Master Disease & Pest Control for Better Paddy Yields!

Paddy is an important Kharif crop of our country. Rice is extracted from paddy only. Paddy is cultivated in 36.95 million hectares of the country, due to which India is the largest producer of paddy. The cultivated on a large scale in West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Punjab, Odisha, Bihar and Chhattisgarh.

Paddy cultivation is the most important source of income for farmers, but many times the crop is damaged due to pests and diseases, due to which farmers have to suffer losses instead of profits. In such a situation, correct pest management is very important in paddy crop. For this, farmers should be aware of the diseases and pests in paddy, as well as the way to control it. Let us know the methods of controlling the major diseases and pests in paddy.

Diseases and management in paddy cultivation

Khaira disease: This disease occurs due to zinc deficiency in the soil, which causes light yellow spots on the leaves, which later turn brown.

Management: Dissolve zinc sulphate and slaked lime (100 grams and 50 grams) in 15-20 liters of water per drain and spray.

Blast

This disease has a great impact between July and September. Symptoms start appearing on the leaves, stems, nodes, flower clusters and ears of the plants affected by this disease. Due to this disease, eye-like or spiral-shaped spots start appearing on the leaves. Some part or the entire part of the stem and flower clusters turn black and the stems shrink and fall down.

Management: To control the disease, treat 2 grams of seed per kg with tricyclazole and if needed, spray 1% carbendazim at the flowering stage.

Brown spot disease

This disease occurs more in less fertile areas. In this disease, small brown spots appear on the leaves. When the infection becomes severe, these spots combine and dry the leaves and the ears are not able to come out completely.

Management: To prevent the disease, sow the seeds only after treating 5 grams of thiram per kg of seed. If symptoms of the disease are visible, spray 25% mancozeb. Use nitrogen, phosphorus and potash fertilizers in balanced quantities.

Visual smut disease

The effect of this disease is more visible in August-September. The symptoms of the disease are clearly visible only after the ears come out. The diseased grains become yellow or orange in color and later they become black balls.

Management: Remove the infected plants very carefully and burn them. Spray 3% copper oxychloride and 50% SP during flowering in the affected area.

Major pests and management of rice

Green hopper and brown hopper: Green hopper insects in both larval and adult stages damage the leaves by sucking their juice. When infected by this insect, the leaves first turn yellow and later brown, after which they start drying from the tip downwards. Brown hopper insects also damage the plants in both larval and adult stages by sucking the juice from between the leaves and buds. Due to the effect of this insect, initially the plants turn black in round shape and start drying, which is called ‘hopper burn’.

Management: To control these insects, any of the chemicals mentioned below can be sprayed.

– Acetamiprid 20% SP at the rate of 50-60 grams per hectare.

– Carbofuran 3G 20 kg per hectare in 3-5 cm stagnant water.

– Fipronil 0.3G 20 kg per hectare in 3-5 cm stagnant water.

– Imidacloprid 17.8 percent SL 125 ml per hectare.

– Monocrotophos 36 percent SL 750 ml per hectare.

Stem borer and rose stem borer: The larva stage of this insect is very dangerous. In this, the larva or cutworm pierces the leaves and enters inside and reaches the node by eating the stem from inside. If this insect affects the plants during the growth stage, then the crop does not produce ears and after the ears emerge, due to its effect, they dry up and turn white and grains are not formed.

Management:

– At the time of transplantation, cut the upper part of the plant a little, so that the eggs of stem borer present in it are destroyed.

– Dissolve zinc sulphate and slaked lime (100 grams and 50 grams) in 15-20 liters of water per drain and spray it. If slaked lime is not available, then use 2 percent urea solution instead.

– Use egg parasite Tricard (Trichogramma japonicum) 2000 eggs per drain about 6 times when the infestation of the pest starts.

– When 5 percent dry ears are seen, use Keldan 4G or Padan 4G medicine at the rate of 400 grams per drain.

Kurmula insect

These insects eat the roots of paddy plants, due to which the plants turn yellow and later dry up. If the infected plants are caught and pulled, they get uprooted easily. The infestation of this pest is most visible in July-August. 

Management:

– Use rotten cow dung manure in the fields.

– After harvesting the crop, plow the fields deeply and leave them.

– In the standing crop, mix 80 ml of Chlorpyrifos 20 EC with ash in one kg of dry sand and sprinkle it on the soil.

For a good crop of paddy, experts advise that always sow the seeds only after treating them, this reduces the possibility of pests and diseases in the crop, along with this, good and improved variety of seeds should be selected according to the quality of the soil. Spray insecticide and fungicide at an interval of about 10-15 days after sowing in the paddy nursery. Instead of this, farmers can also make a solution of neem leaves and spray it on the crop.