Survey of Plant Diseases in a Local Agro-Ecosystem and Their Management Practices

Abstract

One of the main factors influencing agricultural output and food security in regional agro-ecosystems is plant diseases. In order to identify prevalent plant diseases that occur in crop fields and to assess the management strategies used by farmers to reduce disease, a field study was carried out. Major crops like wheat, rice, tomatoes, potatoes, mustard, and pulses were grown in the sample agricultural area where the study was conducted. Field observations, farmer interviews, and disease incidence reporting were used to gather data. Leaf blight, powdery mildew, rust, wilt, damping-off, bacterial leaf spot, and mosaic virus infection were the main illnesses seen. Cereal crops were mostly impacted by fungal infections including rust and blight, although tomato and potato crops exhibited greater disease incidence due to favorable moisture and temperature conditions.While integrated disease management techniques including crop rotation, resistant cultivars, seed treatment, and field cleaning were less often used, farmers frequently used chemical fungicides and pesticides as the main control approach. The findings showed that the research area's agricultural output and quality were considerably lowered by disease incidence. In order to improve crop health, productivity, and environmental safety, the study stresses the necessity of integrated plant disease management and the significance of raising awareness of sustainable disease management practices.