Real-Time Contingency Measures as a Sustainable Strategy for Managing Biotic Stress in Rice Crop

Rice is grown in 2.0 lakh ha in Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh. Unpredictable weather conditions, low socio-economic status of farmers and various nutritional imbalances are the factors affecting the agricultural productivity in rain-fed agriculture in North coastal regions of Andhra Pradesh. With the effects of climate change, crops are sometimes affected by floods and sometimes by drought. Under such flood conditions, biotic stress including many fungal, bacterial, viral, nematode and non-parasitic diseases and among such diseases, blast, sheath blight are major and a limiting factors for the rice production. Considering these bottlenecks, KVK, Srikakulam assessed the realtime contingency measures against the biotic stress in rice crop at Kondavalsa and Ponnam villages of Srikakulam district in 2020 and 2021. Integrated pest and Disease management practices were implemented in real time against Blast, Sheathblight and BPH. The results showed that 70-75 per cent reduction in the incidence of blast among the management measures adopted plots in both the selected locations during 2020 and 2021. But only a 50% reduction was noted in the farmers approach. Similarly, PDI of Sheath blightwas reduced 78%. Also Brown plant hopper population was brought under control by using the management practices. In 2020, the grain yield of Kondavalasa and Ponnam villagesin the demo plots were 5580 and 5690 kg/ha at, respectively, while grain yield in farmers practice were 5090 and 5210 kg/, respectively. During 2021, demo plots at Kondavalasa and Ponnam also, recorded highest grain yields of 5630 and 5850 kg/ha, respectively. The higher severity of diseases like Blast, Sheath blight and pests such as, BPH has lead to poor yields in case of farmers approach. This study clears that adoption of certain measures viz., sowing of tolerant varieties, Seed treatment, Alleyways formation, optimized Nitrozen fertilizer application which promotes the better crop growth and reduce the occurrence of pests and diseases. Additionally, the timely spraying of highly efficient chemicals to control biological stresses such as Blast, Sheath blight and BPH will minimize crop yields and improved grains quality and quantity.