Generally, the pest incidences were found below economic threshold level in Tamil Nadu. Hence, the farmers are advised to monitor the crops for insect pest / diseases / nematode incidence in their fields.
For Rice:
In Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, Tirunelveli, Salem, Kanyakumari, Theni, Nagapattinam, Villupuram, Dharmapuri, Madurai, Cuddalore and Pudukottai districts, the leaf folder and stem borer incidence were noticed in rice growing tracts of Tamil Nadu. For managing the above insect pest, spray Neem seed kernel extracts 5 % (50 g / lit. of water) or carbosulfan 25 EC @ 400 ml/ac or flubendiamide 20% WG 50 g/ac.
To manage the thrips incidence in nursery, spray phosphamidon 40 SL @ 50 ml in 20 litres of water.
In the forthcoming rainy season, blast and false smut diseases in rice are expected. Hence, farmers are advised to monitor the rice crop for the above diseases. The blast symptoms will appear as spindle-shaped lesions with white to gray-green darker borders. Older lesions are whitish to gray with necrotic borders. Farmers are advised to delay application of nitrogenous fertilizer and spray tricyclazole 75 WP @ 200 g/ac or carbendazim 50WP @ 200 g/ac immediately after observing initial infection of the blast disease.
The farmers are advised to use the bioagents for the management of rice diseases. Bioagents can be applied as: seed treatment with TNAU Pf 1 liquid formulation @ 10 ml/kg of seeds, seedling root dipping with TNAU Pf 1 liquid formulation (500 ml for one hectare seedlings), soil application with TNAU Pf 1 liquid formulation (500 ml/ha) and foliar spray with TNAU Pf 1 liquid formulation @ 5ml/lit.
Grasshopper
“Grasshopper outbreak in samba direct sown paddy” was observed in Thiruvarur district. In early sown crop, where the seedlings are 8-10 cm height above ground level are just nibbled at the top by the grasshoppers. In late sown crop, the sprouts are cut.
Spray any one of the following: malathion 50 EC @ 200 ml/ac or chlorpyriphos 20 EC @ 500 ml/ac along with azadiractin 0.03 EC @ 200 ml /ac using knapsack sprayer with a spray fluid of 200 litres/ acre.
Cotton
Cotton growing sucking pests like leaf hopper, aphid, whitefly and thrips in cotton were noticed in Coimbatore, Dharmapuri, Madurai, Perambalur and Tirunelveli districts, hence farmers are advised to setup the yellow sticky traps @ 5/ac to monitor the pest population. Apply acetamiprid 20 SP @ 40 g/ac or clothianidin 50 WDG @ 20 g/ac. for effectively managing the sucking pests. Monitor for pink boll worm incidence.
To manage cotton bollworms, set up pheromone trap @ 5 Nos. / acre depending upon the type of bollworm. If needed, spray azadirachtin 0.03% EC @ 200 ml/ac or chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC @ 60 ml/ac. or chlorpyriphos 20 EC @ 500 ml/ac.
Sugarcane
In Salem, Sivagangai, Theni, Thiruvannamalai, Pudukottai, Cuddalore and Villupuram districts, though the borer pest complex was found below ETL, however, farmers are advised to release the egg parasitoid Trichogramma @ 2.5 cc/ha for the management of internode borer.
Groundnut
In groundnut, leaf spot and root rot is expected in Coimbatore and Tindivanam districts of Tamil Nadu. The farmers are advised to drench carbendazim @ 0.1% to manage root rot and foliar spraying of mancozeb or chlorothalanil 1000g/ha to manage the leaf spot disease.
Pulses
In blackgram and greengram, root rot and yellow mosaic is expected in pulse growing districts viz., Pudukkottai, Tirunelveli and Theni. The farmers are advised to drench carbendazim@ 0.1 % for management of root rot. Besides, place 15 nos of yellow sticky traps /ha and spray dimethoate 30 EC or methyl demeton 25 EC @ 2 ml/l along with neem oil @ 2 ml/l of water for the management of virus diseases.
Banana
In banana, sigatoka leaf spot is expected in Coimbatore, Erode, Kanyakumari, Trichy, Tirunelveli, Theni and other banana growing districts during the rainy season. The farmers are advised to spray carbendazim @ 0.1 % or propiconazole @ 0.1 % or mancozeb @ 0.25 % along with teepol (1 ml/litre) 3 times at 10-15 days interval. Besides, Fusarium wilt is also expected during this season. Dip the suckers in 0.1 % carbendazim (1g/lit) for 30 min or Pseudomonas fluorescens 10g/sucker at the time of planting. Corm injection of 3 ml of 2 % carbendazim on 3, 5, and 7th month after planting. Drench infected plants with 0.1 % carbendazim at 2, 4th and 6th month after planting should be followed.
Maize
In Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Madurai, Perambalur, Pudukottai and Dharmapuri districts, sporadic incidence of stem borer was noticed. Farmers are adviced to monitor the adult moths by setting up light traps and if required spray neem seed kernel extract 5% (50 g/lit.) along with sticking agent @ 1ml /lit. Application of dimeothoate @ 2 ml/lit or methyl dematon @ 2 ml/lit or quinolphos @ 2ml/lit is also recommended.
Tomato
In tomato early blight incidence is expected during the rainy season. Hence, the farmers are advised to spray mancozeb @ 2 g/ lit of water, twice at weekly interval. Thrips and whiteflies suck the sap and transmit viral diseases. Application of phosalone @ 1.5 ml/lit or dimethoate @ 2 ml/lit is recommended. Fruit borers could be managed with setting up pheromone traps, and applying Novaluron @ 0.7 ml/litre.
Bhendi
For the management of powdery mildew incidence in bhendi, dust sulphur 10 kg /ac or apply wettable sulphur 2 g/lit immediately after noticing the incidence and repeat 15 days interval. Whiteflies, leaf hoppers are expected could be managed with imidacloprid (1 ml / 5 lit.) or dimethoate (2 ml/lit).
Onion
In onion, leaf blotch and basal rot is expected in all onion growing regions of Tamil Nadu. The farmers are advised to spray mancozeb @ 2g/l or copper oxychloride @ 2.5 g/l for managing the leaf blotch incidence. For the management of basal rot, seed or bulb treatment with Trichoderma viride @ 4g/kg and basal application of T. viride @ 2.5 kg/ha should be followed.
Turmeric
In Erode, Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts, turmeric leaf spot incidence was noticed. Hence, the farmers are advised to spray mancozeb @ 400 g/ ac, or propiconazole 200 ml/ac twice at weekly interval.
Coconut
Spiralling whitefly incidence is reported in Pollachi area where alternate dry and wet spell prevails. Conserve the natural enemies like Encarsia parasitoids, chrysopids and coccinellids.
Several natural enemies viz., Chrysoperla sp., Coccinellids and a nymphal parasitoid Encarsia sp. (Aphelinidae: Hymenoptera) have been noticed to prey upon the different whitefly life stages which is being monitored continuously. Additionally, yellow sticky traps @ 25/ha smeared with castor oil/ horticultural mineral oil can be used for monitoring the population. Spraying a jet of water forcibly on the under surface of the palms would have a significant impact in reducing the population build up of the target pest to certain extent. Besides this, if needed spraying with neem oil @ 3% or NSKE @ % would be helpful in minimising the population build up. Avoid spraying insecticides. Moreover, spraying with boiled maida paste @ 25 g/ lit of water will remove flakes of sooty mould from the upper surface of the leaves.
For details contact:
1.The Director,
Centre for Plant Protection Studies,
TNAU, Coimbatore - 641 003.
Phone No: 0422-6611237.
2.The Professor and Head,
Department of Agrl. Entomology,
TNAU, Coimbatore - 641 003.
Phone No: 0422-6611214 / 6611414.
3.The Professor and Head,
Department of Plant Pathology,
TNAU, Coimbatore - 641 003.
Phone No: 0422-6611226.
For Rice:
In Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, Tirunelveli, Salem, Kanyakumari, Theni, Nagapattinam, Villupuram, Dharmapuri, Madurai, Cuddalore and Pudukottai districts, the leaf folder and stem borer incidence were noticed in rice growing tracts of Tamil Nadu. For managing the above insect pest, spray Neem seed kernel extracts 5 % (50 g / lit. of water) or carbosulfan 25 EC @ 400 ml/ac or flubendiamide 20% WG 50 g/ac.
To manage the thrips incidence in nursery, spray phosphamidon 40 SL @ 50 ml in 20 litres of water.
In the forthcoming rainy season, blast and false smut diseases in rice are expected. Hence, farmers are advised to monitor the rice crop for the above diseases. The blast symptoms will appear as spindle-shaped lesions with white to gray-green darker borders. Older lesions are whitish to gray with necrotic borders. Farmers are advised to delay application of nitrogenous fertilizer and spray tricyclazole 75 WP @ 200 g/ac or carbendazim 50WP @ 200 g/ac immediately after observing initial infection of the blast disease.
The farmers are advised to use the bioagents for the management of rice diseases. Bioagents can be applied as: seed treatment with TNAU Pf 1 liquid formulation @ 10 ml/kg of seeds, seedling root dipping with TNAU Pf 1 liquid formulation (500 ml for one hectare seedlings), soil application with TNAU Pf 1 liquid formulation (500 ml/ha) and foliar spray with TNAU Pf 1 liquid formulation @ 5ml/lit.
Grasshopper
“Grasshopper outbreak in samba direct sown paddy” was observed in Thiruvarur district. In early sown crop, where the seedlings are 8-10 cm height above ground level are just nibbled at the top by the grasshoppers. In late sown crop, the sprouts are cut.
Spray any one of the following: malathion 50 EC @ 200 ml/ac or chlorpyriphos 20 EC @ 500 ml/ac along with azadiractin 0.03 EC @ 200 ml /ac using knapsack sprayer with a spray fluid of 200 litres/ acre.
Cotton
Cotton growing sucking pests like leaf hopper, aphid, whitefly and thrips in cotton were noticed in Coimbatore, Dharmapuri, Madurai, Perambalur and Tirunelveli districts, hence farmers are advised to setup the yellow sticky traps @ 5/ac to monitor the pest population. Apply acetamiprid 20 SP @ 40 g/ac or clothianidin 50 WDG @ 20 g/ac. for effectively managing the sucking pests. Monitor for pink boll worm incidence.
To manage cotton bollworms, set up pheromone trap @ 5 Nos. / acre depending upon the type of bollworm. If needed, spray azadirachtin 0.03% EC @ 200 ml/ac or chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC @ 60 ml/ac. or chlorpyriphos 20 EC @ 500 ml/ac.
Sugarcane
In Salem, Sivagangai, Theni, Thiruvannamalai, Pudukottai, Cuddalore and Villupuram districts, though the borer pest complex was found below ETL, however, farmers are advised to release the egg parasitoid Trichogramma @ 2.5 cc/ha for the management of internode borer.
Groundnut
In groundnut, leaf spot and root rot is expected in Coimbatore and Tindivanam districts of Tamil Nadu. The farmers are advised to drench carbendazim @ 0.1% to manage root rot and foliar spraying of mancozeb or chlorothalanil 1000g/ha to manage the leaf spot disease.
Pulses
In blackgram and greengram, root rot and yellow mosaic is expected in pulse growing districts viz., Pudukkottai, Tirunelveli and Theni. The farmers are advised to drench carbendazim@ 0.1 % for management of root rot. Besides, place 15 nos of yellow sticky traps /ha and spray dimethoate 30 EC or methyl demeton 25 EC @ 2 ml/l along with neem oil @ 2 ml/l of water for the management of virus diseases.
Banana
In banana, sigatoka leaf spot is expected in Coimbatore, Erode, Kanyakumari, Trichy, Tirunelveli, Theni and other banana growing districts during the rainy season. The farmers are advised to spray carbendazim @ 0.1 % or propiconazole @ 0.1 % or mancozeb @ 0.25 % along with teepol (1 ml/litre) 3 times at 10-15 days interval. Besides, Fusarium wilt is also expected during this season. Dip the suckers in 0.1 % carbendazim (1g/lit) for 30 min or Pseudomonas fluorescens 10g/sucker at the time of planting. Corm injection of 3 ml of 2 % carbendazim on 3, 5, and 7th month after planting. Drench infected plants with 0.1 % carbendazim at 2, 4th and 6th month after planting should be followed.
Maize
In Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Madurai, Perambalur, Pudukottai and Dharmapuri districts, sporadic incidence of stem borer was noticed. Farmers are adviced to monitor the adult moths by setting up light traps and if required spray neem seed kernel extract 5% (50 g/lit.) along with sticking agent @ 1ml /lit. Application of dimeothoate @ 2 ml/lit or methyl dematon @ 2 ml/lit or quinolphos @ 2ml/lit is also recommended.
Tomato
In tomato early blight incidence is expected during the rainy season. Hence, the farmers are advised to spray mancozeb @ 2 g/ lit of water, twice at weekly interval. Thrips and whiteflies suck the sap and transmit viral diseases. Application of phosalone @ 1.5 ml/lit or dimethoate @ 2 ml/lit is recommended. Fruit borers could be managed with setting up pheromone traps, and applying Novaluron @ 0.7 ml/litre.
Bhendi
For the management of powdery mildew incidence in bhendi, dust sulphur 10 kg /ac or apply wettable sulphur 2 g/lit immediately after noticing the incidence and repeat 15 days interval. Whiteflies, leaf hoppers are expected could be managed with imidacloprid (1 ml / 5 lit.) or dimethoate (2 ml/lit).
Onion
In onion, leaf blotch and basal rot is expected in all onion growing regions of Tamil Nadu. The farmers are advised to spray mancozeb @ 2g/l or copper oxychloride @ 2.5 g/l for managing the leaf blotch incidence. For the management of basal rot, seed or bulb treatment with Trichoderma viride @ 4g/kg and basal application of T. viride @ 2.5 kg/ha should be followed.
Turmeric
In Erode, Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts, turmeric leaf spot incidence was noticed. Hence, the farmers are advised to spray mancozeb @ 400 g/ ac, or propiconazole 200 ml/ac twice at weekly interval.
Coconut
Spiralling whitefly incidence is reported in Pollachi area where alternate dry and wet spell prevails. Conserve the natural enemies like Encarsia parasitoids, chrysopids and coccinellids.
Several natural enemies viz., Chrysoperla sp., Coccinellids and a nymphal parasitoid Encarsia sp. (Aphelinidae: Hymenoptera) have been noticed to prey upon the different whitefly life stages which is being monitored continuously. Additionally, yellow sticky traps @ 25/ha smeared with castor oil/ horticultural mineral oil can be used for monitoring the population. Spraying a jet of water forcibly on the under surface of the palms would have a significant impact in reducing the population build up of the target pest to certain extent. Besides this, if needed spraying with neem oil @ 3% or NSKE @ % would be helpful in minimising the population build up. Avoid spraying insecticides. Moreover, spraying with boiled maida paste @ 25 g/ lit of water will remove flakes of sooty mould from the upper surface of the leaves.
For details contact:
1.The Director,
Centre for Plant Protection Studies,
TNAU, Coimbatore - 641 003.
Phone No: 0422-6611237.
2.The Professor and Head,
Department of Agrl. Entomology,
TNAU, Coimbatore - 641 003.
Phone No: 0422-6611214 / 6611414.
3.The Professor and Head,
Department of Plant Pathology,
TNAU, Coimbatore - 641 003.
Phone No: 0422-6611226.