UPL Saaf Fungicide – Carbendazim 12% + Mancozeb 63% WP for Broad-Spectrum Disease Control

UPL Saaf is a trusted dual-action fungicide from UPL, formulated with Carbendazim 12% + Mancozeb 63% WP (Wettable Powder). It combines two powerful active ingredients that work together to protect crops from a wide range of fungal diseases. Carbendazim moves systemically inside the plant to stop fungal growth from within, while Mancozeb forms a protective contact layer on the plant surface to prevent new infections. This dual systemic and contact action makes Saaf a practical and reliable choice for farmers managing fungal diseases across field crops, fruit crops, vegetable crops, and plantation crops.

Saaf Fungicide is recommended for crops such as groundnut, paddy (rice), potato, tea, grape, mango, chilli, maize, apple, cotton, soybean, mandarin, and pea. It helps control major fungal diseases including leaf spot, blast, early blight, late blight, black scurf, blister blight, grey blight, red rust, die back, black rot, downy mildew, powdery mildew, anthracnose, fruit rot, leaf blight, fruit scab, grey mildew, collar rot, charcoal rot, seedling rot, and Fusarium wilt. The product offers both preventive and early curative action, helping protect new plant growth, improve plant vigor, and support better yield and quality. It can be applied as a foliar spray, seed treatment, and in selected crops through drone application.

Key Benefits

• Dual action of systemic (Carbendazim) and contact (Mancozeb) protection gives both internal and surface-level disease control in one product.
• Broad-spectrum coverage manages many fungal disease groups including leaf spots, blights, rusts, rots, mildews, scab, blast, and seedling diseases.
• Provides strong preventive action along with early curative properties, helping stop disease spread and protect new plant growth.
• Long-lasting protection after a single application reduces the need for frequent spraying.
• Combining two active ingredients makes it harder for fungal pathogens to develop resistance.
• Flexible application options include foliar spray, seed treatment, and drone application in selected crops.
• Helps improve plant vigor, flowering, and overall yield and quality across multiple crops.

How It Works

UPL Saaf works through a combination of two different modes of action. Carbendazim, a systemic fungicide, is absorbed by the plant and moves inside the plant tissues. It works by halting fungal cell division from within, which stops the growth and spread of the fungus that has already entered the plant. This gives the product its curative ability when infection is caught at an early stage.

Mancozeb, on the other hand, acts as a contact fungicide. It forms a multi-site protective shield on the leaf and stem surface, creating a barrier that prevents fungal spores from germinating and infecting the plant. Because Mancozeb works at multiple sites in the fungus, it is very difficult for pathogens to develop resistance against it.

Together, these two ingredients provide both internal protection and external shielding. This dual activity makes Saaf useful in disease management programs where both preventive protection and early curative control are needed. The Mancozeb component begins acting on contact within hours of spraying, while Carbendazim provides systemic control over the following days, giving farmers dependable and lasting disease protection.

Technical Specifications

Specification	Details
Product Name	UPL Saaf Fungicide
Brand	UPL
Technical Name	Carbendazim 12% + Mancozeb 63% WP
Formulation Type	Wettable Powder (WP)
Mode of Action	Systemic (Carbendazim) + Contact (Mancozeb) – Dual action
Chemical Class	Benzimidazole (Carbendazim) + Dithiocarbamate (Mancozeb)
FRAC Group	Group 1 (Carbendazim) + M03 (Mancozeb)
Application Method	Foliar spray, seed treatment, drone application (selected crops)
Toxicity	Green (low toxicity) category
Country of Origin	India
Shelf Life	2 years from date of manufacture
Storage Temperature	Below 35°C

Recommended Dosage & Application

UPL Saaf dosage varies by crop and target disease. Follow the crop-wise recommendation below for accurate application.

Crop	Target Disease	Dosage / Acre	Dilution in Water / Acre	Dosage / L of Water	Waiting Period
Groundnut	Leaf spot	200 g	200 L	1 g	72 days
Paddy (Rice)	Blast	300 g	300 L	1 g	57 days
Paddy (Drone)	Blast	300 g	8 L	37.5 g	57 days
Potato	Early blight, Late blight, Black scurf	700 g	200 L	3.5 g	47 days
Tea	Blister blight, Grey blight, Red rust, Die back, Black rot	500 g	100–200 L	2.5–5 g	7 days
Grape	Downy mildew, Powdery mildew, Anthracnose	0.15% solution	As required	–	7 days
Mango	Powdery mildew, Anthracnose	0.15% solution	As required	–	7 days
Chilli	Leaf spot, Fruit rot, Powdery mildew	300 g	200 L	1.5 g	3 days
Chilli (Drone)	Leaf spot, Fruit rot, Powdery mildew	300 g	8 L	37.5 g	3 days
Maize	Downy mildew, Leaf blight	400 g	200 L	2 g	37 days
Apple	Fruit scab, Powdery mildew	0.25% solution	As required	–	20 days
Cotton	Alternaria leaf spot, Grey mildew	600 g	200 L	3 g	71 days
Soybean	Alternaria leaf spot, Myrothecium leaf spot, Pod and stem blight, Anthracnose	500 g	200 L	2.5 g	31 days
Mandarin	Twig blight, Sooty mould, Anthracnose fruit rot, Anthracnose leaf spot	0.30% solution	200 L	–	30 days

Seed Treatment Dosage:

• Groundnut: 2.5 g per kg seed – for Tikka leaf spot, Collar rot, Dry root rot
• Soybean: 3.0 g per kg seed – for Collar rot, Charcoal rot, Seedling rot
• Pea: 3.0 g per kg seed – for Rhizoctonia seedling blight, Ascochyta foot rot, Fusarium wilt

General mixing dose: 2 g per litre of water for foliar spray. For tougher infections, the rate may range from 1.5 to 3.5 g per litre depending on crop and disease severity.

When to Use

Apply UPL Saaf as a preventive spray or at the very first sign of disease appearance. Early application gives the best disease control and helps prevent yield loss. Spray during cooler hours of the day—early morning or late afternoon—on a non-windy and clear day for better absorption and coverage.

Fungal diseases spread quickly when humidity, rainfall, irrigation moisture, or dense crop growth create favourable conditions. Start spraying preventively before disease symptoms appear or at the first sign of infection, particularly during humid, wet, or cloudy weather. Apply every 10–15 days during periods of high disease pressure. Do not exceed 3–4 applications per season, and rotate with a fungicide from a different FRAC group after 2–3 sprays to prevent resistance build-up.

Step by Step Usage Instructions

Foliar Spray:

1. Check the crop and identify the disease condition before spraying.
2. Measure the required quantity of UPL Saaf as per the crop and disease recommendation.
3. Pre-mix the measured quantity in a small amount of clean water to form a smooth slurry.
4. Add this slurry to the spray tank filled with the required quantity of water.
5. Stir the suspension well with a wooden stick to ensure uniform mixing.
6. Spray evenly on the crop canopy using a suitable sprayer (knapsack, foot sprayer, or compression knapsack sprayer), covering both upper and lower leaf surfaces, stems, and fruit zones.
7. Repeat application only as per disease pressure and product label guidance.

Seed Treatment:

1. Prepare a slurry with the requisite quantity of product and 10 ml of water per kg of seed.
2. Swirl the seeds in a closed container to make a uniform coating on the seeds.
3. Shade dry the coated seeds and sow on the same day or the next day.

For paddy and chilli, application can also be done by drone as per the recommended dosage. Rinse the sprayer thoroughly with clean water after every use.

Compatibility

UPL Saaf is compatible with most commonly used insecticides and fungicides. However, do not mix Carbendazim 12% + Mancozeb 63% WP with Lime Sulphur or strongly alkaline products. Always perform a small jar test before tank-mixing with unfamiliar inputs, and consult an agronomist before tank mixing Saaf with other products for field-level use.

Precautions & Safety

• Wear gloves, mask, full sleeve clothing, and safety goggles while mixing and spraying.
• Do not spray on windy days to prevent spray drift to non-target areas.
• Do not eat, drink, or smoke while handling or applying the product.
• Wash hands, face, and exposed skin thoroughly with soap and water after spraying.
• Avoid direct contact with skin, eyes, and clothing. If contact occurs, rinse immediately with clean water for 15 minutes.
• Keep children, pets, and livestock away from treated fields for at least 24 hours.
• Do not spray near aquaculture or water bodies.
• In case of accidental ingestion, inhalation, or eye exposure, seek immediate medical attention.
• Triple-rinse empty containers, puncture, and dispose of per local waste guidelines.

PHI / REI & Storage

Pre-Harvest Interval (PHI) – crop-wise:

• Chilli: 3 days
• Tea, Grape, Mango: 7 days
• Apple: 20 days
• Mandarin: 30 days
• Soybean: 31 days
• Maize: 37 days
• Potato: 47 days
• Paddy: 57 days
• Cotton: 71 days
• Groundnut: 72 days

Re-Entry Period: Do not enter treated fields for at least 24 hours after spraying without proper protective gear.

Storage: Store in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated place away from direct sunlight, food, feed, fertilizers, and water sources. Keep the product in its original sealed container. Storage temperature below 35°C. Shelf life is 2 years from the date of manufacture. Keep out of reach of children and farm animals.