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The risk of rust disease has increased on the pea crop in Sitamarhi, due to which the yield and quality is decreasing. Dr. Ramishwar Prasad has advised integrated management and vigilance.
SitamarhiAt present, the pea crop is flourishing in the fields in the district, but in the meantime the threat of rust disease has become a cause of concern for the farmers, This disease is seriously affecting both the yield and quality of pea, According to Dr, Ramishwar Prasad, Principal Scientist of Agricultural Science Center, Balha Maqsudan, rust disease is spread by a fungus called Uromyces PC, which spreads rapidly in the fields when favorable weather is found, If it is not managed in time, the yield of pea may decline by 30 to 50 percent, due to which farmers may have to suffer huge financial losses,
Dr. Prasad told that the initial symptoms of rust disease appear in the form of light yellow spots on the upper surface of pea leaves. Gradually these spots emerge and turn into orange-red blisters and later become dark brown or black. Powder-like spores emerge from these blisters, which spread throughout the field through the wind and infect other plants as well. In case of severe infection, the leaves start drying up, the photosynthesis capacity of the plants reduces and the growth of beans stops. As a result, the number of pods decreases, grains remain small and due to poor quality of peas, the market price also falls.
The disease progresses rapidly
According to scientists, this disease spreads through infected crop residues present in the fields. The fungus survives in the remains as teliospores and initiates infection in the spring. The conditions of 18 to 25 degree Celsius temperature, high humidity, cloudy sky and light rainfall are considered most favorable for rust disease. The disease progresses rapidly in such weather. Dr. Prasad said that under chemical control, farmers can use propiconazole fungicide. As soon as the initial symptoms appear, effective control of the disease can be achieved by dissolving 1 ml propiconazole in per liter of water and spraying it twice at an interval of 10 days. However, he also warned that excessive and uncontrolled use of chemicals can be harmful to the environment and human health, hence balanced and judicious use is necessary.
How to protect yourself from rust disease
To prevent rust disease, scientists have advised farmers to adopt integrated management. Under this, resistant varieties of pea should be selected, crop rotation should be followed and certified and disease free seeds should be used. Do not cultivate peas in the same field continuously and remove and destroy infected crop residues from the field. Keep proper distance between the plants so that moisture does not remain in the field and the chances of disease flourishing are reduced. Also, farmers have been advised to identify the early symptoms of the disease by regularly inspecting the fields, because prevention is easier, cheaper and effective in the early stages. Keeping in view the future challenges, scientists have also emphasized on adopting biological control and advanced breeding techniques, so that the pea crop can be permanently protected from rust disease.
