Sustainable Management of Chickpea Wilt Caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. Ciceri

Abstract

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), also known as Bengal Gram is one of the major pulse cultivated and consumed in India. It is a cheap source of protein (about 17-20%) compared to animal protein. Chickpea wilt caused by fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. ciceri is one of the serious diseases causing huge loss to crop throughout the world. The experiment was conducted at agricultural farm of Palli-Siksha Bhavana, Visva-Bharati, Sriniketan, during the winter season of 2013-15 on chickpea with a view to manage the disease in a sustainable manner by using eco friendly approaches with less hazards and safer chemicals. Out of different treatments neem cake showed minimum disease incidence (11.23 %) followed by vermi-compost with 12.06 percent. Mustard cake was found to be less effective and exhibited 16.07 percent disease incidence. Maximum plant height and maxmum 1000 seed weight were observed in vermi-compost treated plot. All the treatments were differ significantly in terms of percentage decrease in disease incidence and increase in yield over control. The above findings are very useful for the farmers for making decision over the use of organic materials for management of wilt disease which is safe management practice for environment, also increased yield of chickpea.