As the world’s most important cereal crop, rice plays a crucial part in the global food supply. However, rice plants’ production is frequently discouraged by sheath blight, a fungal disease that affects the paddy plant. Sheath blight is characterised by irregularly shaped lesions on the rice leaf sheaths and blades, leading to significant yield losses. To avoid significant crop losses due to sheath blight, farmers should apply various techniques.
Several variables contribute to the occurrence of sheath blight in rice paddies, including environmental factors, cultural practices, and the intrinsic susceptibility of commercial varieties to various races of Rhizoctonia solani. Various management strategies can be employed to prevent sheath blight.
The following are some prevention methods that farmers should follow:
1. Crop Rotation: Crop rotation is the primary approach for controlling sheath blight in rice farming. This technique relies on planting non-host crops such as rye, wheat, or corn in the paddy field, a process that is particularly effective in reducing Rhizoctonia solani’s population in the soil.
2. Fungicides: Fungicides are an excellent option for preventing sheath blight. Farmers may use several fungicides to control the disease. Protective fungicides, which are used alongside preventive measures, are often effective in reducing the spread of sheath blight.
3. Biological Control: The use of biological control methods, such as Trichoderma spp., Bacillus spp., and Pseudomonas spp., is also a highly efficient way of preventing sheath blight. These bacteria should be applied either as soil treatment or seed treatment.
4. Cultivar Selection: Using rice cultivars that are immune or have moderate resistance to sheath blight is an effective strategy in preventing the disease spread. Several breeders have developed rice cultivars that have excellent resistance to Rhizoctonia solani.
5. Crop Sanitation: The most urgent aspect of crop sanitation for sheath blight control is the removal of diseased plant debris from the field. This prevents the formation of inoculum that, if left in the field, may result in new infections.
In conclusion, sheath blight in rice is a significant plant disease that requires adequate control techniques. Farmers must follow the recommended procedures to ensure they protect their crops and reduce the losses due to the disease. Employing a combination of the methods mentioned can help minimise the disease’s impact on rice production and ensure that rice remains a staple food crop.