Study on Effect of Bio Control Agent Trichoderma viride and Neem Cake on Rhizome Rot of Turmeric

Abstract

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is one of the major spice crops in Andhra Pradesh, which is severely affected by rhizome rot (soil borne disease) and leaf spots (foliar diseases). There was drastic reduction in yield, which is majorly affected by soil borne fungus. So, the present study mainly intends to evaluate the performance of Trichoderma viride along with neem cake against rhizome rot disease. The experiment was conducted in three successive years at 10 villages and 30 locations of Krishna district as a Front-Line Demonstration of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Ghantasala, Acarya N G Ranga Agricultural University. The treatment (TO1) consists of seed treatment, ridge sowing, excess water drainage and soil application of T viride culture 2 kg multiplied in 90 kg Farm Yard Manure and 10 kg neem cake at the last ploughing time and use of neem cake 300 kg/acre at 60 and 120 DAP at plant base. Whereas, the farmer’s practice (TO2) was drenching of copper oxy chloride @ 3g /l of water only to control rhizome rot. In comparing the average data of both the treatments for three consecutive years, TO1 recorded highest yield of 49.12 t/ha of fresh turmeric with a yield improvement of 32.43 % over control. In case of rhizome rot incidence, the average percent incidence for the three consecutive years was reported as 3.37 % in demo and 10.72% in control. In case of net returns, Rs. 2,08,743/- per ha was obtained with a B:C ratio of 1.99:1 in demo and Rs. 93,428.17/- of per ha with 1.43:1 B:C ratio in control. It can be concluded that apart from using only chemicals, integrated management practices fetch better yield and returns too.