Author(s):

RP Singh, SP Upadhyay, AK Singh, RK Singh and VP Singh

Abstract: False smut disease of rice caused by the fungus Ustilaginoidea virens (Cooke), has recently been found in agroclimatic conditions of Uttar Pradesh and is sporadic where rice is cultivated. Rain and high humidity (>90%), temperature ranging from 25-35 ºC and intensive method of rice cultivation with use of heavy nitrogenous fertilizers resulted into the severe form of disease. The incidence of this disease is becoming a major constraint to adoption of rice cultivars in Gorakhpur district which is situated in North Eastern Plains regions. Considering the facts, integrated disease control approaches were comprised under farmer’s participatory on-farm trial for false smut management in two consecutive years in kharif 2017 and 2018. Technological gap between improved management package and farmers practices were studied based on survey and group discussion with farmers. Full gap was observed in case of use of seed/seedling treatment and partial gap was in use of varieties, method of transplanting, number of hill/m², use of fertilizers, weed management and plant protection measures, which definitely was the reason of not achieving potential yield. The average incidence of false smut in paddy i.e. 5.75% was recorded in demonstrated plot while it was 10.25% in farmers practice. On an average disease reduction was 42.65 per cent noticed with the use of integrated disease management approach over farmer’s practice respectively. Average infected panicle/hill i.e. 1.38 and average infected panicle/m² i.e. 2.25 was observed with use of integrated approach while it was noticed 2.38 and 3.25 in existing practices. The recommended rice cultivar yielded 50.25q/ha yield during kharif 2017 while 49.50q/ha was noticed in kharif 2018, it was 19.64 and 20.15 per cent more over farmer’s practice. The average net returns i.e. Rs. 49793.75/ha was received in demonstrated plots while farmers were obtained Rs. 38785.00/ha by their own practices. On an average benefit cost ratio 2.74 was found under demonstrated technologies while it was 2.45 in farmer’s practices. The outcome of the trial inspired the farming communities to adopt area wise recommended varieties with judicious use of nitrogenous fertilizer and other technological options including integrated disease management approach which are being adopted in their cultivation.

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