Farmers told to shun herbicide overuse

Tribune News Service

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Moga, January 16

Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, and the Agriculture Department have issued an advisory to farmers not to use excessive herbicides on wheat to control wild growth of “phalaris minor” (gulli danda).

MS Bhullar, a scientist at the extension department of PAU, said a visit to the fields and interaction with farmers revealed herbicide injury on wheat plants. That generally happened when herbicides were used in excess, at wrong time and employing a wrong method, he said.

According to him, herbicide spray at 30-35 days of sowing provides the best control of weeds and also wheat crop has enough time to recover from herbicide injury, if any. Moreover, warm and sunny days following herbicide application result in better and faster control of weeds.

The PAU scientist said herbicide must be sprayed uniformly in recommended dose, using flat-fan nozzle.

Delayed spray of herbicide also increases the chances of crop injury as more herbicide is retained by wheat leaves and the crop has less time to recover from herbicide injury.

The spray of herbicide with “gun sprayer” or its broadcast application by mixing with urea, in general, results in uneven distribution of herbicide, which leads to herbicide injury and poor weed control, thereby reducing crop yield.

The university has advised farmers not to use herbicides that did not give good results during previous years and choose alternate herbicides of good quality manufactured by reputed companies.

Meanwhile, Dr Jaswinder Singh Brar, Plant Protection Officer of Moga said, “There is no need for multiple sprays. Farmers must spray herbicides on time as per expert advice for good results.”

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