Till land, add more nitrogen to soil to overcome flood damage: Scientists

The recent spell of rains and flashfloods across Northwest India has left vast stretches of farmland submerged, standing crops damaged and farmers counting losses.

Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu, Kashmir and parts of Ladakh have been severely hit, with crops either under water or damaged beyond recovery. Scientists of the ICAR – Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), Regional Station, Karnal, has issued an advisory to help farmers recover and protect their livelihoods.

Suggestions from experts

For paddy, drainage of water and spray of nitrogen and potassium are essential

Maize growers should create drainage channels and watch for stem rot

Cotton farmers must manage root rot and insect attacks, sugarcane growers must apply nitrogen

Vegetable growers should drain water, prune damaged plants, and spray protectants

Orchard owners must remove silt, repair drainage and use fungicides against root rot

Dr Shiv K Yadav, Principal Scientist and Head, ICAR-IARI (Karnal), said the immediate losses to farmers were immense, but timely action could reduce long-term damage. “Where water has receded, farmers should till the soil to restore aeration and apply nitrogen with organic manure to rebuild soil health,” he said. In fields where water remains stagnant, farmers should divert it using pumps or channels. Where silt has accumulated, soil treatment and fresh sowing will be needed once conditions improve.

Dr Yadav also stressed the importance of post-harvest handling. Farmers should dry salvaged paddy, maize and fruits on raised platforms on tarpaulins to prevent rotting. Damaged paddy and maize straw can be used for silage to secure fodder for livestock. He maintained that the disaster has once again highlighted the vulnerability of agriculture to climate extremes, calling for long-term solutions such as better drainage, crop diversification, climate-resilient varieties and improved disaster preparedness.

Dr Sangita Yadav, Principal Scientist, ICAR-IARI, highlighted that major kharif crops were the worst-hit. In Haryana and Punjab, basmati paddy, maize, sugarcane and cotton suffered heavy losses. In Himachal Pradesh, apple orchards were badly damaged due to landslides and silt. Uttarakhand reported losses in pulses along with blast incidence in paddy. Jammu and Kashmir saw damage to maize, paddy, vegetables, and apple orchards, while in Ladakh, buckwheat, barley, and apricot crops were flattened.

She advised farmers to act quickly depending on the crop. For paddy, drainage of water and sprays of nitrogen and potassium are essential. Maize growers should create drainage channels and watch for stem rot. Cotton farmers must manage root rot and insect attacks, while sugarcane fields need timely nitrogen application. Vegetable growers should drain water, prune damaged plants, and spray protectants, while orchard owners must remove silt, repair drainage, and use fungicides against root rot.