Effect of botanicals and bioagents on disease intensity and cost-benefit ratio of sponge gourd Yadav Shiv Kumar*, Kumari Ruchi, Tiwari Shashi Department of Plant Pathology, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj-211 007, Uttar Pradesh, India *e-mail: yshiv753@gmail.com
Online Published on 11 January, 2024. Abstract As the population grows, it is crucial to create a yield that will feed the expanding population. To do this, it is required to control diseases in crops, vegetables, and fruits because they are a major cause of production losses. Different illnesses harm sponge gourd, which reduces output. Bioagents and botanicals are secure alternative methods for the management of diseases that can be used to solve this problem. At 90 days after sowing also the lowest disease intensity was recorded by the treatment with Neem oil+ Trichoderma viride (2.5%+2.5%) followed by Castor oil + Trichoderma viride (2.5%+2.5%) and Trichoderma viride (5%) with 11.17, 13.96 and 17.26 per cent, respectively, while the control recorded the highest disease intensity of 40.85 per cent. The highest fruit yield was recorded by the treatment with Neem oil + Trichoderma viride (2.5%+2.5%) followed by Castor oil + Trichoderma viride (2.5%+2.5%) and Trichoderma viride (5%) with 258.4, 220.8 and 227.2 q/ha, respectively. The treatments Neem oil + Trichoderma viride (2.5%+2.5%) and Castor oil + Trichoderma viride (2.5%+2.5%) recorded higher net returns of Rs. 102845.5 and Rs. 84590 with the cost-benefit ratio of 1:1.97 and 1:1.62, respectively. Top Keywords Botanicals, Bioagents, Disease management, Neem oil, Trichoderma. Top |