Brown leaf spot disease and fertilizer interaction in irrigated rice growing on different soil types
Studies have been undertaken in a 1000 ha area of irrigated rice (Oryzica sativa) at Caroni (1975) Limited to determine the effect of the fertilizer programme on the incidence of important diseases. Over a period of three years higher levels of brown leaf spot (Cochliobolus miyabeanus) on rice varieties Oryzica 1 and Oryzica 5 on three different soil types were associated with increasing levels of leaf P, from a low of 0.149% of dry matter (DM) to a high of 0.396% DM. On the Washington silty clay loam series (Inceptisol) brown leaf spot incidence was lowest when leaf P was between 0.135% and 0.149% of DM. However, disease incidence was higher when leaf P levels fell to 0.133% of DM or rose above 0.149%, under conditions where N was more than adequate. The moderate levels of the disease experienced over the period had no effect on yield, as grain infection was minimal. The results support the conclusion that the incidence of brown leaf spot on irrigated rice at Caroni is influenced by sub-optimal levels paticularly of P. Careful monitoring and managememt of P nutrition is seen as an important part in the overall strategy for controlling the disease.
Observations on the incidence of rice brown spot, leaf scald and leaf smut diseases in a tidal mangrove swamp at Rokupr, Northwestern Sierra Leone
Abstract The ecological behaviour of Cochliobolus miyabeanus (Ito et Kurib.) Drechsl. ex Dast. (Bipolaris oryzae (Breda de Haan) Shoem.), causal agent of brown spot of rice (Oryza sativa L.), was investigated in a tidal mangrove swamp at Rokupr Experimental Farm, northwestern Sierra Leone. Disease increased where transplanting was delayed. This was probably due to the coincidence of flowering with favourable environmental conditions for disease development from November to February. Nitrogen fertilization at 40kg N ha−1 significantly (P = 0.05) reduced C. miyabeanus incidence in 1983, but not in 1984 and 1985 cropping seasons at the same site. Grain yields of ROK 5, a medium‐duration improved rice cultivar (ca. 150 days) were significantly reduced in late‐transplanted rice crops (September to November) in spite of adequate N fertilization. Mangrove mud was not an important source of C. miyabeanus propagules. Incidence of leaf scald caused by Monographella albescens (Thum) Parkinson, Sivanesan and Booth (M...
Investigations on the rôle of organic matter in plant nutrition
1. As the result of decomposition of green manure in a swamp soil, the coarse fractions (including coarse and fine sand) of the surface layer (first 3 inches) decreased by 11·2 per cent. while the fine ones (silt+clay) increased by 9·8 per cent. in the course of 43 days. The effect was less pronounced in the manured soil maintained at 60 per cent. saturation, while no alteration was to be noticed in the case of the unmanured specimens. 2. Treatment with dilute hydrochloric acid prior to dispersion had no appreciable effect on the estimates of mechanical composition obtained in the different cases. Loss in solution was also comparatively small. 3. The silica-sesquioxide ratio increased slightly as the result of decomposition of green manure in swamp soil. The composition of the fine fractions was also altered, the total percentages of the oxides of iron, aluminium and silicon increasing from 90·5 to 99·3 in the course of 71 days. 4. The practical significance of the above and related observations has been discussed.