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Received: 3rd January, 2026; Accepted: 15th March, 2026

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted at M S Swaminathan Rice Research Station, Moncompu, Alappuzha, Kerala, for four consecutive seasons of Kharif 2022, Rabi 2022-23, Kharif 2023 and Kharif 2024 with the objective of evaluating the efficiency of commercially available biofertilizer/biocontrol agents and fungicides against rice sheath blight disease. The tested biofertilizer and biocontrol agent combination treatments were Pseudomonas fluorescens seed treatment (10 g/kg seed) + PGPR I soil application (1 kg/acre) + PGPR II foliar application (20 g/l), Pseudomonas fluorescens seed treatment (10 g/kg seed) + PGPR II foliar spray (20 g/l), and Pseudomonas fluorescens seed treatment (10 g/kg seed) + soil application (1 kg/acre) + foliar application (20 g/l). The evaluated fungicides were Hexaconazole 4% + Zineb 68% WP (2.5 g/l), Azoxystrobin 18.2% + Difenoconazole 11.4% SC (1 ml/l), Thifluzamide 24% SC (0.8 ml/l), Difenoconazole 25% EC (0.5 ml/l), Isoprothiolane 40% EC (1.5 ml/l), Carbendazim 12% + Mancozeb 63% WP (1.5 g/l), Copper Hydroxide 77% WP (2 g/l) and Hexaconazole 5% SC (2 ml/l) (Standard Check fungicide). Among eight fungicides tested, Azoxystrobin 18.2% + Difenoconazole 11.4% SC (1 ml/l) was found to be the most promising combination molecule against sheath blight, followed by Thifluzamide 24% SC (0.8 ml/l). The maximum yield was obtained from Difenoconazole 25% EC (0.5 ml/l) (6382 kg/ha), and Azoxystrobin 18.2% + Difenoconazole 11.4% SC (1 ml/l) (6207 kg/ha), followed by Carbendazim 12% + Mancozeb 63% WP (1.5 g/l) (5837 kg/ha), Thifluzamide 24% SC (0.8 ml/l) (5771 kg/ha) and organic treatment such as Pseudomonas fluorescens seed treatment (10 g/kg seed) + PGPR I (1 kg/acre) + PGPR II (20 g/l) with an yield of 5746 kg/ha was also recorded. The control plot recorded the lowest yield of 3697 kg/ha.