Seed soak method for application of plant protectants for increasing pesticide use efficiency, healthy crop and higher yield in garlic (Allium sativum L.)

The aim of the present study was to study the feasibility of using a slow release seed treatment binder as an efficient delivery system of seed-protectant chemicals in garlic cloves, for increasing the retention, prolonging the release of pesticide and to study its effect on growth, disease intensity, thrips incidence, bulb yield, and quality. Garlic is vegetatively propagated by planting cloves; the quality of cloves plays an important for obtaining healthy crop and higher yield. Soaking of garlic cloves in a slow release binder solution increased the retention and slowed the release of pesticides. After 30 DAP 214% & 4600%, higher retention of carbendazim and fipronil was observed in garlic cloves soaked in the slow release binder in comparison to the traditional practice of clove treatment. Garlic cloves soaked in slow release binder along with 300 mg/Kg carbendazim +1575 mg/Kg mancozeb recorded highest clove sprouting. Garlic cloves soaked in the slow release binder and 75 mg/Kg fipronil + 300 mg/Kg carbendazim + 1575 mg/Kg mancozeb reported highest bulb diameter and lowest number of thrips plant(-1). Garlic cloves soaked in slow release binder soaking +500 mg/Kg streptocyclin + 300 mg/Kg carbendazim + 1575 mg/Kg mancozeb recorded lowest percent disease incidence. Garlic cloves soaked in a slow release binder solution with 75 mg/Kg fipronil recorded highest doves bulb(-1) and yield plant(-1). Thus garlic dove soaking in a slow release binder is beneficial in reducing the pesticide use, increasing pesticide use efficiency, reducing the pest, disease incidence and increasing the productivity of garlic for sustainable agriculture.