Abstract

Soil-borne plant pathogenic fungi cause heavy crop losses all over the world. With variable climate from region to region, among tropical and subtropical land crops, soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merill]. is an important oil seed crop, providing vegetable oil as human food. Results revealed that alone fungicidal seed treatment (main), alone soil application of organic amendments (sub) and their interactions significantly reduced the pre-, post- and average mortality induced by Sclerotium rolfsii in soybean Cv. MAUS-71 over untreated control.  All the seed dressing fungicides tested were found at par and recorded significantly least pre-emergence mortality in the range of 05.80 to 06.35%, post-emergence mortality in the range of 05.48 to 05.61 with average mortality in the range of 05.71 to 05.98%. All the seed dressing fungicides tested were found at par and recorded significantly maximum number of pods per plant in the range of 25.40 to 26.30, test weight in the range of 05.79 to 05.85 g and seed yield in the range of 849.95 to 870.72 kg/ha over untreated control.  Similarly, alone soil application of organic amendments was found effective against S. rolfsii and significantly reduced the pre- and post-emergence mortality and increased the number of pods per plants, test weight and seed yield in soybean Cv. MAUS-71 over untreated control. Of the six organic amendments tested, neem cake recorded significantly reduced pre-emergence mortality  (05.63%); post-emergence mortality, (05.47%); maximum pods / plant, (25.70); highest test weight, (05.82 g) and highest seed yield (849.70 kg/ha). Among the interactions, Carbendazim + Captan x Neem cake recorded significantly least pre-emergence mortality (01.66%). Significantly reduced post-emergence mortality was recorded with treatment interactions of Captan x fym (01.23%). The treatment interactions of Carbendazim + Captan x sunflower cake recorded significantly increased number of pods/ plant (37.00). Significantly highest test weight was recorded with the treatment interactions of Carbendazim + Captan x Neem cake (12.50 g). The treatment interactions of Carbendazim + Captan x sunflower cake recorded significantly highest seed yield (2040.00 kg/ha).

Key words: Glycine max, Sclerotium rolfsii, organic amendments, fungicides.