Effects of fly ash and Helminthosporium oryzae on growth and yield of three cultivars of rice

A 120-day greenhouse experiment was conducted to study the effects of various fly ash concentrations (0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100% vol/vol) with normal field soil and Helminthosporium oryzae on the growth and yield of three cultivars (Pusa Basmati, Pant-4 and Pant-10) of rice, Oryza sativa L. Application of 20% and 40% fly ash with soil caused a significant increase in plant growth and yield of all the three cultivars. Forty percent fly ash caused a higher increase in growth and yield than did 20%. Sixty percent, 80% and 100% fly ash had an adverse effect on growth and yield of all the three cultivars, the maximum being with 100% fly ash. Inoculation of H. oryzae had an adverse effect on the growth and yield, Pant-10 suffered higher damage by H. oryzae than Pusa Basmati and Pant-4. Pant-10 also exihibited higher infected leaf area and greater disease symptoms of H. oryzae than did Pusa Basmati and Pant-4. Plants grown in 100% fly ash suffered higher reductions in growth and yield with H. oryzae than plants grown in pure soil or in 20% or 40% fly ash. In general, plant growth was best in Pusa Basmati followed by Pant-4 and Pant-10, while yield was higher in Pant-4 followed by Pant-10 and Pusa Basmati.