Khaira disease of rice

Khaira disease of rice

This disease of rice is commonly found in the terai regions of uttarakhand. The disease is caused due to deficiency of zinc in the soil. When there is non-availability of zinc in the otherwise normal soil, the symptoms of this disease appear. Generally, the symptoms appear a fortnight after transplanting. This is the time, when there is peak period of the decomposition of last year’s plant debris in the water-flooded fields.

Symptoms:- The chlorosis appears at the base of affected leaves, and later on numerous brown or bronze colored lesion are developed on the leaf blades. These lesions coalesce with each other forming large sized, elongated lesions, and ultimately the complete affected leaf becomes bronze-colored and dried. The normal growth of the plants is checked, and the plants remain stunted in size. The growth of the roots also becomes limited, and the main roots become brown in color. The finer roots are destroyed .in severe stage, the normal growth of the plant is arrested, and the ears are developed on it, but sometimes there is natural recovery of the plants and some of them may produce ears with few grains.

Control measure:- The disease may be controlled by two sprayings of the mixture of one kilogram slaked lime in 400 liters of water. This mixture is sufficient for spraying in an acre. As soon as the symptoms appear, the spraying should be done. The second spraying is being done after ten days of the first.