Evaluation of Fungicides Against Sheath Blight and False Smut of Paddy in Vizianagaram District, Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract

The study on the evaluation of fungicides against sheath blight and false smut diseases in paddy was conducted by the District Agricultural Advisory and Transfer of Technology Centre, Vizianagaram (DAATTC), Vizianagaram on 2 ha area across five farmers’ fields in Vizianagaram district, Andhra Pradesh during 2021–22, 2022–23 and 2023–24. The results revealed that the incidence of sheath blight and false smut diseases was substantially lower in fungicide‑treated plots than the farmers’ practice. A yield enhancement of 8.82% was observed in the demonstration plot (6 303 kg/ha) compared with the farmers’ practice (5 792 kg/ha). The net returns were higher in the fungicide‑treated plots (₹ 64 092/ha) compared with the farmers’ practice (₹ 55 311/ha). The recorded extension gap, technology gap, and technology index were 511 kg/ha, 605 kg/ha and 8.75 %, respectively. The relatively low technology index indicates that the demonstrated fungicidal practice is technically feasible and economically viable under farmers’ field conditions.