Pearl millet downy mildew green ear disease management seed treatment fungicide.
How to control downy mildew (green ear) in bajra?
DDineshbhai1yr ago · 403 views
6 Answers
🌾Farmer.in Krishi TeamExpert ✓1yr ago
Downy mildew, which shows as the green ear or malformed earhead symptom, is best managed by prevention rather than cure. Start with a resistant hybrid or variety, since this is the single most effective step. Treat seed with metalaxyl based fungicide before sowing at the recommended dose. In the field, rogue out and destroy infected plants early before they spread spores, follow crop rotation, and avoid continuous bajra on the same plot. A foliar spray of a recommended systemic fungicide can help if disease appears, but resistant varieties plus seed treatment give the most reliable protection. Confirm the exact fungicide and dose with your KVK as recommendations change.
PPravin Patel1yr ago
Seed treatment is the key thing people skip. Since I started treating seed with metalaxyl I rarely see green ear now. Earlier I lost many earheads to that twisted leafy ear.
AAshok1yr ago
I pull out the affected plants the moment I see white growth under the leaf and burn them away from the field. Rotating with moong every other year also helped reduce it.
MMaganbhai1yr ago
One thing I noticed is the disease is worse when the crop stays wet and humid for long. Sowing in well drained lines instead of low water logging patches reduced it on my farm. Do not sow bajra in a spot where water stands after rain.
RRamesh1yr ago
Even old seed that was treated last year is not safe, the protection wears off. Always treat fresh just before sowing. I keep a small drum to coat the seed evenly with the fungicide and dry it in shade.
JJentibhai1yr ago
In our Banaskantha belt some farmers stick to the same old local variety and keep getting green ear every year. Switching to a resistant hybrid made the biggest difference for me. Seed treatment alone on a susceptible variety is not enough.