole 5EC (0.1%) and propiconazole 25 EC (0.1%) were found significantly superior in controlling the disease. The data reveals that, the per cent relative lesion height (% RLH) was significantly low (13.85% RLH) in hexaconazole 5EC and propiconazole 25 EC (16.05% RLH) sprayed plots respectively, whereas the highest (68.68% RLH) was recorded in unsprayed control plot. Significantly higher grain yield was recorded in hexaconazole 5EC sprayed plot (5703.70 kg/ha) followed by propiconazole 25EC (5314.81 kg/ha) and the lowest yield of 3511.11 kg/ha was recorded in the untreated control plot. The B: C ratio was also found higher in hexaconazole 5EC (1:2.65) and propiconazole 25EC (1:2.55) sprayed plots compared to other fungicides, bioagents and untreated control plots. From the present findings it may be concluded that hexaconazole 5EC (0.1%) and propiconazole 25EC (0.1%) were promising fungicides for lowering sheath blight severity and getting higher grain yield.