Efficacy of Various Disease Management Options and Evaluation of Farmers' Fields for Major Diseases of Rice in Sierra Leone

Alusaine Edward Samura, Joseph Beamah, Vandi Amara, Prince Emmanuel Norman

Abstract


This study assessed the efficacy of various disease management options of rice and status of farmers' fields for major rice diseases of Sierra Leone. The field experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design in three replicates at the School Agriculture and Food Sciences, Njala University, Njala, Southern Sierra Leone during the 2022 cropping season. For the on-farm study, a total of 90 farms were assessed in three districts (Kambia, Kenema and Moyamba) during the same year. At each farm, 30 plants were evaluated with 15 plants randomly selected along each diagonal. Findings revealed that treatments Mancozan 80WP and Copper hydroxide effective in reducing disease incidence and severity. Disease treatments significantly influenced grain yield and yield components, with Neem leaf extract, Neem seed powder, Mancozan, and Metarhizium enhancing panicle length, spikelet number, grain yield, and 1000-grain weight. Mancozan 80WP exhibited the highest grain yield, 1000-grain weight, grain number, and seed dry matter. The on-farm study revealed that the incidence and severity of leaf blast and bacteria leaf blight were high in Kambia, while Moyamba exhibited a higher proportion of moderately susceptible farms to yellow mottle virus disease and panicle blast. Findings indicate the potential of the tested treatments in improving rice production, disease management, and crop productivity. They provide valuable insights for the development of sustainable and eco-friendly disease management approaches, contributing to food security in Sierra Leone. Results also suggest that Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA), participatory disease assessment and participatory plant breeding techniques should be explored to promote collaborations among stakeholders, researchers and scientists for development of new rice varieties with desired traits including resistance to major biotic constraints such as diseases and pests, while improving grain yield, and other desired key traits.


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