07-08-2013, 01:08 PM
On Farm Trial: An approach for management of Late Blight of Potato
ABSTRACT
Potato is the world’s fourth important food crop after wheat, rice and maize because of its great yield potential and high nutritive value. It constitutes nearly half of the worlds annual output of all root and tuber crops. In India, more than 80% of the potato crop is raised in the winter season (Rabi) under assured irrigation during winter days from October to March. The crop accounts for 1593 ha and 171927 quintals of area and production respectively in Jammu and Kashmir. However, the average yield of district Kathua is 108.82 qt/ha which is substantially lower than the national average (179.2 qt/ha). Among the several factors attributed to low productivity of potato, damage of crop due to late blight is substantially important. An on farm trial was conducted at the farmers field during the rabi season 2010-11 to evaluate the performance of fungicides viz. Mancozeb @0.25% and Metalaxyl + Mancozeb @ 0.25% in comparison to the farmer’s practice. The trial was replicated four times on different locations at farmer’s field of Kathua district. The results of On Farm Trial revealed that the recommended practice of using Mancozeb @ 0.25% followed by application of Metalaxyl + Mancozeb @ 0.25% resulted in significant reduction in disease incidence percentage over farmers’ practice. Yield performance of recommended practice was 220q/ha which was almost 46.7% over control and 15.7% higher than farmers practice i.e Mancozeb @ 0.25% which was 190q/ha. Cost benefit ratio of recommended practice (2.52) was higher over farmers’ practice (2.36) and check (1.98). Thus, application of Metalaxyl + Mancozeb @ 0.25% may be recommended for control of late blight of potato. The farmers were quite satisfied with this recommended practice.