How to Use Bismerthiazol to Treat Rice Leaf Silver Correctly and Safely

Bismerthiazole Treatment of Rice Leaf Blight

Rice bacterial leaf blight is one of the most serious diseases affecting rice, often appearing after heavy rains or in fields with excessive nitrogen. It causes the leaves to dry out, shrink, and significantly reduce yields. Among the current treatment options, Bismerthiazol is considered an effective and safe solution, widely recommended by agricultural experts. In this article, Sataka will help farmers better understand Bismerthiazol, its application, and how to use it correctly to protect your crops optimally.

1. Rice Bacterial Leaf Blight – A Major Concern for Farmers

Rice bacterial leaf blight is one of the most dangerous bacterial diseases in rice cultivation, particularly common in water-rich areas such as the Mekong Delta, the Southwest region, and some Central regions of Vietnam. It is caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae, which thrives in humid conditions, frequent rainfall, and fields with high nitrogen content.

The disease first appears as silver-white streaks on the edges of the leaves, gradually spreading toward the center. This causes the leaves to dry quickly, curl, and emit a slightly fishy odor. If not treated promptly, the entire field may suffer from dried leaves, reduced photosynthesis, and a significant drop in yield and grain quality.

Concern about rice leaf blight

2. What is Bismerthiazol?

Bismerthiazol (BT) is an antibiotic active ingredient widely used in agriculture to control bacterial diseases in crops, especially rice leaf blight. It belongs to the thiazole group and works by inhibiting the metabolism and protein synthesis processes of pathogenic bacteria.

Bismerthiazol is commonly formulated as wettable powder (WP), suspension concentrate (SC), or soluble liquid (SL). It is easy to use and delivers quick results after application. Many commercial products from well-known brands now include Bismerthiazol as a key ingredient in their rice blight treatments.

Active ingredient Bismerthiazole

3. How Bismerthiazol Works Against Bacterial Blight

Bismerthiazol acts through systemic absorption and contact mechanisms:

• When sprayed onto the leaf surface, it adheres and penetrates through the leaf epidermis.
• It then moves within the plant tissues, reaching the bacteria's location.
• There, Bismerthiazol inhibits enzymes essential for bacterial cell division and growth, rendering the bacteria unable to reproduce, weakening them, and ultimately killing them.

This dual mechanism allows Bismerthiazol to eliminate both surface bacteria and those hidden deep within leaf tissues—something many traditional products cannot do.

4. Key Advantages of Using Bismerthiazol

Bismerthiazol is regarded as one of the most effective active ingredients for controlling rice leaf blight due to several standout benefits:

• Fast and strong effect: Noticeable disease reduction after just 1–2 applications.
• Broad-spectrum action: Also effective against other bacterial diseases like leaf edge burn and bacterial leaf streak.
• Excellent absorption and systemic movement: Reaches deep-seated bacteria and helps prevent re-infection.
• Low resistance risk: When used at the proper dose and rotated with other actives.
• Well-suited to Vietnam’s climate: Especially effective during the rainy season when leaf blight is most prevalent.

Effective in wet season

5. How to Use Bismerthiazol Correctly

To achieve the best results, farmers should follow these usage guidelines:

Dosage:

• For powder form (20% WP): Mix 25–30g with 16 liters of water.
• For liquid form (300SC): Mix 15–20ml with 16 liters of water.
• Always read the specific instructions on the product label.

Spray Timing:

• Spray as soon as you notice silvering or drying at the leaf edges.
• Especially important after heavy rains or during periods of high nitrogen fertilization.

Application Method:

• Spray evenly on the stems and undersides of the leaves, focusing on the base and sheaths where bacteria tend to reside.
• Apply in the early morning or late afternoon to reduce evaporation and improve absorption.

Number of Applications:

Depending on disease severity, spray 2–3 times, spaced 5–7 days apart.

Instructions for use of Bismerthiazo

6. Important Notes When Using Bismerthiazol

• Do not mix with alkaline products or sulfur-based products as it may reduce efficacy.
• Avoid continuous use over multiple crop cycles: Rotate with other actives like Streptomycin or Oxytetracycline to minimize resistance.
• Always wear protective gear: gloves, mask, and goggles.
• Do not spray during rain or within 4 hours before rain to prevent dilution or wash-off.
• Store in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight, and keep out of reach of people and animals.

Prepare protective gear before spraying

7. Combining Bismerthiazol with Integrated Disease Management

While chemical treatment is crucial, controlling rice leaf blight effectively requires a combination of methods:

• Use resistant rice varieties: Such as OM5451, OM6976, Bac Thom 7, Xa4, Xa7, Xa21…
• Balanced fertilization: Avoid excess nitrogen; increase potassium and calcium to strengthen the plant.
• Proper water management: Prevent prolonged flooding or drought.
• Crop rotation: Switch crops every few seasons to break the disease cycle.
• Apply biological solutions: Use antagonistic fungi or beneficial microbes to reduce the reliance on chemical pesticides.

Select rice varieties resistant to rice blast disease

With its dual action of bacterial inhibition and plant immunity enhancement, Bismerthiazol has proven highly effective in preserving both the yield and quality of rice crops. To achieve the best outcomes, always use it at the correct dose and timing, as recommended by the manufacturer. If you are seeking a safe, comprehensive, and cost-effective solution for bacterial leaf blight, consider applying Bismerthiazol early in the season.

Explore more rice disease control products in our Agricultural News section to ensure a high-yield and sustainable harvest with SATAKA Vietnam!