Preventing Brown Spot Disease in Paddy: Expert Insights on Causes, Symptoms, and Control

Paddy cultivation in Bihar and several other states is rapidly shifting toward the Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR) technique, which reduces both labor and cultivation costs. However, with this method, a new challenge has emerged — Brown Spot Disease, a fungal infection that, if not controlled in time, can reduce yields by 20% to 40%.

Key Causes of Brown Spot Disease:

According to agricultural scientist Dr. Rajeev Srivastava, the major causes include:

• Poor fertilizer management and inadequate irrigation
• Continuous monocropping without crop rotation
• Sowing without proper seed treatment
• Excessive use of nitrogen-based fertilizers

Recognizing the Symptoms

• Brown, circular, or irregular spots on leaves
• Yellow halos surrounding the spots
• In severe cases, spots spread to stems and panicles
• Drying of plants and incomplete grain filling

Impact on Crops

• Stunted plant growth
• Poor grain formation
• Significant drop in yield
• In extreme cases, complete crop failure

Effective Control Measures

1. Regular field monitoring and timely irrigation
2. Balanced use of NPK fertilizers

Immediate fungicide spray upon detection:

• Carbendazim – 1 ml per liter of water
• Dithane M-45 – 2 ml per liter of water
• Spray in the morning or evening, repeating every 7–10 days

Organic & Natural Remedies: Farmers practicing organic farming can use neem extract, cow urine-based bio-fungicides, or Trichoderma fungi. These methods are particularly effective at the early stages of infection.

Farmer Advisory: Vigilance is the strongest defense against Brown Spot Disease. Changes in weather and excessive field moisture create favorable conditions for the disease, so regular crop inspection and preventing waterlogging are crucial. Timely action and awareness are the keys to achieving better yields.

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