Abstract

                                The efficacy of four fungicides against sheath blight of rice caused by Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn was evaluated under field conditions at Agricultural Research Station, Siruguppa during kharif season of 1998 and 1999. Among the fungicides tested, one ready mix fungicide Quintal 50WP (Iprodione 25% + Carbendazim 25%) at three dosages (250, 375 and 500 g ha-1) and three other fungicides i.e., Iprodione 50WP @375 g ha-1, Carbendazim 50WP @500 g ha-1 and Hexaconazole 5EC @ 1000 ml/ha along with untreated control were evaluated against sheath blight disease of rice. The results indicated significant differences with respect to the parameters studied among different treatments. Application of Quintal 50WP 500 g/ha was found to be significantly effective in reducing the disease incidence upto an extent of 76.76% over untreated control and produced higher grain yield of 6791 kg ha. This treatment was on par with the standard check fungicide, Hexaconazole @ 1000 ml ha reduced disease incidence upto 77.67% over untreated check and produced grain yield of 6899 kg ha. Quintal 50WP fungicide @500 g ha-1 recorded highest net income of Rs.41905 ha and maximum cost-benefit ratio of 1:3.83, followed by Hexaconazole SEC which recorded net income of Rs. 41570 ha and cost-benefit ratio of 1:3.58. The results suggested that Quintal 50Wp @ 500 g ha¹ is a good alternative fungicide to Hexaconazole of SEC.

Key words : Ready mix fungicide, Hexaconazole, Sheath blight, Rhizoctonia solani, Fungicide, Rice.