Compatibility and Efficacy of Insecticide and Fungicide Combinations on Major Pests and Sheath Blight of Paddy

Field experiments were conducted during kharif 2012 and 2013 at Agricultural Research Station, Ragolu, Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh to assess the efficacy and compatibility of five insecticides and two fungicides at recommended concentrations. The evaluation was done as a tank mix in various insecticide and fungicide combinations for their efficacy against sheath blight, stem borer, leaf folder and brown plant hopper, for the purpose of reducing the application cost in the event of simultaneous occurrence of both pest and disease during any stage of crop growth period. Among different combinations tested during kharif 2012, Flubendamide @0.25mL/L in combination with Trifloxystrobin 25% + Tebuconazole 50% (Nativo 75%) 0.4g/L recorded less sheath blight incidence (27.33%) and less pest incidence i.e., leaf folder (2.0% leaf damage) followed by Chlorpyriphos @2.5mL/L + Propiconazole @2.0mL/L (30.13%, 7.92%) and Chlorantriniliprole @0.3mL/L + Propiconazole @1.0mL/L (32.42%, 8.13%) and Flubendamide @ 0.25mL/L + Propiconazole @1.0mL/L (35.17%, 1.59%) compared to other combinations and untreated control. During kharif 2013 also, Flubendamide @0.25mL/L in combination with Trifloxystrobin 25% + Tebuconazole 50% (Nativo 75%) 0.4g/L recorded less sheath blight incidence (29.01%) with significant reduction of brown plant hopper (2.0/hill) and stem borer as white ears (2.8%) followed by Chlorantriniliprole @0.3mL/L + Trifloxystrobin 25% + Tebuconazole 50% (Nativo 75%) 0.4g/L with 29.36% sheath blight and 4.19% dead hearts and 2.4% white ears. Chlorpyriphos @ 2.5mL/L + Trifloxystrobin 25% + Tebuconazole 50% (Nativo 75%) 0.4g/L followed by Profenophos @2mL/L + Propiconazole @1mL/L were the safest combinations for natural enemies in rice ecosystem. All the combinations recorded significantly higher yields compared to untreated control.