Disease management (Amaranth)

Leaf blight (Rhizoctonia sp.) and white rusts are majors problems in amaranth cultivation.

Leaf blight is the most severe during rainy season under warm and humid conditions. Symptoms include appearance of white and irregular spots on leaf lamina resulting in the unmarketable produce.

Management:

• Sow resistant green amaranth variety during rainy season;
• Avoid splash irrigation;
• Spray mancozeb @ 4 g/l of cow dung supernatant as fine droplets. Spray at weekly interval initially and stop spraying 14 days prior to harvest to reduce residual effect of fungicide on crop.