Publications

Rice stands as a pivotal economic crop in Ebonyi State, particularly flourishing in Ikwo Local Government Area.However, the productivity of this vital crop faces significant challenges owing to pestilence and diseases. Thisstudy sought to employ advanced PLANTIX image analysis software to systematically screen rice farms suspectedof disease infestations within Okpuitumo Community. The aim was to precisely identify prevalent diseasesimpacting the region's rice cultivation. Leveraging the iterative capabilities of the PLANTIX smartphoneapplication, images of afflicted rice leaves were meticulously examined to identify specific disease types andquantify their severity. The study meticulously selected four villages—Anumocha, Odeligbo, Ettam, andOgidiga—with three farms per village and five sampling points per farm, employing rigorous randomizationprotocols. The findings showcased a hierarchy of prevalent rice diseases within the community, highlighting theseverity in the following descending order: Potassium deficiency (40%), Brown spot disease (38.33%), Magnesiumdeficiency (31.67%), Nitrogen deficiency (26.67%), Rice blast (6.67%), Zinc deficiency (5%), Bacterial blight(3.33%), Green horned caterpillar (1.67%), and Leaf scald (1.67%). Notably, the study underscored soil nutrientdepletion and the prevalence of brown spot disease as primary impediments to rice cultivation in the area.Consequently, the study advocates for the implementation of robust soil nutrient restoration strategies alongsidethe development of brown spot disease-resistant or tolerant rice varieties that harmoniously align with the localagro-ecology. These interventions are imperative to safeguard the burgeoning population and the farmingcommunity against exacerbating food security crises and persistent poverty challengesKeywords: Rice diseases, nutrient deficiency, Image analysis, Plantix and Ikwo Local Government Area