Crops Care

One of the major diseases of rice is blast disease.  This disease is caused by the fungus called Pyricularia grisea . This disease can occur at any time from the seedling stage of rice to the time of ripening. This fungus spreads through seeds, wind, insects and weather. If it is cold at night, hot during the day and thin dew accumulates in the morning, the disease spreads quickly. The disease is more common in crops grown on sandy soil, when the water holding capacity of the soil is low. The prevalence of this disease increases if excess urea fertilizer and less potash fertilizer are used in the land. Even if the land is dry for a long time, this disease can attack.

The disease attacks 3 parts of the rice plant. Based on the affected part of the tree, this disease is known by three names such as- 1. Leaf blast, 2. Git Blast and 3. Neck/Head Blast.

Leaf Blast:

• First, small oval-shaped gray or white spots appear on the leaves. The edges of the spots are dark brown in color. 
• Later, this scar gradually grows and takes the shape of an eye. Many spots can coalesce and kill the entire leaf. 
• If the disease is heavily affected, the land sometimes looks like burning. 

Git Blast:

• Black spots are formed on the knots.
• Gradually this spot increases and the knot rots, as a result the rice plant breaks along the knot.

Neck/Head Blast:

• The base of the seed or the base of the branch of the seed becomes black spots and rots.
• The seed or branch of the seed is broken.
• Paddy is crushed.

Disease cure:

• Use disease resistant varieties.
• All types of fertilizers should be used in moderation.
• The stubble of the affected land should be burnt and the ash should be mixed with the land.
• Water should always be kept in the land.

Disease medicine:

"Blastguard 28 SC" mix 1 ml per liter of water and spray 200 ml/acre.