Field Evaluation of the Efficacy of Fungicides and Rhizosphere Bacterial Antagonists against Rice Stem Rot Disease

Rice stem rot disease in paddy cultivation leads to reduction of yield. Management of this disease is difficult as it is soil borne. In the present study, field trials were conducted during Rabi 2016-17 and early Kharif 2017-18 to assess the effectiveness of twelve fungicides and four rhizosphere bacterial antagonistic isolates (RRB-1 to RRB-4) against rice stem rot disease. Disease incidence was recorded from the date of initial incidence of the disease i.e., once in 15 days from maximum tillering to panicle emergence. Pooled analysis reveals that Hexaconazole recorded lowest per cent disease index (32.22) with highest grain yield and straw yield of 7.43 t/ha and 7.22 t/ha respectively, followed by Difenoconazole with grain yield and straw yield of 7.29 t/ha and 6.88 t/ha respectively. On the other hand, bacterial antagonists using root dipping and foliar spray with RRB-4 showed less PDI of 32.92 with grain yield of 6.97 t/ha and straw yield of 6.61 t/ha. With this study, hexaconazole (0.2%) and bacterial antagonists RRB-4 using root dipping and foliar spray (105 to 106 CFU/ml) can be effectively managed the rice stem rot.