During the onset of monsoon the rubber trees in the estates shows abnormal leaf fall. Why and how to control that?
This is mainly due to abnormal leaf disease. This can be controlled by i. Prophylactic spraying of the foliage prior to the onset of South-West monsoon with, Bordeaux mixture 1% at 4000 – 5000 lit/ha using high volume sprayers. ii. Oil based Copper oxychloride dispersed in diluent spray oil employing either low volume air blast sprayers (Micron 420 or Minimicron 77 or Shaw Duster Sprayer) from the ground or through aerial application. iii. For micron spraying on the tree spread, foliage intensity, planting material used and age of plants, two rounds of spray using about 17 to 22 lit of fungicide oil mixture per ha per round (1:6 proportion) with gap of 10 to 15 days or a single round of spray with about 30 – 37 lit of fungicide oil mixture per ha (1:5 proportion) may be necessary.
