Efficacies of Some Botanicals Against Covered Kernel Smut [Sphacelotheca Sorghi (Link) Clinton] of Sorghum [Sorghum Bicolor (L.) Moench] at Sheraro, Northwestern Tigray, Northern Ethiopia
Desalegn Yalew1*, Mashilla Dejene2, Girma Tegegne3
Citation : Desalegn Yalew, Mashilla Dejene, Girma Tegegne, Efficacies of Some Botanicals Against Covered Kernel Smut [Sphacelotheca Sorghi (Link) Clinton] of Sorghum [Sorghum Bicolor (L.) Moench] at Sheraro, Northwestern Tigray, Northern Ethiopia International Journal of Research Studies in Agricultural Sciences 2019, 5(4) : 11-24.
The experiment was conducted at Sheraro Experimental Station of Shire-Maitsebri Agricultural Research Center during 2016 main cropping season, with the objective to investigate the efficacies of some botanicals against covered kernel smut (Sphacelotheca sorghi)of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor). The experiment consisted of six botanicals (Eucalyptus, feto, garlic, ginger, neem, papaya), fermented cow-urine,pure water, all at the rate of 20 ml per 200 g seed for 30 minutes, and one fungicide (Apron star) at the rate of 10 g per4 kg seed, and untreated or control check. The treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The analysis of variance showed that there was significant (p = 0.05) difference among theseed treatments against the disease. Apron star, cow-urine, neem and papaya leaf crude extracts effectively suppressed the disease as compared to the other treatments. There was no covered kernel smut infection on the plots sown with seeds treated with Apron star,while the highest (30.30%) incidence and severity (69.14%) were recorded from plots sown with untreated seeds. Due to this, no yield loss was recorded from plots sown with seeds treated with Apron star, while the highest (48.56%) yield loss percentage was recorded from plots sown with untreated seeds. Apron star, cow-urine, neem and papaya leaf crude extracts were also more effective and economically feasiblethan other seed treatments. Therefore, farmers can use these effective management methods for sustainable sorghum production in the study area and similar agro-ecologies.