Vol. 10, Issue 9 (2021)

Author(s):
K Nageswara Rao, Sobita Simon and Abhilasha A Lal

Abstract:
Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) which is locally known as “Jeera” in Hindi is a important spice crop. The most dreaded disease in cumin crop is Alternaria blight which is caused by Alternaria burnsii and it is a major production constraint for the successful cultivation of cumin crop in India. It occurs as small necrotic spots initially and later coalesce to form large brown to black spots. Four botanicals viz., neem oil, thyme essential oil, citronella essential oil and peppermint essential oil along with mancozeb were tested @ 0.2% in vivo during Rabi 2020-2021 for their efficacy against disease, plant growth parameters and yield. Among the botanicals, plant height at 90 DAS (43.20 cm), number of branches per plant (7.40), number of umbels per plant (14.66) and yield (6.03 q/ha) significantly increased and disease intensity at 60 DAS (24.39%) significantly decreased in T₄- peppermint essential oil @0.2% followed by T₃- citronella essential oil @0.2%, T₂- thyme essential oil @0.2% and T₁- neem oil @0.2% when compared with T₅-mancozeb @0.2% and T₀- control (untreated check). Higher gross return value (Rs. 72,360/ha) net return value (Rs. 36,960/ha) B:C ratio (2.04) was found in the treatment T₄-peppermint essential oil followed by T₃-citronella essential oil, T₂-thyme essential oil and T₁-neem oil when compared to T₅- mancozeb and T₀- control.