MECHANICAL APPLICATION OF FUNGICIDES FOR CONTROLLING BLACK SCURF DISEASE OF POTATOES | Journal of..

Black scurf of potatoes, caused by Rhizoctonia solani Kühn, is a common soil-borne potato disease that reduces the quality of fresh potatoes and tuber output. Traditional methods in Egypt still use humans physically applying fungicides, which takes more time, has serious negative effects for labourers, and is difficult to monitor. The major goals of this study were to develop a fungicide injector as an attachment modification on a planter during potato seed sowing in order to reduce the occurrence of black scurf disease in potatoes tubers. The Grimme belt planter GB 430 has been updated to include a liquid chemical injector system that automatically wets the soil around tubers. In all furrow openers, fungicide was injected by pump, with eight nozzles providing a complete soaking of the tuber or application to the soil around the tuber. At a rate of Kg/t of tuber seeds, Monceren (fungicide) 25 percent WP was utilised. The equipment was put through its paces under various operational situations, including four distinct tractor forward speeds (4.2, 5, 5.8, and 7.1 km/h), suspension of injection pump pressure (1, 1.5, and 2 bar), and three different spray nozzle sizes (0.015, 0.020 and 0.025 mm). The effects of the parameters studied on the incidence of black scurf disease in potato tubers production quality and quantity 120 days after planting. With a tractor forward speed of 5.8 km/h, injection pump delivery of 2 bar, and spray nozzle diameter of 0.02 mm, the optimal delivery of one nozzle of 0.6 l/min, highest yield, and least infected tubers by black scurf disease were reported. Potato crop yields improved as a result of the black scurf disease and the reconsolidation of the soil. The current findings suggest that modern technology could be utilised as an alternative to traditional fungicides in the management of black scurf disease in potatoes.

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