Advisory issued for farmers to avoid crop loss during winter rains

The IARI stated, “Thinning and weeding are recommended in late sown mustard crop. If low temperature continues for two weeks, white rust infection might start. Therefore, farmers are advised to keep observation on leaves for white rust appearance.”

Farmers living in the NCR have reported losses to the early sown mustard crops due to hailstorm in the past 48 hours.

Nodal officer of the agro advisory committee Ananta Vashisth; BS Tomar, head, Division of Vegetable Science; Dinesh Kumar, principal scientist, Agronomy; P Sinha, principal scientist, Plant Pathology; and other members said the transplantation of onion should be done in this week. They have advised the farmers to use fully decomposed farm yard manure (FYM) and potash fertiliser in fields before transplanting onion seedlings.

The farmers can apply fertiliser on wheat and other crops with recommended doses. The earthing up might also be done in potato crop, the farm advisory committee added.

Due to high relative humidity, infection of blight may occur in potato and tomato crops. The farmers have been advised constantly monitoring both crops.

The transplanting of mature seedlings of tomato, cauliflower, cabbage and broccoli crops may be done on the raised beds of soil. Constant monitoring of leaf feeders in cole crops (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, kale, collards and kohlrabi) has also been advised by the committee.

If the pest population on crops is above the economic threshold level (ETL), a point at which the population of pest or disease reaches a level where control measures should be taken to prevent economic losses), then spray bacillus thuringiensis (soil microbes) at a rate of 1.0 gm per litre of water or spinosad at a rate of 1 ml per 3 litres of water when the sky remains clear.

By and large, the chilly and foggy weather conditions with rainfall were good for the wheat crop, the IARI scientists added.