Fungal Attack in Lentil Crop: Causes, Symptoms, and Prevention
Fungal attack poses a significant threat to lentil crops worldwide. It caused a decrease in yield, grain quality deterioration, and economic loss to farmers. Lentil is particularly vulnerable to fungal diseases since they are mainly grown in the cool and moist environment, which favors fungal growth and dissemination. In this article, we will discuss the causes, symptoms, and prevention methods of fungal attack in lentil crops.
Causes of Fungal Attack in Lentil Crop
Fungal infections in lentil crops are caused by soil-borne pathogens, seed-borne pathogens, and airborne pathogens. Some of the common fungal diseases that affect lentil crops include Ascochyta blight, Fusarium wilt, root rot, and rust. These pathogens can persist in the soil and infect the new crops in the succeeding year.
Symptoms of Fungal Attack in Lentil Crop
The symptoms of fungal attack in lentil crops vary according to the disease that causes the infection. However, some general symptoms that a farmer can observe in the affected crops include:
– Leaf spots or blight
– Stem lesions
– Plant stunting and wilting
– Pod rot
– Seed discoloration and deformity
– Formation of fruiting bodies.
If not controlled, the fungal attack will lead to plant death and a decrease in yield.
Prevention of Fungal Attack in Lentil Crop
Farmers can make use of several measures to prevent fungal attack in their lentil crops. Some of these measures include:
– Crop Rotation: Farmers should avoid planting lentil in the same field for consecutive years, as this allows the buildup of soil-borne pathogens.
– Seed Treatment: Farmers should treat the lentil seeds before planting with fungicides to prevent seed-borne infections.
– Cultural Practices: Farmers should practice good crop management, including proper drainage, weed control and the application of fertilizers.
– Early Detection and Control: Prompt detection and control of fungal infections would prevent them from spreading to other crops.
– Fungicide Application: If the fungal infection is severe, a farmer may need to use fungicides. However, the spray application should be done correctly and timely to minimize the risk of resistance.
Conclusion
Lentil crop farming is an essential economic activity and source of food for millions of people worldwide. Fungal attack poses a significant threat to the lentil crop, causing a decrease in yield, grain quality deterioration, and economic loss to farmers. Farmers must ensure good crop management, early detection, and control to prevent fungal diseases. By doing so, they can protect their crops from the devastating effects of fungal attack and maintain the prosperity of their farming business.