Information on state recommendations:
Disease management – Predominant diseases and their control measures
Major diseases of maize in Bihar.

• Turcicum leaf blight
• Maydis leaf blight
• Fusarium stalk rot
• charcoal rot
• Banded leaf and sheath blight
• Common rust

Biological control

• Add Trichoderma harzianum formulation 2.0% WP in furrows at the time of sowing prior mixing with FYM @ 10 g/kg FYM & incubated for 10 days in moist condition for Charcoal rot (Post flowering stalk rot).
• Seed treatment with Trichoderma harzianum 2.0% WP @ 20 g/kg of seeds for control of Rhizoctonia solani f. sp. sasakii (Banded leaf & sheath blight).
• Combined application of mustard & tobacco dust @ 2.5q/ha (ETL – 2 cyst/g of soil) for cyst nematode.
• Application of Trichogramma chilonis @ 1,60,000/ha. on 7 and 15 days old crop onwards at weekly interval for various pathogens.

Chemical control

• Need based and judicious application of fungicides are most important component of integrated pest management.
• Seed treatment with Thiram 75% WS @ 25 to 30 g/kg seed.
• Seed treatment with fungicide Metalaxyl-M 31.8% ES @ 2.4 ml/kg of seed in the endemic areas of downy mildew.
• Foliar Spray at first appearance of leaf blight with Mancozeb 75% WP @ 1.5 to 2 kg/l of water followed by 2 to 4 applications at 10 days interval if needed.
• Spray of Mancozeb 75% WP @ 1.5 to 2 kg/l of water or Zineb 75% WP @ 1.5-2 kg/ha at first appearance of pustule of Polysora rust or Common rust and three sprays of fungicide at 15 days interval are recommended if needed.
• Foliar spray of Mancozeb 75% WP @ 1.5 to 2 kg/l at very first appearance of symptoms of downy mildew.
• Soil drenching of bleaching powder containing 33% chlorine @ 10 kg/ha as at pre- flowering stage if symptoms of bacterial rot appears (Pre flowering).

Pest management – Predominant pests and their control measures
Major insect pests of maize crop in Bihar.

• Maize stem borer
• Shoot fly
• Army worm
• White grub
• Cut worm
• Aphid
• Thrips
• Termites
• Fall Army worm

Biological control

• Conservation of naturally occurring biocontrol agents such as Trichogramma chilonis Ishii., Cotesia flavipes Cameron, Carabids, Coccinellids, Chrysoperla, spiders and wasps, etc. and by reducing chemical pesticides.
• Release of Trichogramma chilonis @ 1,60,000 /ha. on 7 and 15 days old crop and subsequently if required.

Chemical control

• Granular application of Carbofuran 3% CG @33.3kg/ha in whorls of infested plants to control stem borer, shoot fly and thrips.
• Spray of Carbaryl 85% WP @ 1764 g/l against borer at 15-18 days after germination.
• Spray Monocrotophos 36% SL @ 625 ml/ha or Dimethoate 30% EC @ 1155 ml/ha or Oxydemeton – methyl 25% EC @ 1000 ml/ha or Phorate 10% CG @ 30 Kg/ha for the management of shoot fly.
• Spray Coragen @ 0.4 ml/l and Imamactin benzoate @ 0.5-0.75 gm/l of water.
• Spot application of fepronil @2-3 granules /plant and application of Chlorpyrifos 20% EC@25kg/ha for control of termites.