: Application of potassium either as recommended, deficient or excess dose, enhanced the level of phenolic contents, increased incubation period and thereby decreased the sheath blight severity. Application of nitrogen and phosphorous, either as recommended, deficient or excess dose resulted in reduction of phenolic content, shorter incubation period and thereby increasing the sheath blight severity. Recommended sulphur application, enhanced the phenolic contents, increased incubation period and thereby decreased the sheath blight severity. Recommended zinc application resulted in enhancement of phenolic contents, longer incubation period and thereby decreasing the sheath blight severity. Excess application of zinc, reduced the phenolic contents and incubation period but the severity of sheath blight was also lowered down. Recommended iron application (1.5 kg./ha) enhanced the phenolic contents and incubation period with a decreased level of sheath blight severity. Deficient and excess doses of iron also showed the similar trend of effect on phenolics, incubation period and sheath blight severity.