Nghe An: More than 680 hectares of rice infected with leaf blast disease

(Baonghean) - Up to now, Nghe An has over 680 hectares of spring rice infected with rice blast disease. In the changing weather conditions, with lots of drizzle and fog, the disease is forecast to continue to spread and cause severe damage in the coming time on the current development momentum.

According to the synthesis of the provincial Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection, by March 8, the whole province had 680.74 hectares of rice infected with leaf blast disease, of which 48.31 hectares were severely infected. The infected area was concentrated in the districts of Hung Nguyen (354 hectares), Con Cuong (132.5 hectares), Tan Ky (98.6 hectares), Yen Thanh (33 hectares)... with the disease rate ranging from 10 - 15% in some places, and locally over 40%.

Localities have organized farmers to spray to prevent and control over 230.64 hectares of infected rice. It is forecasted that in the coming time, weather conditions will continue to be favorable for the outbreak and spread of rice blast disease, especially on sandy soil, light soil, semi-mountainous areas, and on planting varieties with high infection levels such as Xi23, IR1820, Xi30, BC15, AC5,...

Plant protection officers of Tan Ky district guide people to recognize rice blast disease. Photo: Cam Tu

Since the beginning of February, rice blast disease has broken out and damaged the spring rice fields of Hung Nguyen district. Up to now, the infected area in the whole district has reached over 350 hectares, of which 25 hectares are severely infected, concentrated in the communes of Hung Thong, Hung Thinh, Hung Chau, Hung Loi...

Mr. Le Van Thai, hamlet 3, Hung Thong commune, has 10 sao of rice fields, all of which are planted with susceptible varieties such as AC5 and Thien Uu 8. A week ago, his rice fields were infected with the disease. Although he sprayed the disease twice as recommended by the plant protection officer, Mr. Thai is still very worried because, according to him, almost all the rice fields of the households in the hamlet have been infected with the disease, some rice fields have been burned in patches, while the current weather is cloudy and drizzly, making the disease worse.

Head of the Plant Protection Station of Hung Nguyen district - Mr. Le Viet Hung said: In the early period, rice blast disease appeared on early-planted rice fields in areas of glutinous rice planted as the base of summer-autumn rice seedlings, in deep-lying areas, outside the dike, especially areas using earthworm land. To protect the earthworm source, people did not use pesticides to prevent the disease, causing it to develop strongly, even causing local fires.

Up to now, Hung Nguyen has organized prevention of about 250 hectares of rice infected with blast, many areas have been sprayed a second time, however, in some areas, due to improper spraying techniques, the effectiveness is poor.

Farmers in Hung Nguyen district spray pesticides on rice. Photo: PH

The worrying reality today is that people's knowledge of preventing and controlling rice blast disease is still limited, spraying techniques and the amount of chemicals and water sprayed are not enough, leading to low efficiency. Sometimes, spraying to prevent rice blast disease 2-3 times still cannot destroy the disease, and the rice still burns.

According to forecasts, the weather will gradually warm up in the coming time, the air humidity will be high, combined with farmers fertilizing to stimulate tillering, creating favorable conditions for the development of rice blast disease. On the other hand, fungal spores are small in size, dispersed and spread by water and wind, so they can spread very quickly when conditions are favorable.

People need to visit the fields regularly to detect and prevent diseases in time. When rice fields are found to be infected with the disease, the weather is favorable for the disease to develop, it is necessary to stop applying chemical fertilizers, stimulate growth, keep enough water in the field (from 2 - 3 cm) and immediately spray with specific drugs for rice blast disease such as: Beam 75WP, Kabim 30WP, Filia 525 SE, Bankan 600 WP, Vista 72.5 WP, Katana 20 SC, ... according to the recommended amount on the drug packaging. If the field is seriously infected or the disease continues to appear, it is necessary to spray again after 5 - 7 days. When spraying, it is necessary to ensure enough water (25 - 30 liters/sao) so that the drug spreads evenly on the leaf surface.

Phu Huong