Proper monitoring of crops must amid rising mercury: PAU advisory
Proper monitoring of crops is required to keep heat and water stress in check as temperatures rise across the state, the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) said in an advisory issues on Saturday.
On Sunday, the maximum temperature the district was 33.8 degrees Celsius and the minimum stood at 19 degrees Celsius. According to the data, the maximum and minimum temperatures were about five notches higher than normal.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), there are no chances of a Western Disturbance in the region in the coming days, and clear and dry weather conditions with above-normal temperatures are likely to prevail.
PAU experts said that as rabi crops approach maturity, they might be adversely affected by heat stress and increased water demand.
Under such conditions, need-based light irrigation should be provided to the crops from time to time, the advisory said, adding that fruit crops are also vulnerable to high temperatures and require adequate protection. Proper moisture is a must to avoid yield losses in orchards. Animals and pets need increased attention in view of the heat load, said the experts.
As per the advisory, farmers were advised to plan irrigation and spray in crops according to the weather over the next four to five days. To mitigate the effect of high temperatures at grain filling and to enhance yield, they were advised to apply two sprays of 2% potassium nitrate by dissolving 4 kg potassium nitrate in 200 litres of water at boot leaf and anthesis stages, or two sprays of salicylic acid by dissolving 15-gram salicylic acid in 450 ml of ethyl alcohol using 200 litres of water per acre at boot leaf and early milking stages. The advisory also stresses on mitigation measures for yellow rust
“Observe the crop for attack of loose smut. If symptoms appear, cover the ears with polythene and remove those ears from crop and bury them. A single spray of 200 ml tilt 25 EC (propiconazole) per acre using 200 litres of water at ear emergence stage for the control of Karnal bunt is recommended in wheat meant for seed production. Observe the fields for appearance of aphids and if the population reaches the economic threshold level (ETL), five aphids/ear-head, give two sprays of two litre PAU-homemade neem extract at weekly intervals or single spray of 20g actara/taiyo 25 WG (thiamethoxam) in 80-100 liter of water per acre,” read the advisory.
