Rice blast disease control - Some mistakes

(Baonghean) -In spring rice production, rice blast disease is one of the diseases that causes great damage to many rice varieties on a large scale in many localities. However, in the prevention of this disease, farmers often make some mistakes.

First mistake: Sowing too densely, especially in the sowing area. Fearing that the rice will freeze to death at the beginning of the season, farmers increase the amount of seeds sown by 25-30% compared to the amount of seeds prescribed for the area or plant more shoots/clumps, with a density of 48-52 clumps/m2, increasing the density of the rice field. In addition, unbalanced fertilization, excess nitrogen and lack of potassium create favorable conditions for the development of rice blast disease. Farmers do not think about the double harm of rice blast disease; when rice is damaged by blast and burns the leaves during the tillering period, it will potentially cause damage to the panicle neck.

Second mistake: Preventing rice blast too late; usually when the disease is quite common, then spraying pesticides. The best way is to regularly check the fields and when you see disease spots like oil stains, spray immediately. In particular, high-quality rice varieties need to be proactively sprayed early.

Farmers in hamlet 2, Bac Thanh commune (Yen Thanh) apply lime to prevent pests and diseases in rice.
Spring crop 2013. Photo: Ho Cac

Third mistake: Using drugs that do not follow the “4 rights” principle and especially using non-specific drugs with too low active ingredient content (Tricyclazole and Propiconazole). Farmers are completely dependent on drug sellers, buying whatever type is sold. Some agents, for profit, sell drugs that do not guarantee quality. Farmers do not use specific drugs, but only use cheap drugs.

Fourth mistake: Spraying with growth stimulant fertilizer, or adding nitrogen fertilizer to some yellow rice fields while the rice blast disease is developing. This is more harmful than beneficial. The disease continues to spread widely.

Fifth mistake: Seeing the neighboring field is infected, while your field is not, but the rice is too good, so you cut the leaves. This action creates mechanical wounds for the pathogen to spread quickly, reducing the leaf area, affecting the ability to photosynthesize. The best way is to conduct synchronous spraying for rice varieties that have signs of infection in the same field.

For the 2013 spring crop, rice blast disease may appear early in the tillering period. In addition, some other pests may appear at the same time during the rice standing and panicle initiation stages such as brown planthoppers and brown striped rice… Localities need to regularly check the fields, proactively prevent and control them, paying special attention to areas where varieties such as AC5, HT1, BC15, and Khai Phong 1 are grown.

Hoang An (Department of Agriculture and Rural Development)