MANAGEMENT OF BACTERIAL LEAF BLIGHT DISEASE OF SALINAS RICE VARIETY USING ORGANIC BASED TEAS UNDER ADVERSED CONDITION OF LIGUASAN MARSH, PHILIPPINES

Abstract

Organic-based teas are proven to make environmental friendly, less cost and readily available compared to synthetic chemical pesticides. Likewise, application of organic tea enhances soil fertility, sustains productivity and provides efficient control of plant pathogens. This study was conducted to effectively manage through an in vivo test the bacterial leaf blight (BLB) of rice in adverse condition of Liguasan marsh from February to August 2012. Of the organic pesticides tested against BLB of rice causing Xanthomonas Oryzae Pv. oryzae, Vermi tea was found effective (E) and was comparable to Antica (commercial check) while Kamantigue(Impatiens balsamina Linn) Plant Juice (KPJ) and Effective Microorganism (EM) were moderately effective (ME). Plants applied with Antica (commercial check) had the highest yield of 5.0 t ha-1 but comparable to plants applied with Vermi Tea (4.9 t ha-1). Plants applied with EM and KPJ had comparable yield of 4.8 and 4.7 t ha-1, respectively. Costefficacy of treatments usage for a hectare of rice gave a high return of investment (ROI%) in VT (118.4%), EM (113.9%), KPJ (109.5%), and Antica (11.5%), respectively. The low cost and significant effect action provided by the different biopesticides employed increased the ROI of rice production per hectare under adverse condition of Liguasan marsh.