Silica gel, copper sulphate and zinc sulphate were applied to the soil prior to planting at the rates of 360g, 0.30 g, 0.45g per 15 kg soil respectively. Inoculation significantly (P=0.05) increased sheath blight severity and incidence which caused yield losses of 11% in moderately resistant variety MR219 and 50% in moderately susceptible variety MR253.