Efficacy of Soil Amendments with Organic Manures, Lantana camara and Microalgae Against Alternaria alternata of Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana)

Author: V. Praveen Kumar and Sobita Simon

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Abstract

Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni) is a herbaceous perennial plant of the Asteraceae family, native to Paraguay (South America). It is also known as the "sweetest plant of the world". Stevia is a semi-humid subtropical plant, is prone to Alternaria leaf spot, a major foliar disease caused by Alternaria alternata. Managing this fungal disease is crucial for optimal stevia cultivation. In a field experiment at SHUATS, Prayagraj, various organic manures, including Farmyard Manure (FYM), spent mushroom compost (SMC), neem cake (NC), Lantana camara, and microalgae, were evaluated for their effectiveness against alternaria leaf spot, growth, and yield of stevia. Among the ten treatments, T9 – FYM + SMC + NC + Lantana camara + microalgae significantly reduced disease intensity at 45 and 90 days after treatment (10.65% and 23.32%). This treatment also excelled in plant height at 30, 60, and 90 days after treatment (59.76 cm), with the maximum number of suckers and fresh and dry leaf weights recorded at 45 and 90 days. The results highlight the potential of combining organic manures to reduce disease intensity while enhancing stevia growth and yield. The experiment took place during the Rabi season of 2021-2022.

Keywords

Alternaria alternata, Farmyard manure, Lantana camara, Neem Cake, Microalgae, Spent Mushroom Compost

Conclusion

The current field experimental investigation reveals that the most substantial reduction in disease occurred with the combination treatment T9 – incorporating Farm Yard Manure (FYM), neem cake, Soil Moisture Conservation (SMC), Lantana camara, and Microalgae, showing a noteworthy decrease of 23.32%, as opposed to the control group (46.03%). Consequently, it can be deduced that the application of bio resources effectively mitigates foliar Alternaria leaf spot, diminishes disease intensity, and enhances the overall growth of stevia.

References

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How to cite this article

V. Praveen Kumar and Sobita Simon (2024). Efficacy of Soil Amendments with Organic Manures, Lantana camara and Microalgae Against Alternaria alternata of Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana). Biological Forum – An International Journal, 16(2): 42-46.