Vol. 12, Issue 4 (2023)

Author(s):
Hem Chandra Chaudhary, Sunil Zacharia, Abhilasha A Lal and Sobita Simon

Abstract:
A study was conducted during the Kharif seasons of 2021 and 2022 at the Central Research Farm of the Department of Plant Pathology, Naini Agricultural Institute and Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture Technology and Sciences in Prayagraj. The purpose of the study was to observe the effects of fungicides; garlic clove extract, T. viride, and their combinations on maydis leaf blight disease under natural epiphytic conditions. Eleven treatment combinations, including a control, were prepared and evaluated under field conditions. The percent disease incidence and the effects of the treatments on yield and yield attributing traits, B: C ratio were measured. The results showed that the minimum percent disease incidence (29.34%.) was observed in seed treatment with a combination of carbendazim 12%WP + mancozeb 63% WP at 3 g/kg of seed and two foliar sprays of propiconazole 25% ΕC at 0.1% concentration. The next best treatment was seed treatment with Trichoderma viride at 5 g/kg of seed and two foliar sprays of propiconazole 25 % ΕC at 0.1% concentration, with a percent disease incidence of 30.95%. The maximum percent disease incidence was observed in seed treatment with carbendazim 12% WP + mancozeb 63% WP at 3 g/kg of seed, with 67.91% over control. The application of different seed treatments and foliar sprays on maize plants was evaluated for their impact on various yield parameters and B:C ratio. The highest values for grain yield (4.94 t/ha), plant height (187.75 cm), cob length (26.76 cm), cob diameter (18.89 cm), cob weight (112.04 g), shelling percentage (78.28), and 1000 grain weight (256.08 g) were observed in the treatment where seeds were treated with a combination of carbendazim 12% + mancozeb 63% WP at a rate of 3 g/kg of seed, followed by two foliar sprays of propiconazole 25% EC at a concentration of 0.1%. The second highest values were obtained when seeds were treated with Trichoderma viride at a rate of 5 g/kg of seed, followed by the same two foliar sprays of propiconazole. On the other hand, the lowest values for grain yield (2.29 t/ha), plant height (171.92 cm), cob length (20.18 cm), cob diameter (15.27 cm), cob weight (61.69 g), shelling percentage (65.04), and 1000 grain weight (144.84 g) were observed in the treatment where seeds were treated with carbendazim 12% + mancozeb 63% WP at a rate of 3 g/kg of seed, followed by two foliar sprays of propiconazole 25% EC at a concentration of 0.1%. However, the treatment, seed treatment with carbendazim 12%WP + mancozeb 63% WP at a rate of 3 g/kg of seed, followed by two foliar sprays of propiconazole 25 %EC at a concentration of 0.1% treatment resulted in the highest benefit-cost ratio.