PROGRESSIVE - Punjab Agricultural University

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ISSN 0555-4365

PROGRESSIVE

JULY 2022

A MONTHLY JOURNAL OF PUNJAB AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY

FARMING

FARMING

Printed and Published by Dr TS Riar Additional Director of Communication, for Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana and Printed at Foil Printers, Ludhiana

The advent of synthetic chemical pesticides, introduced immediately following the Second World War, ushered in a new paradigm in crop protection and pest management. These pesticides were inexpensive to produce, relatively straightforward to apply, fast-acting, and extremely cost effective. Traditional pest control involves the routine application of pesticides. Pesticides range from herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, nematicides, acaricides, growth regulators, fumigants and bactericides. It is estimated that annual crop losses could double without the use of pesticides. What can be said is that none of these alone have proven to be a panacea for pest management. Integrated pest management focuses on pest prevention and use of pesticides only as needed. In recent times, consumers have grown increasingly concerned about pesticide residues in food. Excessive use of pesticides exposes farmers to serious health risks and has negative consequences for the environment. Sometimes, inadvertent use of pesticides may lead to killing of friendly insects such as predators, parasites, pollinators, competitors and decomposers. Economic threshold levels (ETLs) and proper spray technology should be followed for judicious use of pesticide use and minimize the pesticide residue. PAU has recommended ETL-based pesticide use, use of tricho card, neem-based bio-pesticides and various green chemistry pesticides for their use in field and horticultural crops.

PROGRESSIVE

VOLUME 58 NUMBER 07 JULY 2022

ContentsIntegrated Pest Management in rice for appreciating crop yields ................3Managing Pink bollworm through effective spray schedule .........................6Management of major diseases of rice............................................................7Protect fruit plants from diseases during rainy season ................................9Biocontrol of lepidopteran insect-pests in sugarcane and organic rice ......11Development of IPM module for fruit-piercing moths in citrus .....................12Integrated pest and disease management for higher yield in rainy ............13Management of bird damage in orchards .......................................................16Zinc and iron deficiency in Kharif crops .........................................................17Foliar nutrient application for getting higher cotton productivity ................18Judicious use of fertilizers in basmati crop ....................................................20Anti-nutritional factors in kharif fodder crops and their management .........21Soil and water conservation techniques for Kandi region of Punjab ...........22Taste Buds ..........................................................................................................23PAU Startup on healthy snacking made of dry fruits .....................................24Process summer moong for better returns.....................................................25Care and management of milch animals in rainy season ..............................26Grow new fodder varieties to get higher yield ................................................27Grow guava for high nutritional value fruits and better economic returns .28Farm operations in August ...............................................................................30Training Programmes in August 2022 .............................................................34

EDITORIAL BOARDDr Ashok KumarChairman

Dr Tejinder Singh RiarExecutive Secretary

Dr GS Buttar Dr GPS SodhiDr Kuldeep SinghDr Poonam A SachdevDr Mahesh NarangDr Amarjit SinghDr PS SandhuDr Kamaljeet Singh SuriDr Jaswinder Singh BrarDr Ranvir Singh GillDr Rakesh ShardaDr Amarjeet Singh SandhuDr Amandeep Singh Brar

EDITORDr Simerjeet Kaur

ASSISTANT EDITORMs Sheetal Chawla

DESIGN & LAYOUTMrs Sa ndeep Kaur Kalsi

PHOTOGRAPHSMr Manjit Singh•PAU Scientists•

All matter published in Progressive Farming is copyrighted. No part of the magazine should be reproduced without the prior permission of Publisher/Editor.

Advertisements published in this magazine may not be the recommendations of the Punjab Agricultural [email protected]

JULY 2022

3PROGRESSIVE FARMING

Integrated Pest Management in rice for appreciating crop yieldsBY KS Suri, GurPreet SinGh MaKKar and rubaljot Kooner Department of Entomology

Rice is a principal cereal crop of Punjab during the Kharif season. A significant portion of crop produce is lost to

the damage by various insect-pests and a timely management of insect-pests of rice is highly important to realize higher economic benefits. Among the various insect-pests damaging the rice crop; the stem borers, leaf folder and the planthoppers are relatively more serious than the grasshoppers, rice hispa, root weevil and rice ear cutting caterpillar. Farmers often use insecticides as a prophylactic measure, when in fact, the insect pest population is well below the economic threshold level. These practices pose a serious threat to public health besides, leaving toxic residues in paddy grains. The integrated pest management offers an eco-friendly management of insect-pests based on sound ecological and economic principles. The principles of insect-pest management do not warrant cent per cent kill of the target pest on a crop but to keep its population below the economic threshold level (ETH) so as to prevent it from causing economic damage. A comprehensive account of information regarding various insect- pests of rice along with their management strategy is discussed as under:RICE STEMBORERS: In Punjab, three species of stemborers, namely yellow stemborer, white stemborer and pink stemborer are found to attack rice crop. The former two are predominant during the early stages of crop, while the third one is predominant during the post vegetative stage. During the vegetative phase, young larva bores into the central shoot near the base of the plant, resulting in ‘dead heart’ formation. These dead hearts can be pulled out easily. However, if the attack occurs at reproductive phase or flowering stage, then the affected plants produce chaffy panicles without grains. Such earheads are termed as ‘white ears’ which stand erect in the field and can easily be recognized from a distance.

Among the various insect-pests damaging the rice crop; the stem borers, leaf folder and the planthoppers are relatively more serious than the grasshoppers, rice hispa, root weevil and rice ear cutting caterpillar. The

integrated pest management offers an eco-friendly management of insect-pests based on sound ecological and economic principles.

ManagementTime of sowing: Sowing and transplanting of rice varieties should be done according to the schedule recommended by the University.Destruction of egg masses: As the eggs are laid in masses on the leaves, these should be destroyed by clipping-off the leaf tips. Chemical control: Fields showing more than 5% dead hearts (economic threshold level - ETL) in non-basmati and 2% dead hearts in basmati rice should be sprayed with any of the recommended insecticides listed in Table 1. If need be, the spray can be repeated as and when the damage reshoots above ETL.RICE LEAF FOLDER: The larvae of this pest feed on leaf tissues by folding the leaves longitudinally. To fold the leaves, the larvae bring together the margins and glue them together with silken threads so that they may live and feed inside. As a result of prolonged feeding, the scrapped leaves become membranous, turn white and finally wither off. This affects the photosynthetic activity of the plant and hence, the yield. Damage by this insect-pest is caused from July to October.ManagementFertilization: Excessive application of nitrogenous fertilizers enhances leaf folder damage. Therefore, only recommended dosages of fertilizers should be applied. Need based application of fertilizers can also be ensured by the use of ‘PAU Leaf Colour Chart’ (PAU LCC) which can either be purchased from the Department of Soil Science, PAU, Ludhiana or any regional Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK).Effect of shade: The incidence of leaf folder is usually more under the shade of trees. So, avoid sowing of the rice crop under the shade.

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4 PROGRESSIVE FARMING

Chemical control: Fields showing more than 10% damaged leaves (ETL) should be sprayed with any of the recommended insecticides listed in Table 1. Leaf with more than one-third damaged area may be considered as a damaged leaf. Do not use synthetic pyrethroids on rice for the control of leaffolder, as the use of synthetic pyrethroids often results in

resurgence of rice planthoppers.PLANTHOPPERS: In Punjab, the commonly prevalent planthoppers are the white backed planthopper and the brown planthopper. Both nymphs and adults of these hoppers suck sap from the leaf and leaf sheath from July to October. The severely attacked plants ultimately dry up, on which a sooty mould appears

which subsequently imparts smoky hue to the paddy fields. The crop dries up in patches and consequently the damage spreads outwards in the rest of the field in the form of concentric rings. Since the completely damaged plants in dried up patches of the crop give burnt appearance, these symptoms are commonly called ‘hopper burn’. As the plants dry up in

Table 1: Chemical control of insect-pests of rice

Insect pest Insecticide Brands/Trade names Dose/acreStemborers azadirachtin (50,000 ppm) #Ecotin 5% 80 ml

Chlorantraniliprole Coragen 18.5 SC 60 ml

FlubendiamideFame 480 SC 20 mlTakumi 20WG 50 g

cartap hydrochloride Mortar 75 SG 170 gChlorpyriphos Coroban/Dursban/Lethal/Chlorguard/ Durmet/Classic/Force

20 EC1000 ml

For Basmati rice onlyAzadirachtin (1500 ppm) #Achook/Neem Kavach 0.15% 1 litreFipronil *Fipronil 80% WG 15gChlorantraniliprole *Ferterra 0.4 GR 4 kgthiocyclam hydrogen oxalate *Vibrant 4 GR 4 kgcartap hydrochloride *Padan/Caldan/Kritap/Sanvex/Nidan/ Marktap/Miftap/

Faltap-G/Katsu 4G10 kg

Fipronil *Regent/Mortel/Mifpro-G/Mahaveer GR/Shinzen 0.3G 6 kgChlorpyriphos *Dursban 10 G 4 kg

Leaf folder Azadirachtin #Ecotin 5% 80 mlChlorantraniliprole Coragen 20 SC 60 mlFlubendiamide Fame 480 SC 20 mlFlubendiamide Takumi 20WG 50 gcartap hydrochloride Mortar 75 SG 170 gchlorpyriphos Coroban/ Durmet/ Force 20 EC 1000 ml

Planthoppers andGrasshoppers

azadirachtin (50,000 ppm) #Ecotin 5% 80 mlAzadirachtin #PAU Homemade Neem extract 4 Ltrtriflumezopyrim Pexalon 10 SC 94 mlDinotefuron Osheen/ Token 80 gpymetrozine Chess 50 WG 120 gQuinalphos Ekalux/Quinguard/Quinmass 25 EC 800 ml

Rice hispa Quinalphos Ekalux 25 EC 800 mlChlorpyriphos Dursban 20 EC 1000 ml

* These granular insecticides also control leaf folder; do wear gloves while applying granular insecticides in standing water. Prefer the neem based biopesticides, Ecotin/Achook/Neem Kavach and PAU Homemade neem extract at the pest initiation stage. For spraying of the insecticides with knapsack sprayer, use 100 litres of water per acre. Use above insecticides alternately.

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patches, hoppers migrate to the adjoining plants/fields, and in a few days, the areas of burnt/rusty patches enlarge. Fertilization: Excessive nitrogen makes the rice crop susceptible to the attack of planthoppers. Hence, fertilizers should be applied to the rice crop as per the recommendations of the University. The need-based application of the fertilizers can be ensured by the use of ‘PAU Leaf Colour Chart’ (PAU LCC) which can either be purchased from the Department of Soil Science, PAU, Ludhiana or any regional KVK.Water management: In puddle rice, keep the water ponding for about two weeks in the rice field after transplanting so that the plants establish well in the field. Then irrigate the field, two days after the water is infiltrated in the field but take care that no cracks appear in the soil. This will not only save the water, electricity/fuel and labour but will also reduce the attack of WBPH and BPH without having any adverse effect on the crop productivity.Mechanical control: The mechanical control of leaf folder can be done only before flowering by passing the 20-30 m long coir/jute rope, forward and then backward, both ways while touching the crop canopy. While passing the rope, ensure that the water must be standing in the crop.

Chemical control: About one month after transplanting, a few plants in the field should be slightly tilted and tapped 2-3 times at the base. If a minimum of 5 planthoppers per hill (ETL) are seen floating on water, the crop should be sprayed with any of the insecticides given in Table 1. Precautions

Care must be taken to direct the spray • towards the base of the plants, where these hoppers are usually present. If the control measures are initiated • at hopper burn stage, then treat the affected hopper burn areas along with their 3-4 meter periphery immediately as these areas harbour high populations of these insects. It is advisable to control the pest at • economic threshold level because once the crop reaches ‘hopper burn’ stage, it is very difficult to spray the dense maturing crop.

GRASSHOPPERS: The adults and nymphs of the grasshoppers eat the leaves, especially, in nursery. Insecticides recommended for the control of planthoppers are also effective for grasshoppers.RICE HISPA: Rice hispa causes economic damage in some rice fields of districts Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Kapurthala and Hoshiarpur. Farmers commonly call this insect as ‘Kandian wali bhundi’. The female beetle lays eggs within the

epidermal layers of rice leaves, singly, usually on the underside of the apical portion of leaves. The newly hatched grubs burrow into the leaf and feed as leaf miners, making galleries which result into transparent bold white streaks on leaves. The adults are exposed feeders. Both the grubs and adults cause damage. ManagementClipping-off leaf tips: If the attack is noticed in nursery, clip-off and destroy the leaf tips of the affected seedling before transplanting.Chemical control: If the attack is noticed on the transplanted crop, spray any of the recommended insecticides shown in Table 1. Repeat the spray, if the attack persists.RICE EAR-CUTTING CATERPILLAR: The caterpillars of this insect are gregarious in nature and attack the crop in large numbers and thus the pest is known as ‘army worm’. Being shy of sunlight, they remain hidden between plants or in cracks of soil during day time and generally feed at night. Hence, farmers often call this pest as ‘Chor keerha’. The damage to paddy crop is caused mostly during September to November. The old larvae are stout, dark greenish brown with four dark longitudinal stripes. These larvae cut off the panicles at the base and hence are called as rice ear-cutting caterpillar.

KS Suri: 98159-02788•

Figure 2: White-ear Figure 3: Leaf folder damage

Figure 1: Dead heart Figure 4: Hopper burn Figure 5: Rice hispa

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Before the introduction of transgenic Bt cotton in Punjab, two categories of

insect-pests, namely bollworms (American, spotted and pink bollworms) and sucking pests (jassid, whitefly, thrips and mealybug) were hampering its production. However, after the introduction of transgenic Bt cotton, the problem of bollworms reduced due to the expression of Bt gene, but the sucking pests were still on the rise. During the last 3-4 years, the incidence of pink bollworm was noticed on Bt cotton hybrids in the Central and Southern India. During 2017, a high infestation of this pest was recorded in states like Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Telangana. Thus, the possibility of widespread damage by this pest on Bt cotton crop in coming years cannot be ruled out. Regular monitoring and surveillance by scientists of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana and officers from Department of Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare, Punjab was done in 2021 to aware the farmers of the possible attack of this pest on the cotton crop and follow a spray schedule of recommended insecticides. Thus, various seasonal management strategies and insecticidal spray schedule developed by PAU and

Managing Pink bollworm through effective spray scheduleBY jaSjinder Kaur, jaSreet Kaur and Vijay KuMar Regional Research Station, Bathinda

RegularmonitoringandsurveillancebyscientistsofPAU,LudhianaandofficersfromDepartmentofAgriculture and Farmer’s Welfare, Punjab was done in 2021 to aware the farmers of the possible attack of

pink bollworm on the cotton crop and follow a spray schedule of recommended insecticides.

to be followed during kharif 2022 crop season along with the surveillance procedure are elaborated below:

Nature and symptoms of damage: After hatching, the young larvae penetrate in the ovaries of flowers or young bolls within two days of hatching. Larvae prefer feeding on developing seeds and generally pupate inside the seeds and bolls. Cotton lint in the infested bolls gets damaged by secondary fungal infection. The infested flowers can be identified from their typical rosette appearance (flower does not open fully), harbouring pink bollworm larvae smeared with pollen. Pre-mature boll/bud shedding can be seen on soil. The larvae also damage the developing seeds and cotton lint. If boll is cut open, the pink caterpillar can be seen in the damaged lint. The secondary rotting of attacked boll responsible for the staining of seed cotton is a common feature of its damage. Affected bolls either open prematurely or get badly affected due to rotting.

Monitoring the Pink bollworm moth emergence and surveillance

For detection of pink bollworm moth • emergence, stick/delta traps with at least 10 micro litre of gossyplure should be installed around ginneries round the year and during the season in the cotton fields. Place it at least 15 cm above the crop canopy. Install 2 trap/ha and replace the lure after 15 days interval regularly.

Monitoring of fruiting bodies damage, • especially, the rosette flowers, during the crop season at weekly intervals should be done. However, the green boll destructive sampling should also be done starting from 70 days onwards at 7-10 days interval.Insecticide spray schedule for the

management of pink bollworm • Up to 60 to 120 days old crop, if

5 per cent damage of flowers or green bolls is observed, then spray the crop with 100 g Proclaim 5SG (emamectin benzoate) or 500 ml Curacron 50 EC (profenophos) or 200 ml Avant 14.5 SC (indoxacarb) or 250 g Larvin 75WP (thiodicarb) or 800 ml Fosmite 50 EC (ethion) per acre. Repeat the spray after 7-10 days interval.

• On 120 to 150 days old crop, for the management of pink bollworm, spray 300 ml Danitol 10 EC (fanpropathrin) or 160 ml Decis 2.8 EC (deltamethrin), 200 ml cypermethrin 10 EC or 100 ml fenvalreate 20 EC or 300 ml Bulldock 0.25 SC (beta cyfluthrin) on per acre basis.Farmers should remain vigilant and

contact Krishi Vigyan Kendras or Farm Advisory Service Centres or Regional Research Stations of PAU or Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Punjab, if any incidence of pink bollworm on Bt cotton is observed.

Jasjinder Kaur: 98763-69450•

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In order to get good yield and best quality from rice crop, it is essential to manage its diseases in a sustainable and

integrated manner. Integrated management of these diseases not only saves the unnecessary expenditure on chemical fungicides, but also saves our environment from degradation. But for this purpose, the farmers should be able to identify the diseases attacking their rice crop at various stages. The major diseases affecting the rice crop in Punjab and their symptoms are as under:

Bacterial leaf blight: This bacterial disease does not occur regularly nowadays, but during a favourable season, it can cause a significant decline in the yield of the unrecommended varieties like Pusa 44, Yellow Pusa, Dogar Pusa, etc. The symptoms of bacterial leaf blight appear on the margins of the leaves as greenish-yellow stripes. These stripes extend downward from the tip of the leaf and inward from its edge, and the affected leaf becomes white from the tip downwards and dries completely. Sometimes the disease symptoms appear within a few days after transplanting the seedlings, and cause withering and drying of the whole clump. This pathogenic bacterium can survive in the seed, rice straw and roots of the non-host plants after the end of the paddy season.

Brown spot: This fungal disease is also called the ‘Poor Man’s Disease’ because it is more prevalent in low fertility soils and increases in intensity due to nutrient or water stress to the crop. Its symptoms appear as round or oval spots on the leaves. These spots resemble a human eye, as they are dark brown in the middle and light brown or yellow on the outside. If no curative action is taken on the onset of the disease, these spots also appear on the grains and can adversely affect the yield as well as the quality of the grains. The disease can be more severe on direct seeded rice.

Sheath blight: This fungal disease causes greyish green lesions with purple edges on the leaf sheath i.e the part of the leaf wrapped around the rice stem. These lesions first appear on the leaf sheath near the water level and then start increasing in number and size towards the top of the plant. In case of severe infection, the grain filling is not complete and there is loss in both yield and quality of the paddy crop. In the field, the disease usually starts appearing from the edges of the field and then spreads inwards, infecting other plants

Management of major diseases of riceBY hardeeP SinGh SabhiKhi, MandeeP hunjan and AMARJIT SINGHDepartment of Plant PathologyIntegrated management of rice diseases not only saves the unnecessary expenditure on chemical fungicides,

but also saves our environment from degradation.

if the conditions are favourable for its development.Sheath rot: It is also a fungal disease which affects the

leaf sheath, but unlike the sheath blight, the symptoms of sheath rot can be first seen on the topmost leaf sheath. This disease causes greyish brown to light brown lesions on the leaf sheaths, which can be oblong to irregular in shape. Later these lesions coalesce and cause the rotting of the sheath. When the disease is severe, then either there is no panicle emergence at all or there is only a partial emergence of the panicle. A white powdery mass of the fungi is visible on the infected panicles inside the sheath. There is no grain formation in such panicles and the colour of the glumes becomes dark red or purple brown to black. This causes a loss in the yield of the diseased plants. The fungal pathogen of this disease over-winters in rice straw and grains. The disease is more prevalent in the South-Western districts of the state.

False smut: It is also a fungal disease, which causes the formation of yellowish or greenish velvety spore-balls in place of individual grains in the panicles after their emergence. Later on, the colour of these spore-balls turns blackish and their spores scatter and fall on leaves and other panicles. This disease is more prevalent on high yielding varieties of rice. Excessive use of nitrogenous fertilizers cuppled with rainy/cloudy weather during panicle emergence stage increases its severity. This disease also reduces yield as well as the quality of grains.

For the prevention or treatment of these diseases, the farmers should not depend solely on the use of chemicals, but should adopt an integrated and a holistic treatment package. Farmers should take the following measures into consideration for the sustainable management of paddy diseases:

Cultivation of disease resistant varieties: In areas where bacterial leaf blight disease is more prevalent, the varieties recommended by the University such as PR 131, PR 130, PR 129, PR 128, PR 127, PR 126, PR 122, PR 121 and PR 113 should be cultivated, as they are capable of resisting all the 10 strains of the leaf blight causing bacterium. On the other hand, no resistance has been reported in any rice variety against diseases like sheath blight, false smut, brown leaf spot or sheath rot, etc.

Timely sowing of rice: Paddy should not be sown in advance

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as early sowing results in increased incidence of many diseases and pests along with the over-exploitation of our precious groundwater.

Balanced use of nitrogenous fertilizers: The disesase incidence is directly related to the use of nitrogenous fertilizers like urea. If the nitrogenous fertilizers are used in excess, the crop becomes more susceptible to diseases like sheath blight, false smut, sheath rot, bacterial blight, etc. But at the same time, if the crop suffers from the deficiency of nitrogen, then it is pre-disposed to the brown leaf spot disease. That’s why the cultivation of rice in sandy soils is not recommended, as these soils are more prone to nitrogen and water stress. Therefore, the dosage of nitrogen and other nutrients in the paddy crop should be based on a soil test report.

Judicious use of water: The disease causing micro-organisms are transmitted from the diseased plants to the healthy ones by the irrigation water, thereby spreading the disease. Rice crop needs ponded water only for the first fortnight after sowing and thereafter, the crop should be irrigated on need basis only. However, if the paddy crop does not get adequate water, it may suffer from problems like brown leaf spot disease and iron deficiency.

Sanitation of the field and its surroundings: Grasses and other weeds that grow in and around the rice fields, harbour various diseases such as sheath blight and serve as sources of primary infection. Therefore, the farmers should always keep their fields

and irrigation channels and bunds free from the weeds.

Avoiding shade: Farmers are well aware that the diseases like sheath blight or bacterial leaf blight or sheath rot are more prevalent in the shady parts of the field. This is because the temperature and humidity under the shade are more conducive for the development and spread of these diseases. Therefore, the farmers should avoid sowing both paddy nursery as well as the crop under shade as far as possible.

Use of chemical pesticides: By combining the use of chemical pesticides with non-chemical methods described earlier, farmers can manage the plant diseases in an efficient and sustainable manner. The crop must be regularly monitored for the timely detection and cure of the plant diseases. Chemical pesticides should be used only when the economic damage caused by the particular disease exceeds the cost of using these pesticides. Only recommended pesticides should be used and that too at the recommended dosages with proper spray technology only. This not only manages the diseases efficiently and economically but also minimizes the environmental pollution. Use fungicides alternatively, so that the pathogenic micro-organisms do not develop resistance against any of them. The recommended pesticides for the management of paddy diseases are as given below:

For seed treatment: Before sowing, treat the seed with 3 g Sprint 75 WS (carbendazim + mancozeb) fungicide mixed in 10-12 ml of water for one kg seed (24 g of fungicide mixed in 80-100

ml of water for 8 kg seed per acre).For sheath blight: Spray 26.8 g

Epic 75 WG (hexaconazole) or 150 ml Iglare/Pulsor 24 SC (thifluzamide) or 400 ml Galileo Way 18.76 SC (picoxystrobin + propiconazole) or 200 ml Amistar Top 325 SC or Folicur/Orius (tebuconazole) 25 EC or Monceren 250 SC (pencycuron) or 80 g Nativo 75 WG (trifloxystrobin+tebuconazole) or 320 ml Lusture 37.5 SE (flusilazole + carbendazim) in 200 litres of water per acre. First spray should be done as and when the disease symptoms appear, which mostly occur during the maximum tillering to the boot stage of the crop. The second spray should be done after 15 days of the first one.

For false smut: For managing the false smut disease, the time of the spray is very crucial. In disease prone areas, as the crop reaches the boot stage, spray 400 ml Galileo Way 18.76 SC (picoxystrobin + propiconazole) or 500 g Kocide 46 DF (copper hydroxide) in 200 litres of water per acre.

For brown leaf spot: To effectively manage this disease, give two sprays of 80 g Nativo 75 WG (trifloxystrobin + tebuconazole) in 200 litres of water per acre. The first spray should be done at the boot stage of the crop and the second spray should be done after 15 days.

For sheath rot: Two sprays of Epic 75 WG (hexaconazole) @ 26.8 g in 200 litres of water/ acre should be given. The first spray should be given at the boot stage and the second one 15 days afterwards.

Farmers can adopt these measures to save their rice crop from diseases in an economically beneficial and environmentally sustainable manner. For further information, farmers can visit the Krishi Vigyan Kendra or Farm Advisory Service Centre of their respective districts and seek the guidance of PAU experts.

Hardeep Singh Sabhiki: 81468-60099•

Sheath blightFalse smut

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Fruit trees are a great asset to any garden or landscape. They provide shade, flowers, a yearly harvest, and a great talking

point. All fruit plants at different growth stages are subjected to attack by various pathogens. Different environmental factors such as temperature, humidity and rainfall are mainly responsible for making the diseased condition more vulnerable. In Punjab, summer rains provide optimum conditions for the initiation, establishment and spread of several diseases in the orchards. These diseases substantially damage the tree health, resulting in a great loss to the farmers. In this article, an attempt has been made to give tips for the proper disease diagnosis and timely management in order to reap full benefit from the cultivation of fruit crops.CITRUS

Citrus is one of the most important fruit crops and its cultivation is considered to be highly paying proposition in the Punjab state. In recent years, tremendous loss in the yield and quality of this fruit crop has been observed due to various important diseases as described below:

Foot rot/gummosis: This disease causes damage to the feeder roots by decaying them in nursery and orchard. The disease is fatal to the trees, if they are not early diagnosed and timely treated, especially, at initial stages of infection. It is more damaging in heavy, ill-drained and high-water table soils. The first symptom is the oozing of gummy drops on the bark surface of the trunk usually below or just above the bud-union. The colour of the bark and wood below the bark turns dark brown and vertical cracks in the bark appear, resulting in killing of wood, stem girdling and slow death of plant.

Management: Obtain the planting material from disease free nurseries. Keep the bud union 6 to 9 inches above the ground level at the time of planting. Avoid flood irrigation. Keep the tree basin slightly elevated to avoid water stagnation around the trunk. Avoid injuries to the trunk and crown roots during cultural practices. Don’t pile soil around the trunk.

Protect fruit plants from diseases during rainy seasonBY aMrinder Kaur, anita arora and HARPREET SINGHDepartment of Fruit Science

All fruit plants at different growth stages are subjected to attack by various pathogens. Different environmental factors such as temperature, humidity and rainfall are mainly responsible for making the diseased condition more vulnerable. Therefore, it is important to go in for proper disease diagnosis and

timelymanagementtoreapbenefitfromthecultivationoffruitcrops.

Scrap the infected portion of the bark along with some healthy part and disinfect the wounds with disinfectant solution. Apply paint of Curzate M 8 @ 2 g/100 ml of linseed oil to the surgical portion with the help of brush, twice a year during February-March and July-August. Clean the root zone of the tree by hoeing. Dissolve 25 g of this fungicides in 10 litres of water for treating one tree and drench the root area with the solution or spray 50 ml of Sodium hypochlorite (5%) diluted in 10 litres of water on the crown and basin of trees in February-March and July-August for effective control of the disease.

Pathological fruit drop: This fruit drop is caused by many fungal pathogens. It usually starts during July and continues till harvest with its peak in mid-September to mid-October. Symptoms appear as small, circular, light brown lesions around stem-end of the fruit. The affected area around the fruit rots and fruit drops pre-maturely. The twigs of the infected trees also show die-back symptoms.

Management: It is highly useful to remove and destroy the mummified fruits on the trees as well as the fallen fruits under the trees because these infected fruits are favourable for disease spread in the orchard. Proper drainage should be made to avoid water stagnation.

Prune all the diseased twigs during January-February and before monsoon to reduce the primary source of inoculum followed by spraying of Bordeaux mixture (2:2:250) or copper oxychloride 50WP (3 g/litre of water). Do not pile the pruned wood near the orchard as it acts as a source of infection. Collect and destroy the pruned wood by burning. For the management of fruit drop, spray the trees with GA3 (10 mg /litre of water) in mid-July, August and September using 500 litres of water per acre.

Die-back/Anthracnose: The disease appears in several forms, including die-back of twigs, leaf spotting and rotting and dropping of fruits. Leaves show light green spots which

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turn brown and finally become grey in the centre with brown margins. Drying of twigs starts from tip downwards, producing typical die-back symptoms and numerous black dots like fruiting bodies of the fungus appear on the dead twigs. The stem-end infection of immature fruits appears as a small brown area. As the area enlarges, a soft dark brown pliable rot develops.

Management: Prune and destroy the infected twigs during February to reduce the primary source of inoculum. Spray the plants with Bordeaux mixture (2:2:250) or Blitox (3g/litre of water) during March, July and September.

Bacterial canker: This disease occurs very severely in nurseries and 2-3 years old plants during high humidity and mild temperature conditions. It appears as tiny, circular, water-soaked yellowish spots, which gradually enlarge and give a rough, corky and brownish appearance surrounded by a chlorotic yellow halo. The lesions are raised on both sides of the leaves. The lesions may coalesce to form large necrotic areas which lead to excessive leaf drop and twig die-back. Canker lesions on the fruit have similar appearance as on the leaves except that the yellow halo is usually absent. Infected fruits become unmarketable and get low price.

Management: Use disease free nursery plants for planting new orchards. Prune and burn the infected plant parts after harvesting. Disinfect the cut ends with Bordeaux paste. Dispose of the infected fruits properly. Spray 50 g of Streptocycline + 25 g Copper sulphate in 500 litres of water per acre. Bordeaux mixture (2:2:250) or Blitox (3 g/litre of water) can also be used for reducing the canker. Spray the nursery plants particularly during rainy season.GUAVA

Anthracnose: The disease develops rapidly under hot and humid weather

conditions. The rainy season crop is more susceptible to the disease as compared to winter crop. The fungus can infect developing to fully ripen fruits. On fruits, it produces small black, circular and sunken spots during the first fortnight of July. Several spots merge together to form bigger spots. The diseased area on fruits may become corky, leading to development of cracks in severe infection. The disease develops fast on ripen fruits, resulting in browning and softening of infected tissues which sometimes get covered with creamy to pinkish mass of the fungus under moist weather conditions. The tender twigs are also infected which wither and die from the tip to downwards, showing die-back symptoms.

Management: Collect and destroy mummified fruits hanging on the tree and rotten fruits lying on the ground. Prune the infected twigs and spray the trees with Bordeaux mixture (2:2:250) or 300 gm Blitox in 100 litres of water. The first spray should be given after fruit set followed by more sprays at 10-15 days interval till maturity of the fruit.MANGO

Leaf blight and twig die-back: Moderate temperature of 26-32ºC coupled with high humidity and rains is favourable for the development of the disease. The fungus survives in dead/diseased twigs, bark of the trees and fallen fruits. The disease is characterized by drying of twigs and branches from the tip downwards followed by complete defoliation, particularly, of the older trees. The leaves turn brown accompanied by upward rolling of the margins and fall off. Cracks may also appear in partially dead bark of the affected twigs, resulting into exudation of gummy substances. This disease may result into complete death of a young plant if the graft union is affected.

Management: The disease incidence can be minimized by adopting preventive measures viz. selection of scion from healthy trees and proper orchard sanitation. Prune and destroy diseased twigs up to about 5 cm below the infection site and paste the cut ends with Bordeaux paste. Also give protective sprays of Bordeaux mixture (2:2:250) or copper oxychloride (3 g/litre of water).GRAPES

Anthracnose and die-back: Heavy rainfall and warm temperatures are ideal for disease development and spread. Reddish brown to black circular spots appear on young leaves, twigs, tendrils, petioles and fruit berries which later turn brown. Dark brown sunken spots with raised margin develop on new shoots. The lesions may coalesce, causing a blighting or killing of the shoot. On leaves, shot holes develop and the affected leaves fall prematurely when there are large number of spots. On berries, small, reddish circular spots initially develop. The spots then enlarge to an average diameter of 1/4 inch and may become slightly sunken. The centers of the spots turn whitish gray and are surrounded by narrow reddish-brown to black margins. This typical symptom on fruit often resembles a bird’s eye.

Management: Prune and burn infected shoots and canes during January-February and spray Bordeaux mixture (2:2:250) using 125 litres of water/acre. Spray Bordeaux mixture (2:2:250) in last week of March using 250 litres of water. Spray Bavistin 50WP @ 500 gm/acre in the last week of April in 500 litres of water. Spray Bordeaux mixture (2:2:250) in the last week of May using 500 litres of water/acre. Spray Score 25 EC @ 500 ml/acre in mid-July, mid-August and mid-September and Bordeaux mixture (2:2:250) at the end of July, end of August and end of September in 500 litres of water.

JULY 2022


PEARRoot rot and sapwood rot: High

moisture around the roots and heavy soils favours the disease development. Injuries on roots caused during cultivation serve as points of entry for the fungus. It is virtually impossible to diagnose this disease in early stages. As the disease advances, the affected trees begin to show yellowing of leaves, symptoms of wilt, early leaf fall and increase in fruit set before collapsing. Reddish brown fruiting bodies of the fungus called “Gidder Pihri” appear in lower portion of the trunk or on roots or on soil near it. Roots of healthy trees get infected on coming in contact with the roots of a diseased tree. The bark and wood of the roots rot and turn brown with white mycelium mat in the crevices.

Management: Locate the affected trees (showing distress signs) by examining their roots and give irrigation separately. Avoid deep hoeing to avoid injuries to the roots, through which the fungus attacks. Also avoid growing intercrops which require excessive irrigation during winter. Avoid piling up of the soil around the trunk of the tree.PEACH AND PLUM

Bacterial canker and gummosis: Moderate summer temperature favours disease development. It affects all the parts of tree (trunk, limbs, shoots, spurs, blossom, dormant buds, leaves and fruits). The infected bark of the trees shows circular to elongated, water-soaked lesions with gummy exudations, and becomes brown and sour smelling. Attacked limbs are girdled when the infection is severe. The death of the limbs above the attacked point occurs occasionally.

Management: Apply Mashobra paste after cleaning the wounds before the start of summer rains. Apply this paste on all the twigs. Repeat the treatment of the paste on the new lesions.

Amrinder Kaur: 95179-00030•

Biocontrol of lepidopteran insect-pests in sugarcane and organic riceBY PS Shera, Sudhendu SharMa and rabinder KaurDepartment of Entomology

Sugarcane and rice are the most important

crops grown in the kharif season under Punjab conditions. As alternative to sole reliance on chemical insecticides, biological control as a component of integrated pest management (IPM) represents an eco-friendly and sustainable approach to manage insect-pests. Sugarcane

For the eco-friendly management of lepidopteran borers in sugarcane, egg parasitoid can be released at farmer’s field through laboratory prepared tricho-cards that hold parasitized eggs of rice moth. Use tricho-cards having 20,000 parasitized eggs, 10-12 times at 10 days interval from July to October. Cut one tricho-card of size 10 x 15 cm into 40 small strips (5 x 0.75 cm), each having approximately 500 parasitized eggs. Staple these strips on the underside of leaves uniformly at 40 spots per acre during evening hours.Organic rice

Use two tricho-cards each of T. chilonis and T. japonicum per acre, each card having 20,000 parasitized eggs, 5-6 times at weekly interval, starting from 30 days after transplanting. Cut each tricho-card of size 10 × 15 cm into 20 strips (5 × 1.5 cm), each having approximately 1,000 parasitized eggs. Staple these strips on the underside of leaves uniformly at 40 spots per acre during the evening hours.Precautions during field release of tricho-cards

Tricho-strips should be stapled/placed during evening hours.• Avoid releases during rainy days.• Avoid using pesticides in fields where • Trichogramma have been released.

PS Shera: 98722-05425•

JULY 2022


Citrus fruits are prime fruits of Punjab, occupying an area of 50.195 thousand hectares with a production of 12,23,027 metric tonnes. Citrus fruits are attacked by various insect-pests which not only cause damage to fruit plants and fruits but also act as vector of many diseases, thus leading to economic losses to farmers. Among these pests, fruit-piercing moths (Eudocima phalonia, Eudocima materna and Acanthodelta Janata, etc.) are sporadic but very serious pests of ripe and ripening citrus fruits, particularly, in sub-mountainous zones of district Hoshiarpur.

During 2004 to 2021, about 70 to 100 per cent fruit damage was observed in Citrus (Kinnow, Daisy, sweet oranges, grapefruits and W. Murcott) orchards in the Kandi belt of district Hoshiarpur. Moths on emergence swarm in large number from the adjoining forest areas/bushes/weeds during September-October, towards the odour released by the ripening fruits, particularly fallen fruits. Adult moths suck the juice of ripe and ripening citrus fruits. These moths are unique examples of damage by moths in adult stage. Moths pierce ripening fruits with their strongly sclerotized proboscis with sharp spines with which they macerate the pulp and suck the juice. A circular pinhole like spot appears at the feeding site. Later on, the

Development of IPM module for fruit-piercing moths in citrusBY SandeeP SinGh, raKeSh KuMar SharMa and rajwinder Kaur SandhuDepartment of Fruit Science

area around the damaged portion turns yellowish-brown. As many as 16 holes have been recorded on a single fruit of Kinnow. On squeezing such fruits, jet of fermented juice comes out from each hole. Secondary invasions by micro-organisms spread into damaged tissues, causing rotting and premature fruit fall. Why these moths are difficult to manage?

These moths are very difficult to manage as their egg, larval and pupa stages are in/on the forest area/weeds/creepers, and thus they escape any control practices. Adult moths cause damage to fruits after sunset and return to forest area after few hours of feeding. Practically, no stage of these moths is available in the orchards for control. Farmers are bearing heavy losses due to severe fruit drop and doing sprays, leading to a heavy increase in their expenditure. Also, application of insecticides at ripening stage is not desirable. Therefore, an IPM module has been devised for eco-friendly management of fruit piercing moths in citrus including cultural practices, HMOs, botanicals, poison bait traps, netting and light traps.IPM module

Clean cultivation i.e. removal and • destruction of weed hosts such as Tinospora cardifolia (Giloe) and

castor (rind) in and around the orchards.Disposal of fallen fruits as they • attract the moths.Create smoke in the orchards after • sunset as it repels the moths.Cover the entire row of Citrus trees • with net of mesh size 1.2 mm from the last week of August.Spray PAU Homemade • neem extract and PAU Homemade Dharek extract @ 12 ml/litre water at 7 days interval or spray horticulture mineral oils (HMOs) (HP HMO or Arbofine HMO or MAK HMO) @ 12.5 ml/litre water at 10 days interval starting from the last week of August. Fix poison bait traps (Malathion • 0.05% @ 10 ml + Citrus juice 100 ml + jaggery 100 g + 900 ml water) in the orchards @ 20 traps/acre during the first week of August with the initiation of colour break stage.Burning of • Mashals in the orchards after sunset and manual collection and killing of moths attracted towards the Mashals.Fix Homemade Light Traps using • 100 W bulbs @ 20 traps/acre during the last week of August.Preparation of Light Traps: A 100

W bulb was installed in used 5 litre plastic container and 200 ml burned diesel oil was placed at the bottom of container. A 200-meter electric wire was used to fix 20 traps.

Preparation of Poison Bait Traps: Mix Malathion 0.05% @ 10 ml + Citrus fruit juice 100 ml + jaggery 100 g in 900 ml of water to make final volume of 1 litre.

Sandeep Singh: 98154-13046 •

JULY 2022


Major biotic stress in vegetable production is the attack of insect-pests. In extreme cases, there can be up to 100

per cent yield loss to the crop due to direct (feeding on plants) and indirect reasons (vectors of viral disease). A number of insect-pests and diseases attack these crops from sowing to harvesting and pose a major threat for successful cultivation of these crops. A well-planned integrated management approach against insect-pests could lead to higher yields and increased profits. The identification of insect-pest and diseases, their nature of damage and management techniques on brinjal, okra, tomato and cucurbit crops are described below:BRINJAL

Brinjal shoot and fruit borer: Its infestation starts after few weeks of transplantation. The larvae bore into the growing shoots or petioles of large leaves and feed on internal tissues. As a result of damage, affected shoots wither and plants exhibit the symptoms of drooping. After fruit formation, larvae make their entry under the calyx when they are young. The holes are plugged with excreta, leaving no visible sign of infestation. Large holes seen on the fruits are the exit holes. The remains of brinjal plant/stalks from the previous crop serve as a source of carry over to the next crop.

Management: Do not ratoon the brinjal crop. Go in for removal and destruction of affected shoot and fruits along with larvae or clipping of infested shoots. Spray 80 ml Coragen 18.5 SC (chlorantraniliprole) or 80 g Proclaim 5SG (emamectin benzoate) or 100 ml Sumicidin 20 EC (fenvalerate) or 200 ml Ripcord 10E (cypermethrin) or 160 ml Decis 2.8 EC (deltamethrin) in 100-125 litres of water per acre. A waiting period of three days for Proclaim and seven days for Coragen should be observed after the spray.

Hadda beetles: Both grubs and adults feed by scraping chlorophyll from leaves, leaving the veins and veinlets, and cause characteristic skeletonized patches on the leaves. In severe cases, even calyx of the fruit may also be infested. Later, the affected areas on leaves dry and fall off, and damage appears in the form of holes in the leaves.

Integrated pest and disease management for higher yield in rainy season vegetablesBY raVinder SinGh Chandi, SanjeeV KuMar Kataria and ParMinder KaurDepartment of Entomology

Management: Collect and destroy egg masses and skeletonised leaves with adults and grubs. Hand picking of grubs and collection of beetles by hand nets in the early stages of attack are recommended for small holdings.

Whitefly: Damage is caused by nymphs and adults in two ways: the vitality of the plant is lowered through the loss of cell sap and secondly photosynthesis is interfered due to the growth of a sooty mould on honeydew excreted by the insect. Growth of the plants is affected adversely and yield is also lowered considerably.

Management: Brinjal economic threshold level for whitefly is 9 adults/leaf. For its control, spray 1200 ml PAU neem extract or 1500 ml maize/sorghum/bajra juice in 100-125 litres of water per acre and repeat after 7 days of first spray, if required. To prepare neem extract, boil 4.0 kg terminal parts of the shoots of neem trees including leaves, green branches and fruits in 10 litres of water for 30 minutes. Then filter this material through muslin cloth and use the filterate for spraying at the recommended dose. Under severe infestation, spray 200 g Pegasus 50WP (diafenthiuron) in 100-125 litres of water per acre and repeat after 15 days of first spray.

Red spider mite: This mite attacks during April-June and initially yellowish-white specks appear on the leaves followed by scorching and leaf fall. Mite infested leaves attract lot of dust particles. Colonies of mites are found feeding on lower surface of leaves under fine silken webs, resulting in yellow spots on dorsal surface of leaves. Affected leaves gradually curl, get wrinkled and crumpled, ultimately causing webbing, necrosis and defoliation. In heavy infestations, even fruits are affected.

Management: Avoid ratoon crop of brinjal. Spray 300 ml Omite 57 EC in 150 litres of water per acre. Sprays of pyrethroid should be done only on need basis.

Phomopsis blight: The disease is seed borne and causes damping-off in nursery. The pathogen attacks leaves, stems, petioles and fruits. The disease appears on leaves as a small circular straw-brown to deep brown spots with light

JULY 2022


coloured centre and irregular blackish margins. The affected leaves turn yellow and ultimately die. The old spots show numerous black dots called pycnidia. Symptoms on petioles and stems lead to yellowing of leaves, wilting and drying of the shoots. The lesions appear on any part of fruit but more near the stem end. The pathogen survives on infected plant debris and on seed. The fungus needs wet weather and temperature range of 22-250 C for the fruit rot infection.

Management: Always take seed from disease free fruits. Treat the seed with Captan @ 3 g per kg seed before sowing. Spray Zineb @ 200 g per acre in 100 litres of water at weekly interval after transplanting.

Little leaf of brinjal: It is a serious disease of brinjal crop. The disease becomes more pronounced when the crop starts flowering. The leaves are reduced in size. The affected plants are clustered together and form rossette appearance. The petioles, leaves and internodes of the stems are also shortened but auxiliary buds get enlarged. Plants do not produce flowers and fruits. The disease is transmitted by jassid. Plants become pale and finally bronze. A large number of greenish adults and nymphs are seen on the lower surface of leaves.

Management: Rogue out the affected plants. Jassid can be controlled by spraying Malathion @ 400 ml in 100 litres of water/acre in nursery and the field.OKRA

Jassid: Damage to the crop is caused by both nymphs and adults by sucking cell sap from the underside of the leaves during May to September. Injury to plants is due to the loss of cell sap and probably also due to the injection of toxins. Damaged leaves show yellowing and curling along the margins, turn pale and then rust red. Later on, leaves turn downwards, dry up and may fall to the ground.

Management: Cultivate tolerant/less susceptible varieties like Punjab 8. In okra, economic threshold level for jassid is 4 nymphs/leaf. For its management, spray 2000 ml PAU neem extract or 80 ml Ecotin 5% (neem based insecticide) or with 40 ml Confidor 17.8 SL (imidacloprid) or 40 g Actara 25 WG (thiamethoxam) or 560 ml Malathion 50 EC in 100-125 litres of water per acre. A waiting period of one day for Confidor and Actara should be observed after the spray.

Spotted bollworm: This pest causes damage during May to September and larvae bore into the growing shoots, flower buds, flowers and fruits, either killing the plants or causing heavy shedding of the fruiting bodies. Entrance hole is normally plugged with excreta. Shoots infested with borer droop downwards and dry up. Okra fruits become distorted, have holes and are rendered unfit for human consumption.

Management: Cultivate tolerant/less susceptible varieties like Punjab 8. Uproot ratooned cotton and hollyhock which are host plants for bollworms. Remove regularly the attacked fruits and bury deep in the soil. Pick all the fruits before spraying. Spray at economic threshold level which is 1% infested fruits for spotted bollworm. Spray 50 ml Coragen 18.5 SC (chlorantraniliprole) or 200 ml Sumipleo 10EC (pyridalyl) or 70 g Proclaim 05SG (emamectin benzoate) or 100 ml of Sumicidin 20EC (fenvalerate) or 80 ml of Cymbush 25EC (cypermethrin) per acre in 100-125 litres of water.

Whitefly: It causes maximum damage during July-September. Its adults and nymphs suck sap from leaves and excrete honey dew on leaves which become sticky. Affected leaves turn black due to development of sooty mould.

Control measures: For its management,

spray 80 ml Ecotin 5% (neem-based insecticide) or 2000 ml PAU Homemade neem extract. To prepare PAU neem extract, boil 4.0 kg terminal parts of the shoots of neem trees including leaves, green branches and fruits in 10 litres of water for 30 minutes. Then filter this material through muslin cloth and use the filtrate for spraying.

Precautions: Pick regularly all ripe fruits before spraying. Regular monitoring of the crop should be done to check for whitefly infestation. Regular surveillance of alternate host crops should be carried out for timely management of whitefly. Eradicate weeds growing on field bunds, waste lands, road side and irrigation channels/canals to avoid further spread of whitefly to okra fields. Avoid usage of synthetic pyrethroids to minimize the whitefly resurgence.

Red spider mites: These mites attack the leaves, suck the cell sap and ultimately cause webbing, necrosis and defoliation.

Control measures: Spray the crop with 150 ml Oberon 22.9 EC per acre using 120-150 litres of water.

Damping-off: This is commonly occurring disease of nursery and usually appears in poorly managed nursery beds. There are two types of damping-off disease i.e. pre-emergence and post-emergence. In pre-emergence, sprouting seeds damage in the soil and young seedlings rot before emergence. In post emergence, newly emerged seedlings suddenly wilt, collapse and die from a soft rot at the soil line level.

Management: Always grow disease free seed. Do thin sowing and avoid overcrowding. Grow nursery in light soils with high fertility soil. Give light irrigation at frequent intervals. Nursery beds should be raised.

Yellow vein mosaic: The disease is serious, particularly, in rainy season and causes total yield loss. The symptoms

JULY 2022


of the disease are vein clearing followed by chlorosis of leaves. The veins and the veinlets become yellow and thickened. There is complete yellowing of the leaves in severe infection. The fruit set is reduced on the infected plants and the fruits become yellow. The fruits become malformed and comparatively smaller in size. The disease is transmitted through whitefly.

Management: Always grow resistant varieties of Okra i.e. Punjab 7, Punjab 8 and Punjab Padmani. Remove the weeds susceptible to yellow vein mosaic from nearby fields. Spray the crop with 80 ml Ecotin 5% or 2000 ml PAU neem extract to knock out whitefly attack. The PAU neem extract can be prepared by boiling 4.0 kg of upper parts of the shoots of neem trees leaves, green branches and fruits in 10 litres of water for 30 minutes. Filter the material by using muslin cloth and then spray. Avoid using synthetic pyrethroids for the control of whitefly. Harvest the fruits before spraying of insecticides. Always do regular survey of whitefly on okra as well as on other crops.CUCURBITS

Whitefly: Nymphs and adults cause damage by sucking the cell sap and lower the vitality of the plant. Growth of the plants is affected adversely and yield is also lowered considerably. Whitefly also plays a role in transmission of viral diseases and causes great loss.

Management: For its control, spray PAU neem extract @ 1200ml/acre in 100-125 litres and repeat after 7 days of first spray.

Red pumpkin beetle: This insect attacks cucumber, squash gourd, pumpkin, sponge gourd, etc. but is more serious on muskmelon. Beetles attack their hosts in February and remain active till October with peak activity period during March-April. Their damage begins at seedling stage i.e. 2-3 leaf stage and can cause

serious losses to the crop at this stage. The adults attack by making irregular holes in the leaves and sometimes can result in complete defoliation. In case of severe infestation, the crop is completely destroyed. The grubs feed on underground portions of the plant like stem and roots, leading to drying up of the vines.

Management: After germination, dust dung ash on the plants 3-4 times at weekly interval during initial days of crop growth.

Fruitflies: These are most destructive insect-pests of muskmelon and other cucurbits. The infestation of this insect starts in March with peak activity during June-July. The maggots attack developing fruits and make holes in the fruits and feed inside. As a result, fruits remain smaller in size and get separated from the vines. After first shower of monsoon, the infestation increases. On cutting the infested fruits, these maggots are clearly visible. Infested fruits rot and do not remain marketable.

Management: Use PAU fruit fly trap (Vegetables) in bitter gourd @ 16 traps per acre during fourth week of June in case of rainy season crop. In sponge gourd, 16 traps per acre should be hanged during fourth week of June in rainy season crop. The septa of traps may be recharged at an interval of 25-30 days as per requirement. Collect the infested fruits and destroy them by burying deep in the soil. Spraying the bait containing 20 ml Malathion 50 EC and 200 g jiggery or sugar in 20 litres of water on the lower surface of the leaves of maize plants grown in rows at distance of 8-10 m as trap crop has been found to be effective as the flies have the habit of resting on such tall plants.TOMATO

Mosaic: It is more common in areas where healthy seed is not sown. It is transmitted by man during cultivation or by implement. The characteristic symptoms

are the downward curling of leaf with slight turning down at margins. Surface of the leaf becomes rough, wrinkled or corrugated. Chlorosis starts with yellow areas and gradually spreads. In extreme cases, leaves become pale yellow with scattered islands of dark green which standup as blisters. The growth of the plant is retorted and there is low fruiting. The TMV is principally transmitted by man during cultivation or by implement. Diseased crop refuse left in the field is a source of primary inoculum. The TMV is also seed borne in nature and serves as a source of inoculum.

Tomato leaf curl: It is very common in rainy season crop. The leaf curl is characterized by stunting of the plant with downward rolling and crinkling of the leaves. The young leaves show chlorosis, while older curled leaves become leathery and brittle. The plant becomes bunchy type. Plants bear few flowers and fruits, and sometimes the crop is total failure. The leaf curl is transmitted by whitefly (Bemisia tabaci). Even a single viruliferous whitefly is able to transmit the virus and the virus is persistent in the vector and is retained for more than 12 days or whole life of it.

Management: Rogue out the infected plants and burn as soon as noticed in the field. Always plant virus free seedlings. Grow leaf curl resistant varieties Punjab Varkha Bahar 4, Punjab Varkha Bahar 2 and Punjab Varkha Bahar 1. Avoid unnecessary touching of infected plants in case of mosaic virus disease. Protect the crop in the nursery and field from whitefly by spraying Melathion @ 400 ml in 100 litres of water before fruiting. Eradicate weeds growing nearby i.e. on bunds, waste lands, road sides and irrigation channels as they act as a reservoir for whitefly and aphids infestation. Apply nitrogenous fertilizers judiciously, as these pests multiply very fast if used excessively.

Ravinder Singh Chandi: 81460-39400•

JULY 2022


Fruit growers face extensive

crop losses almost every year due to bird damage. Unlike other insect-pests, which target a specific crop at a particular crop-stage, bird damage may occur irrespective of the crop and its developmental stages. The birds cause mechanical injury to the healthy, green or ripening fruits,

thus, drastically affecting the crop yields, fruit quality and potentially posing food safety hazards.

Punjab is home to about 304 bird species, out of which, a few species cause orchard damage. The rose-ringed parakeet is the only bird that seems to be exclusively harmful to farmer’s interests. Parakeet is the major bird pest causing serious damage to guava, peach, pear, grapes, mango, ber and litchi at different developmental stages viz. pea to ripening stage. House crows damage peach, plum and grapes. The major damage to grape is due to mynas, especially, the bank mynas. The litchi orchardists face the problem of Flying foxes (bats). The extent of damage may sometimes be up to 100 per cent.

Techniques for management of bird damage: The management of bird damage in orchards is cumbersome and poses many challenges because birds are highly mobile and

Management of bird damage in orchardsBY MANU TYAGI and NARINDER DEEP SINGHKrishi Vigyan Kendra, Pathankot

Punjab is home to about 304 bird species, out of which, a few species cause orchard damage. Parakeet is the major bird pest causing serious damage to guava, peach, pear, grapes, mango, ber and litchi at different developmental stages viz. pea to ripening stage. House crows damage peach, plum and grapes. The major damage to grape is due to mynas, especially, the bank mynas. The litchi orchardists face the problem of

Flying foxes (bats).persistent once the food source has been discovered. A few sustainable bird management strategies have been discussed below, which can be adopted by the orchardists for improving productivity while protecting the environment.Mechanical control

Farmers can reduce the bird damage by making false • gun-shots at different intervals in orchards. Frequent beating of drums at different points in the orchard • has also been found to be very effective in preventing bird damage. Birds can be visually scared by fixing scare crows i.e. a • discarded earthen pot painted and supported with wooden sticks and clothed in human dress to give a human like appearance. It is one of the most effective traditional techniques to prevent bird damage. The position, direction and the dress of the scare crow should be changed at 10 days interval. The height of the scare crow should be 1 metre above the plant height. Use of rope-crackers is another simple technique to • manage bird damage. It involves tying of sets of small fire crackers at a distance of 6-8 inches apart on a rope and igniting it from the lower end. The explosions caused by fire crackers on catching fire at different intervals scare the birds feeding on fruits. The rope-crackers must be fixed in the centre of the orchard. However, care should be taken as there can be a minor fire risk under dry conditions.

Cultural practices Avoid sowing of maize and sunflower crops in close • proximity to the orchards. Habitat modification by removing the food source and • shelter can aid in reducing bird damage. Weed and grasses in and around the orchards should be removed regularly

Figure 1: Netting in fruit crops

Contd on page 19

JULY 2022


Each plant has its optimum nutrient range as well as a minimum requirement

level. Below this minimum level, plants begin to show nutrient deficiency symptoms. Excessive nutrient uptake can also cause poor growth because of toxicity. Therefore, proper amount of application and placement of nutrients are vital. Due to intensive cultivation in Punjab, farmers grow 2-3 crops in a year. Increase in cropping intensity and continuously growing of high yielding varieties have declined the fertility of the soil. High yielding varieties require more nutrients for which most of the farmers use fertilizers such as urea, DAP and Muriate of Potash. Soils that consistently receive the similar type of chemical fertilizers, get the deficiency of secondary nutrients (sulphur, magnesium, etc.) and micronutrients (zinc, iron, copper, manganese, etc.) apart from the deficiencies of major nutrients which have a direct effect on crop production. The deficiency of iron and zinc is most commonly seen in areas, especially, under rice cultivation, directly impacting its productivity.Zinc deficiency

Rice: Zinc deficiency usually appears 4-6 weeks after sowing in DSR and 2-3 weeks after transplanting in transplanted rice. The deficiency is mostly characterized by dusty brown spots on upper and middle leaves, uneven plant growth, chlorotic midribs, and decreased tillering and leaf blade size. Zinc deficiency can be ameliorated with the application of 25 kg/acre of zinc sulphate heptahydrate (ZnSO4

.7H2O) or 16 kg/acre of zinc sulphate monohydrate (ZnSO4

.H2O). Apply zinc suphate at puddling in case previous crop in this field had shown the symptoms of zinc deficiency. Where the

Zinc and iron deficiency in Kharif cropsBY OS SANDHU and SK KatariaKrishi Vigyan Kendra, Jalandhar (Nurmahal)

deficiency is noticed in the growing crop, apply this quantity of zinc sulphate as soon as possible. In highly deteriorated soils, the symptoms of zinc deficiency sometimes appear in patches even after the application of the recommended dose of zinc sulphate. In that case, broadcast 10 kg of zinc sulphate heptahydrate or 6.5 kg zinc sulphate monohydrate per acre mixed with an equal quantity of dry soil on the affected patches.

Maize: The deficiency symptoms appear within two weeks of seedling emergence. A broad band of white or very light-yellow tissue, with reddish veins appears, on each side of the midrib, beginning at the base of the second or third leaf from the top of the plant. The white patch later extends in stripes towards the tip parallel to the midrib. The midrib and the leaf margin remain green. The plants remain stunted and have short inter-nodes. In the case of mild deficiency, there is a white stripe in the upper leaves. The mild deficiency disappears by the mid-season, but the silking and tasseling are delayed. Where zinc deficiency has been noticed in the preceding crop, broadcast 10 kg of zinc sulphate heptahydrate (21%) or 6.5 kg zinc sulphate monohydrate (33%) per acre at sowing mixed with an equal quantity of dry soil along rows, hoe it into the soil and then irrigate the field. In standing crop, apply 10 kg of zinc sulphate heptahydrate (21%) or 6.5 kg zinc sulphate monohydrate (33%) mixed with an equal quantity of dry soil along rows, hoe it into the soil and then irrigate the field. When the symptoms are observed late in the season and interculture is not possible, spray zinc sulphate-lime mixture prepared by mixing 1.2 kg of

zinc sulphate heptahydrate (21%) and 0.6 kg of unslaked lime or 0.75 kg zinc sulphate monohydrate (33%) and 0.38 kg of unslaked lime with 200 litres of water to cover one acre.

Groundnut: The leaves in the upper half portion of the plant get reduced in size and become light yellow in colour. When the deficiency is severe, the plant growth is stunted and the kernels are shrivelled. Apply 25 kg zinc sulphate heptahydrate (21% zinc) or 16 kg zinc sulphate monohydrate (33% zinc) per acre. This dose will be sufficient for 2 to 3 years.Iron deficiency

Rice: Iron deficiency is commonly seen in direct seeded rice due to the absence of reduced conditions in the soil. Symptoms of Fe deficiency include interveinal chlorosis of new leaves followed by chlorotic appearance of entire plant. In most severe conditions, plants die and often the crop fails completely. Start giving copious irrigations as soon as chlorosis appears and give 2 or 3 sprays of one per cent ferrous sulphate solution at weekly intervals (1 kg of ferrous sulphate in 100 litres of water per acre).

Sugarcane: Iron deficiency has been observed both in the ratoon and plant crops on light-textured and calcareous soils. Deficiency symptoms first appear in young leaves as yellow stripes between the green veins. Later, the veins also turn yellow. In severe cases, leaves become white and the plants remain stunted. Spray the crop 2 or 3 times with 1% solution of ferrous sulphate (1 kg ferrous sulphate in 100 litres of water) at weekly intervals soon after the symptoms appear.

OS Sandhu: 98884-60091•

JULY 2022


Cotton is predominately cultivated in South-

Western districts of Punjab, namely Bathinda, Mansa, Fazilka, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Faridkot, Sangrur and Barnala. Soils in South-Western region of Punjab are of varying soil texture from sandy

to clay loam with organic matter ranging from low to medium; so special care needs to be taken for better cotton productivity. Further, the cultivation of high yielding Bt hybrids since the last two decades has resulted in certain problems related to nutrient deficiencies such as leaf reddening, flower, square drying and immature boll shedding. Therefore, it becomes very important to make judicious use of nutrients as per crop requirement and nature of soil.

The nutrient management in cotton is complex phenomenon due to simultaneous production of vegetative and reproductive structures during the crop growth phase. Imbalanced nutrition of cotton crop affects both vegetative and reproductive growth adversely, thereby, causing low productivity. Hence, farmers need to apply adequate quantity of fertilizer to the soil besides foliar application of nutrients to sustain cotton productivity. The following tips would be very helpful to achieve better yield with lesser expenditure.

Flower and square drop: Though the cotton takes more than 150 days for maturity, yet the major uptake of nutrients is limited up to 50 days after sowing. However, nutrient demand is very high from flowering to boll development stage. Soil applied nutrients, especially, nitrogen and potassium are sometimes unable to meet the sudden high demand of requisite nutrients, thus, resulting in flower and square shedding. Under such situations, foliar application of potassium nitrate (KNO3) is very helpful to meet nutrient demand and reduces flower

Foliar nutrient application for getting higher cotton productivityby harjeet SinGh brar and KulVir SinGhRegional Research Station, Bathinda

The cultivation of high yielding Bt hybrids since the last two decades has resulted in certain problems related tonutrientdeficienciessuchasleafreddening,flower,squaredryingandimmaturebollshedding.Therefore,itbecomesveryimportanttomakejudicioususeofnutrientsaspercroprequirementandnatureofsoil.

and square drop, thereby resulting in higher seed cotton yield. Four sprays of 2% potassium nitrate (N:P:K::13:0:45 ) should be done at weekly intervals starting with the first spray at flower initiation. It means that 2 kg potassium nitrate has to be dissolved in 100 litres of water for one spray on one acre.

Leaf reddening: In Bt cotton, leaf reddening appears after peak flowering and boll development stage, especially, in light to medium textured soils. This generally happens due to deficiency of magnesium in plants despite the fact that ample quantity is available in the soil. To prevent reddening of leaves in cotton, give two sprays of 1% magnesium sulphate (1 kg magnesium sulphate dissolving in 100 litres of water) at 15 days interval at full bloom and boll development stage before appearance of reddening in leaves. These sprays should be preferably done as a preventive measure in fields where such symptoms were observed in cotton during previous year well before symptoms appeared in the field. Farmers should also note that timely and balanced use of recommended dose of fertilizers are also helpful in preventing/avoiding reddening of leaf in cotton.

Water stress management: Sometimes cotton faces water stress due to the closer of canal channels or delayed monsoon periods. Such short term water stresses can be managed to some extent with foliar sprays of osmo-protectants. To minimize loss of cotton yield owing to water stress (due to no rainfall or sudden canal closures), dissolve 12.5 g Salicylic acid in 375 ml of Ethyl alcohol and then add it to 125 litres of water for spraying crop per acre on stress appearance.

Management of Parawilt: Parawilt appears on scattered plants in a field by sudden drooping of leaves in a sporadic manner. This is a physiological disorder and is not caused by any pathogen. Prolonged drought conditions, bright sunlight, high temperature followed by heavy irrigation/rainfall create environment for parawilt. Excess water creates anaerobic condition which in turn results in high ethylene production in plants, leading to sudden wilting of plants and after about 48-72 hours, permanent wilting of plants is evident. Unlike

JULY 2022


pathogenic wilt, root systems of the affected plants remain intact and there is no rotting symptom on roots or browning of vascular bundle. Timely diagnosis and treatment is the most important to save the crop from parawilt. It can be managed by foliar application of cobalt chloride (an ethylene production inhibitor) @ 10 mg per litre of water at the initial stage of wilting. However, plants affected after permanent wilting will not recover after any spray. This treatment is effective only at initial stage of wilting. The affected plants will recover within a week of spray. The precautionary spray before irrigation/rainfall is not effective for parawilt management.

Tirak management: Tirak is an important physiological disorder more pronounced in the dry belt adjoining Rajasthan, Haryana and in some pockets where cotton suffers from persistent drought, inadequate water supply, nutrient deficiency on light sandy soils, too early sowing, etc. The prominent factors i.e. persistent dry weather, high temperature, light sandy soils, improper irrigation, low humidity, nutrient deficiency, too early sowing, etc. singly or in combinations during the flowering/fruiting stages aggravate the problem of Tirak. It is characterized by the yellowing and reddening of leaves, followed by the bad/poor opening of the bolls. Tirak is not the issue of the major concern for the last 3-4 years. If the dry weather or blown of dry winds coincides with the boll formation and later on, the chances of Tirak will increase. During Kharif 2022, if the dry weather conditions (high temperature) prolong and prevail during the flowering and fruiting, then the problem of Tirak might aggravate. Proper management practices such as timely irrigation, adequate nutrient/fertilizer applications, and timely application of water and nutrient supply, particularly, during flowering and fruiting stages are somewhat beneficial for its management.

Harjeet Singh Brar: 84274-41177•

as they provide shelter to birds. Likewise, the trees in the vicinity of fruit nursery should be pruned so that birds may not establish their nests on them. The older nests on trees should be removed before the birds initiate their breeding activities. The cultivation of millets and green • manure crops like dhaincha around the orchard can reduce the extent of bird damage in fruit trees. In addition, these crops being tall also act as wind break and aid in preventing the lodging of small fruit plants during stormy or rainy days.Orchards should be planted away from • the perching sites of birds or cluster of trees, and also no electricity wires should pass above the fruit trees. Fruit trees should be planted in large • block area (at least two-three acres) to reduce parakeet damage as they avoid feed or venturing in the interior of the orchard. Bird netting i.e. covering the vines • and isolated fruit trees with nylon nets keeps the pest birds away (Figure 1). The UV-proof netting should be used for extended outdoor use. Fruit trees and grapevines should be covered with nylon net with mesh size of 2.5 to 5.8 cm and 1.25 cm, respectively. Net must be properly installed and maintained to completely cover the vines and trees from above and also touch the ground on all sides. Merely draping netting over the plant allows the birds to access fruit through the net and fruit is often pulled off the plants when draped nets are removed from the plant. Use of nylon net is effective in preventing the entry of even small birds like sparrow. Wasps and other flying insects which cross the net can also fall prey to birds sitting outside the netted area.

Bagging or covering the fruit bunches • with muslin cloth bags also helps in minimizing the fruit damage due to birds and bats. Use of white and pink polypropylene non-woven bags at 25-30 days after fruit set provides physical protection in litchi.

Reflective ribbon Use of Reflective ribbon also helps in

scaring the birds away. Reflective ribbon should be slightly twisted and loosely tied with wooden stick or bamboo at 1-3 feet height above the fruit nursery or at the outer side of the orchard. If there is more than 10 meters gap between wooden sticks, then additional wooden stick should be installed for support. Ribbon should be installed from North to South direction. This allows the rays of rising sun from East and setting sun from West to fall on the ribbon, due to which the ribbon reflects the light and also produces wavering voice with the blowing wind, which frighten the birds away from orchards. Alarming calls

Birds may be repelled through alarming calls which is another non-lethal method for dealing with bird damage. Playing of cassettes of distress or flock calls of parakeets and crows, respectively in a tape-recorder at peak volume can scare the birds. These can be played for 30 minutes twice each in the morning between 7.00 to 9.00 am and in the evening from 5.00 to 7.00 pm, respectively with a pause of one hour. These cassettes are available at Communication Centre, PAU, Ludhiana. This technique remains effective for 15- 20 days. However, better results can be obtained by using this technique in sequence or in combination with other methods as an integrated pest management. For covering larger area, use of amplifier or additional speakers (as per requirements) can be done.

Manu Tyagi: 94121-72880•

Management of bird damage....contd from page 16

JULY 2022


The cultivation of basmati demands less nutrients than paddy cultivation.

It is very important to ensure that the nutrients are supplied in the right amount, at the right time, in the right way and by the right source. Excessive use of fertilizers not only increases the cost of cultivation but also enhances the risk of pest and disease incidence on the crop as well as environmental pollution. For this, the integrated use of chemical and organic fertilizers, the recommended quantity of fertilizers according to the variety and method of sowing, and the proper timing and method of fertilizer application play an important role. It is generally recommended to apply fertilizers on the soil test basis for proper use of fertilizers in basmati. Transplanted Basmati crop

Organic manures: There is no need to apply urea to basmati crop when the field has been green manured with 45-55 days old sunnhemp/dhaincha or when summer moong residue has been incorporated after harvesting of the crop.

Chemical fertilizers: If the recommended dose of phosphorus fertilizer has been applied to the preceding wheat crop, then its application should be omitted in the basmati crop. However, in phosphorus deficient soils, 75 kg of superphosphate

Judicious use of fertilizers in basmati cropBY ViVeK KuMar, KarMjit SharMa and GURMAIL SINGH SANDHUKrishi Vigyan Kendra, Sri Muktsar Sahib

Excessive use of fertilizers not only increases the cost of cultivation but also enhances the risk of pest and disease incidence on the crop as well as environmental pollution. It is generally recommended to apply

fertilizers on the soil test basis for proper use of fertilizers in basmati.per acre should be applied before the last puddling. Different varieties of basmati require different amounts of nitrogen after transplanting. Therefore, basmati varieties CSR 30 should be applied with 18 kg of urea; Punjab Basmati 5, Punjab Basmati 7, Pusa Basmati 1121, Pusa Basmati 1637 and Pusa Basmati 1718 should be applied with 36 kg of urea and Pusa Basmati 1509 should be applied with 54 kg of urea per acre. The above dose of urea should be broadcasted in the field in two equal splits i.e. 3 and 6 weeks after transplanting. When applying urea, it is important to make sure that there is no standing water in the field. High doses of nitrogen application to basmati cause excessive vegetative growth and plant height which make the crop more prone to lodging.

The PAU-Leaf Color Chart (PAU-LCC) can be used for the need-based application of urea to the basmati crop. According to this technique, urea should not be applied at the time of transplanting as basal dose. The colour of the first fully exposed leaves from the top of the plant should start matching with the PAU-LCC at weekly interval after three weeks of transplanting. Every time, the color of intact leaves of 10 plants free from insect-pests and disease incidence should be matched with PAU-LCC shades. For CSR 30 variety, the color of leaves should be matched with LCC shade 3.5 and for other varieties (Punjab Basmati 5, Punjab Basmati 7 and Pusa Basmati 1121, Pusa Basmati 1509, Pusa Basmati 1637 and Pusa Basmati 1718), the color should be matched with LCC

shade 4. Whenever the greenness of 6 or more out of 10 leaves is lighter than the specified LCC shades, 9 kg of urea per acre should be applied. However, no urea should be applied if color of 6 or more out of 10 leaves is equal to or darker than specified LCC shades. No more urea should be applied after the initiation of flowering.Direct Seeded Basmati crop

In unpuddled direct seeded basmati crop, 54 kg of urea per acre should be applied in three equal splits i.e. 3, 6 and 9 weeks after sowing. Phosphorus and potash should be applied only if the soil test shows deficiency of these nutrients.

Beside, zinc and iron deficiency appears in basmati crop. Due to zinc deficiency, the lower leaves become rusty brown near the base and ultimately dry up. The seedlings with zinc deficiency remain stunted and tillerless. To control this malady, apply 25 kg of zinc sulphate heptahydrate (21%) or 16 kg zinc sulphate monohydrate (33%) per acre at puddling in case previous crop in this field had shown the symptoms of zinc deficiency. Where the deficiency is noticed in the growing crop and direct seeded basmati crop, this quantity of zinc sulphate should be applied in the standing crop. In case of iron deficiency (chlorosis among seedlings appears in the youngest leaf), start giving copious irrigations as soon as chlorosis appears and give 2 or 3 sprays of one per cent ferrous sulphate solution at weekly intervals (1 kg of ferrous sulphate in 100 litres of water per acre).

Vivek Kumar: 98556-03629•

JULY 2022


A quality fodder helps to

improve the health of the animals besides enhancing the worth of the livestock products. Dairy cows fed on high-quality forage produce more milk with less supplemental concentrate than the cows fed

lower-quality forages. However, during fodder production, along with quality characteristics, some anti-quality/nutritional factors also develop. These anti-nutrients can hamper the livestock production as well as affect the health of the animals. Further, they act by reducing nutrient intake, digestion, absorption and utilization and may produce other adverse effects. In this article, some common anti- nutritional factors found in the kharif fodders are discussed with some management options to reduce their content in green fodder.

Nitrate: Plants generally accumulate nitrate when they are under stress from drought, hail, frost, cloudy weather and excess nitrogen fertilization. In kharif season, bajra can accumulate nitrate at potentially toxic levels (2000 ppm). Nitrate is generally highest in young plants and reduces the plant matures. In a plant, the order of nitrate accumulation is stem>leaves>floral parts. Prevention of nitrate toxicity

Apply recommended dose of • nitrogen fertilizer to the bajra

Anti-nutritional factors in kharif fodder crops and their managementBY Maninder Kaur, harPreet Kaur oberoi and RS SOHUDepartment of Plant Breeding and Genetics

crop i.e. 44 kg of urea per acre in two doses, first half as the basal dose and the second half, three weeks after sowing when the crop height is 10-15 cm. The crop should be harvested at • ear-initiation or soon after the flag-leaf emergence (45-55 days after sowing). In no case, it should be allowed to go beyond 50 per cent earing. Making silage of drought damaged • fodder. Ensiling reduces the nitrate level by 40 to 60 per cent.Under adverse conditions, delay • the harvest of the crop.Dilute the toxic forage by mixing • it with non-toxic forages.Oxalate: • In kharif season, napier-bajra hybrid is the crop which contains oxalate. Hence, napier bajra can become toxic if the livestock is fed on it for over a long period of time. Excessive amount of oxalic acid consumed regularly results in nutritional deficiencies as well as severe irritation to gut lining.

Prevention of oxalate toxicityApply recommended dose of nitrogen • fertilizer to the napier bajra hybrid crop i.e. 66 kg of urea per acre 15 days after planting. Repeat this fertilizer dose after each cutting. The first cutting is ready in about 50 • days after planting. Take subsequent cuttings when the crop is about one metre high.Make silage of stressed/damaged fodder. • Dilute the toxic forage by mixing it •

with non-toxic forages.Hydrogen cyanide (HCN): The

HCN is a group of nitrogenous compound and found in sorghum in kharif season. The level of HCN produced depends on the age and variety of the forage crop, especially, sorghum as well as environmental factors (drought or salt stress). The HCN level will be high in young plants (60-98 ppm) compared to mature plants (9-49 ppm). The HCN content was seen to decrease with the subsequent cuts in multi-cut sorghum fodder. The disease or pest attack and excessive nitrogen application result in increase in HCN accumulation in sorghum fodder crop and ultimately, increase toxicity effect when fed. Prevention of HCN toxicity

Apply recommended dose of nitrogen • fertilizer to the sorghum fodder crop i.e. 88 kg of urea per acre in two doses, first half as the basal dose and the second half, three weeks after sowing.Under drought conditions, apply • irrigation one week before harvesting of the crop.Harvest the crop of fodder from • boot to milk stage (65-80 days after sowing). Make silage of stressed/damaged • fodder. Dilute the toxic forage by mixing it • with non-toxic forages.Therefore, knowledge of anti-nutritional

factors present in fodder crops and their optimal management is necessary for efficient utilization of fodders so as to maintain animal health.

Maninder Kaur: 86077-54264•

Figure: Nitrate safety limit in fodders

JULY 2022


Kandi belt of Punjab covers an area of about 0.393 mha (about 7.8 per cent of state) and is located in the North-

East sub-mountainous region of the state. It comprises parts of Pathankot, Hoshiarpur, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, Rupnagar and Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar districts. The annual rainfall in this region varies from 600 to 1500 mm, out of which, about 80 per cent of the rains coincide with the Kharif season and rest of the 20 per cent occur in the Rabi season. A large number of seasonal streams, locally called ‘Choes’, pass through it, causing flash floods. Choes cut their banks and occasionally overflow to spread sand on adjoining areas of agricultural lands. The agricultural productivity in this region is quite low as compared to the rest of Punjab.

Constraints in the growth of agriculture in this sub-mountainous terrain are described below. These constraints cause low crop productivity in the region, resulting in low per capita income of farmers.

Availability of water: Although the annual rainfall is sufficient to produce two crops a year, yet following characteristics make it scarce:

80 per cent of the total rainfall is received in a short • span of two and a half months during monsoons (July-September) while during the rest of the year, the region faces a number of dry spells. Most of the rainwater goes on as runoff.• Poor moisture retentive capacity of soils.•

Soil and water conservation techniques for Kandi region of PunjabBY ajaib SinGh, Maninder SinGh bonS and MANMOHANJIT SINGHKrishi Vigyan Kendra, Hoshiarpur

Kandi belt of Punjab comprises parts of Pathankot, Hoshiarpur, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, Rupnagar and Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar districts. The annual rainfall in this region varies from 600 to 1500 mm, out of which, about 80 per cent of the rains coincide with the Kharif season and rest of the 20 per cent

occur in the Rabi season.

Rainfed agriculture because of lack of irrigation • facilities.Soil erosion: Because of undulating terrain and steep

slopes, excessive runoff and higher erodibility of soils; erosion is a major problem of the area. It causes degradation of land and nutrient loss which adversely affects the crop production system. It also causes siltation of water harvesting structures in the region.

Poor soil fertility: The inherent fertility of the soils of this area is generally low. The soils are mostly coarse textured with low water holding capacity.

Wild animals menace: Wild animals cause great damage to standing crops. The extent of damage is more in areas adjoining to forest lands.

Soil and water management practices need to be adopted to enhance crop productivity and reduce erosion levels as given below:

Bunding and land levelling: When the land is sloping, it needs to be modified in such a way that more rainwater stays back in the fields. Earth bunds should be made across the slope to intercept runoff, encourage infiltration and for disposal of surplus rainwater safely. Minor land levelling to eliminate major high and low points is also useful.

Bench terracing: In the case of bench terracing, the slope of the ground is converted into level or nearly level series

Contd on page 29

Soil Erosion Water Harvesting Structure Drip Irrigation in Vegetables

JULY 2022


Due to changing lifestyle, consumption of junk foods in the form of snacks and carbonated beverages has become very popular. But

these foods and beverages being loaded with refined carbohydrates, saturated fats and food additives in the limits beyond the permitted ones, lead to many adverse health consequences. So, a healthy approach is to make these foods at home with the fresh ingredients, so that they are nutritious and at the same time delicious, too. The following recipes are being given, which can be easily made at home.Green Fun RollsWhite bread: 2 slices, Hung curd: 50 g, Cabbage : 15 g, Tomato : 25 g, Cucumber : 25 g, Carrot : 20 gFor Mint chutney: Mint leaves: 25 g, Coriander: 15 g, Onion: 50 g, Green chillies: 2, Salt: to taste, Sugar: 1tsp, Black pepper:: ½ tspRed chilli powder: ¼ tspMethod

For making hung curd, hang approximately 75 g of curd in a muslin cloth by tying it with any tap in the kitchen for about one hour so that all the sour water is drained. Wash and clean the coriander and mint leaves; chop the onion and green chillies. Grind all the ingredients by adding sugar, salt, black pepper, etc. Mix grated carrots, salt, black pepper and red chilli powder into hung curd. Remove the side crumbs of bread slices and keep on a flat surface by joining them and apply butter on them followed by mint chutney. Spread the hung curd mixture on both the slices; then put a layer of other vegetables on it; then make a roll of the slices and join the last layer by applying butter on it. Refrigerate the roll for about one hour.While serving, cut the roll into two or three pieces depending on your serving size.Aam PannaRaw mango: 250 g, Sugar: 400 g, Mint leaves: 40-50 gBlack salt: 1 tsp, Cumin seeds: 3 tsp, Black Peppers : 8-10 pieces, Ginger: 1 small slice, Soaked fennel: 2 tsp, Cardamom pods: 2-3Method

Wash the mangoes and cook them in pressure cooker until 2-3 whistles. After cooling, peel them and remove all the pulp in a vessel. Add the pieces of ginger to this pulp. Soak the fennel seeds in a little water for 5-10 minutes.Dry roast all the spices including cumin seeds, seeds of green cardamom, black pepper and salt in a pan and grind them in a mixer after cooling.In the same mixer jar, blend mango pulp, ginger, sugar, mint leaves and soaked fennel seeds.Add one spoon of this paste in a glass and add ice cubes, cold water and garnish with mint leaves while serving.

Neerja Singla: 95014-88441

Taste Buds PAU INVITES APPLICATIONS FOR INNOVATIVE FARMER

AWARDS 2022The Directorate of Extension Education of Punjab

Agricultural University (PAU) has invited applications from the farmers as well as the village Panchayats/towns of Punjab for the Innovative Farmer Awards 2022 to be conferred during the Kisan Mela in September 2022.

Divulging details, Dr Ashok Kumar, Director of Extension Education, said that Sardar Dalip Singh Dhaliwal Memorial Award, carrying a cash prize of Rs 5,000/- along with plaque and citation, will be awarded to the self-cultivating farmer of field crops in Punjab. The Parwasi Bharti Award, carrying a cash prize of Rs 8,000/- along with plaque and citation, will be presented to the self-cultivating farmer engaged in diversified farming system, he added. Further, Dr Kumar said, “Sardar Ujagar Singh Dhaliwal Memorial Award will be conferred on the self-cultivating vegetable grower, who puts at least 60 per cent area of his operational holding under vegetable crops in winter as well as summer seasons. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 3,100/- along with a plaque and citation.” Besides, Sardar Surjit Singh Dhillon Award, carrying a cash prize of Rs 5,000 along with plaque and citation, will be bestowed on the self-cultivating small farmer (having land up to 5 acres), he informed. Sardarni Jagbir Kaur Grewal Memorial Innovative Woman Farmer Award will be presented to the farm woman involved in agriculture and allied agri-enterprises in Punjab. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 3,100/- along with a plaque and citation, he said.

In addition, Bhai Babu Singh Brar Best Pond Award will be awarded to the village Panchayat/town for maintaining best pond in their respective village/town. Carrying a cash award of Rs 20,000 alongwith plaque and citation, the award will be given on the basis of cleanliness of water, management of pond and use of water for various purpose, he told. The minimum area of the pond should be 2 kanals and 4 feet deep.

Dr Kumar said the application forms for the awards can be obtained from Associate/Deputy Directors (Training) of Krishi Vigyan Kendras, Directors of Regional Research Stations, District Extension Specialists (Senior Most) of Farm Advisory Service Centres, Chief Agricultural Officers, Deputy Directors of Horticulture in different districts of the state and Directorate of Extension Education, PAU. The last date for the receipt of applications in the office of Director of Extension Education, PAU, is July 15, 2022, he informed. For each award, a separate application will be accepted. Dr Kumar called upon the farmers and village Panchayats/towns to apply for the Innovative Farmer Awards 2022 in time.

JULY 2022


Snacking is the most common social activity throughout the world. People

often snack on various types of foods including fried foods, dried foods, junk foods and beverages of various kinds, which are usually unhealthy. Amar Kumar Choudhary, an alumnus of IIM-Ahmedabad, found out that healthy snacking was limited to the premium segment. Cracking healthy snacking into the mass segment was what he aspired for. While creating a healthy, tasty and trendy snack brand with vibes of fresh outlook, Amar launched Chakhna Shot™, a trademark brand of Belly Fit Food & Beverages Pvt Ltd with innovative flavors for peanuts in year 2018.

PAU Startup on healthy snacking made of dry fruitsBY t S riar, iqbalPreet Kaur Sidhu, rahul GuPtaPunjab Agri-Business Incubator

Amar Kumar Choudhary started his career with Engineers India Limited in 2006. After having market exposure of more than 10 years, he founded an edtech startup “Smart Student” to help Tier 2 & 3 students for creating growth opportunities. Besides that, he also co-founded an NGO, Mission Ethical India, which trains students on moral and ethical values. A firm believer in the journey rather than reaching a destination, he continually searches for a small idea having the potential to make it big.

Chakhna Shot, as the name suggests, offers snacks that are traditionally considered great paired with alcohol. However, Amar wants to take the “taboo away from the word and re-position it as a brand having high youth connect”. The startup offers peanuts in flavours including Peri-Peri, Jalapeno Twist, Smoked Tandoori, Minty Mania, and Achari Masti. These are available in packs of Rs 10, Rs 25, and Rs 60. Besides peanuts, Chakhna Shot also has cashew nuts (available in Rs 30, Rs 50, and Rs 450 packs), almonds (Rs 30, Rs 50, and Rs 400 packs), and Nut Bowl, a variation of breakfast packed with nuts and seeds, available in Rs 50 and Rs 250 packs.

He got selected as startup for innovative product category at Amazon Launchpad. After which, he also got selected for business incubation under Udaan programme of Punjab Agri Business Incubator, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. During two months training and intensive mentoring, he

received a great insight on marketing, strategy and operational excellence, focus on gross margin, new product innovation and customer listening, which helped him to start working on strengthening unit economics matrix. After the completion of training and final presentation with the ministry, he was selected for Rs 20 Lakh Grant-in-aid by RKVY-RAFTAAR.

Chakhna Shot has a direct revenue model. It generates revenue only by selling the products. According to Amar, its revenue has increased from Rs 5,000 in the first month to Rs 12 lakh currently. The Indian snack market is over-crowded with traditional players like Haldiram, Pepsi Co, ITC, and Balaji. More recently, players like Yoga Bar, Health Warrior, and Nature’s Path are breaking the healthy snack bar options. However, Bellyfit Food & Beverages Pvt Ltd has generated their name snacking industry in last 3 years and others should get inspiration from this startup.

Bellyfit Food & beverages Pvt Ltd is committed to bring innovation and offer a perfect blend of health and taste in contemporary snacking space. Different articles have been published on his startup Journey on https://www.startupsuccessstories.in, http://www.observenow.com and https://yourstory.com. He has been invited to different organizations and academic institutions to inspire the youth on the theme “Startup-Freedom to fail is success” and he is a live example of this.

TS Riar: 98142-10269•

JULY 2022


The cultivation of summer moong beans is popular among the farmers

after wheat. The area under this crop is increasing continuously. Although there is spurt in prices of pulses, yet farmers seldom get this benefit. Here comes the need for processing of pulses. Processing can be done in two ways: primary processing (drying, cleaning, grading and packaging) and secondary processing (dehusking, splitting and polishing). As far as primary processing is concerned, the farmer can do it at the farm itself without much of technical knowledge. It has been observed that by doing primary processing, almost upto 1.5 times value addition takes place. As the pulse milling industry is almost non-existent in Punjab, there is a very good scope for setting up of such industry.

Drying: The crop should be dried on the pucca floor or black polythene sheet in thin layer. Care should be taken that in the evening, the grains should be

Process summer moong for better returnsBY tarSeM Chand, KirandeeP and SAJEEv RATTAN SHARMA Department of Processing and Food Engineering

As the pulse milling industry is almost non-existent in Punjab, there is a very good scope for setting up of such industry.

collected on the sheet and on the next day, it should be again spread for drying. Drying should be continued till the moisture content reaches 10-11 per cent. Bigger industry units involved in secondary milling of pulses use mechanical dryers for the purpose.

Cleaning and grading: Cleaning

and grading are the heart of primary processing. It is very important to remove all the impurities and broken grains from dried moong beans, otherwise there are chances of spoilage of grains during storage. The light undesirable particles such as dust, straw, leaves, etc. can be removed with a cleaner attached with fan or with a manual siever (Chhajj). Similarly broken and shriveled grains can be separated with sieves or with a mechanical cleaner-cum-grader available in the market. This grader costs about Rs 70,000/- and can clean and grade 125 kg/hour (Figure 1). This machine can be easily managed by the farmer himself. This small machine grades the moong in three different grades based on the size of the grains. Graded pulses of same size look attractive and fetch better price in the retail market.

Sometimes, graded pulses are also polished in a polisher where the grains are rubbed against leather surface. This

gives shinning surface and attracts the consumer, although this is unnecessary operation from nutritional point of view.

Packaging and marketing: Packaging should be durable and attractive so that retail marketing is done without problem. Dried and graded moong should be packaged in consumer polythene package sizes of ½, 1 or 2 kilograms depending on the requirement and demand. There are number of machines available for packaging starting from simple heat-sealing machines (approximate cost Rs 1,000) to the fully automatic form and fill packaging machines (approximate cost Rs 4.0 lakhs). Continuous sealing machines can also be used for better sealing and higher capacity. This machine costs Rs 25,000/-. Sometimes pulses can also be packaged under vacuum conditions. Such machine costs Rs 1,50,000/-. The vacuum packaged and sealed product can be stored for longer duration and with better quality. Such packaged produce can be directly sold to the consumers, retailers or wholesalers. This helps in increasing the income of the farmers.

Therefore, by investing an amount of approximately Rs 70,000/ on cleaner-cum-grader and some amount on packaging system, the farmers can easily enhance their income through primary processing of pulses. For further technical or machinery related information, they can visit/contact the Department of Processing and Food Engineering, PAU, Ludhiana.

Tarsem Chand: 94638-09991•

Figure 1: Pulse Cleaner-cum-Grader

JULY 2022


The temperatures during July-August may be lower than May-June but due to extra humidity during these months, the weather has more adverse effects on animals. The weather affects Crossbred and exotic breeds of cows more than native breeds. This weather has negative impact on milk production, dry matter intake, and reproduction and growth of animals. Moreover, the incidence of infectious diseases and ectoparasites increases manifold during this weather. So it becomes necessary to provide a comfortable environment to the animals by making dietary and management interventions in order to enable them to perform better.

Prevention from flies and mosquitoes: Flies and mosquitoes serve as vectors for many diseases, so it is advisable not to have stagnant water reservoirs near animal sheds. The standing water places serve as the breeding grounds for flies and mosquitoes. Flies bite the animals and spread agents for many fatal diseases example: Babesiosis, Anaplasmosis, Trypanosomiasis, Theleriosis, etc. Animals may show signs of Anaemia, Haemoglobinurea, high fever, aimless circling, swelling of lymph nodes, etc. In these conditions, consult a veterinarian immediately as it can be fatal as well. A healthy animal performs normal physiological activities like Rumination by sitting comfortably but flies and mosquitoes constantly irritate the animal, thus resulting in restlessness. This

Care and management of milch animals in rainy season

BY ViVeK SharMaKrishi Vigyan Kendra, Sri Muktsar SahibThe humid weather during July-August affects Crossbred and exotic breeds of cows more than native breeds.

This weather has negative impact on milk production, dry matter intake, and reproduction and growth of animals. So it becomes necessary to provide a comfortable environment to the animals by making dietary and

management interventions in order to enable them to perform better.

affects the rumination process, thus the decreasing milk and milk fat production.

Prevention against ecto and endoparsites: The population of ectoparasites increases during rainy season. These ectoparasites stick to animal’s body mainly near udder area, on the inner side of legs and tail and constantly suck the animal’s blood, resulting in anaemia. While using anti-tick sprays or insecticides on animals, make sure to spray them on the walls and on any cavities inside the shed, and on the floor as well where the ticks can hide and lay eggs. Deworming of animals against endoparasites should be done after the rainy season ends. For deworming against endoparasites, different dewormers e.g. Albendazole, Piperazine, Fenbendazole, etc. are available which can be used according to the body weight of the animal.

Good management practices: In the rainy season, due to the lack of dry area in sheds, animals do not have sufficient dry comfortable space to sit and relax, thus impacting their normal physiological activities. Moreover, due to wet floors, the incidence of mastitis may increase. Problems of foot rot may arise if the animal is kept constantly on wet floors. So, during the rainy season, try to keep the floors dry as much as possible so that animal can sit comfortably.

Nutritional interventions: The incidence of ruminal acidosis increases

during these days. Inclusion of yeast (150 g/1quintal concentrate) is beneficial. Also using buffer in the diet of the animal helps to reduce acidosis. Regular cleaning and disinfection of animal sheds and mangers should be done. Fungus infected straw and silages should not be fed to the milking animals. A 24-hour availability of cool and fresh drinking water should be there. Daily supplementation of mineral mixture in animal feed is beneficial. Make TMR (total mixed ration) of the daily diet, and avoid feeding green and concentrates separately.

The dry matter intake of the animals decreases during these days due to which their nutritional requirements are not met, resulting in improper or no estrus signs. The buffaloes can exhibit silent heat/estus. So it becomes necessary to look for signs of estrus very keenly. The normal signs of estrus are - decreased feed intake, restlessness, constant micturition, mounting on other animals, swollen and pinkish vulva, etc. If these signs are visible, Artificial insemination can be done and look again for these signs after 18-22 days to confirm and if these signs do not repeat, then after three months confirm by a veterinarian through per rectal examination for pregnancy. The incidence of Haemorhagic septicaemia and black quarter increases during rainy season. Make sure to vaccinate the animals against these diseases before the start of rainy season.

Vivek Sharma: 83607-10463•

JULY 2022


Green fodder is very important to provide vital nutrients to maintain

the health of dairy animals as well as increase the milk production, and finally has impact on human health as well. It is a good source of livelihood for the farmers who depend on the cultivation of green fodder just like any other crop and sell it in the market. According to the latest census, there are approximately 70.5 lakh livestock of which 65.5 lakh are adult animals in the Punjab state. The annual production of green fodder in the state is about 716 lakh tonnes on the basis of which each animal gets only 30 kg of green fodder per day which is far from satisfactory as 40 kg of green fodder per day, per animal is required. So there is a need to increase the area and production per unit of land per unit of time to meet the requirement of the animals along with the good quality fodder. The details of newly recommended varieties of sorghum and bajra fodder crops along with their cultivation practices are discussed below:Sorghum

Variety: SL 45 is a quick growing, tall, late maturing, single cut composite variety with more tillers. It comes to 50 per cent flowering after 99 days. Its stem is juicy and sweet. It is resistant to red leaf spot and moderately resistant to zonate leaf spot diseases. It possesses good fodder quality, especially, the crude protein (8.75%) and in vitro dry matter digestibility (46.85 %). On an average, it gives 271 quintals per acre of green fodder. The average green fodder yield

Grow new fodder varieties to get higher yield

by rS Sohu, ruChiKa bhardwaj and DEvINDER PAL SINGHDepartment of Plant Breeding and Genetics

The annual production of green fodder in the state is about 716 lakh tonnes on the basis of which each animal gets only 30 kg of green fodder per day which is far from satisfactory as 40 kg of green fodder per

day,peranimalisrequired.Sothereisaneedtoincreasetheareaandproductionperunitoflandperunitoftimetomeettherequirementoftheanimalsalongwiththegoodqualityfodder.

of SL 45 is 271 q/acre as compared to 220 q/acre of check variety SL 44.

Time of sowing: Sowing commences in the middle of March to obtain early green fodder. The optimum period of sowing is mid-June to mid-July.

Seed rate and method of sowing: The seed rate of sorghum is 20-25 kg per acre for fodder crop. The seed should be treated with 10 ml Slayer 30 FS (thiamethoxam) per kg seed for preventing damage by shoot fly. Treat the seed with sulphur dust @ 4 g/kg seed before sowing to control grain smut. Sow with a seed-cum-fertilizer drill or by using the pora method in rows 22 cm apart. Sorghum can be grown under no tillage to obtain the same green fodder yield as after conventional or zero till sown wheat.

Fertilizer application: Drill 44 kg of urea per acre in rows at sowing in the rainfed or low rainfall areas. In high rainfall or irrigated areas, apply 44 kg of urea and 50 kg of single superphosphate per acre at the time of sowing and another 44 kg of urea per acre about one month later. Add potassium to the crop on the soil test basis.

Plant protection: SL 45 is resistant to red leaf spot and moderately resistant to zonate leaf spot.

Harvesting: Harvest the crop for fodder starting from 60 days after sowing till 100 days (from boot to milk stage). Under drought conditions, apply irrigation one week before harvesting the crop.Bajra

Variety: PCB 166 is a dual-purpose

composite bajra variety which can be grown as a grain as well as fodder. It is a quick growing, tall, late maturing composite variety with more tillers. It is late maturing variety and comes to 50 per cent flowering after 89 days. It is tolerant to all the major diseases of bajra. It possesses good fodder quality, especially, the crude protein (8.5%) and in vitro dry matter digestibility (47.8%). On an average, it gives 282 quintals per acre of green fodder and 16.3 quintals per acre grain yield. The average green fodder yield of PCB 166 is 282 q/acre as compared to 260 q/acre of check variety PCB 165.

Time of sowing: As a fodder crop, it can be sown from March to till the end of August.

Seed rate and method of sowing: The seed rate of bajra is 6-8 kg/acre for fodder crop. It can be sown by broadcasting or in rainfed areas with pora in rows keeping row to row distance of 22 cm.

Fertilizer application: Add 10 tonnes per acre of farmyard manure or compost before land preparation to the fodder crop. Apply 44 kg of urea per acre in two doses, first half as the basal dose and the second half, three weeks after sowing when the crop height is 10-15 cm tall.

Harvesting: The crop is ready for first cut after 60 days which will continue up to 89 days of sowing (soon after the flag-leaf emergence).

RS Sohu: 98767-73898•

JULY 2022


In Punjab, guava is the second most important

fruit crop after ‘Kinnow’ mandarin. Presently, it is being cultivated on around 10,000 hectares (11% area of total fruit crops). The Punjab Agricultural University has recommended promising varieties of

guava for the table as well as processing purposes viz. Punjab Safeda, Punjab Kiran, Punjab Apple Guava, Shweta, Arka Amulya, L-49, Allahabad Safeda and Punjab Pink and developed several production and protection technologies to improve the fruit quality and productivity of guava. Major technologies including rejuvenation of senile guava trees, mulching with paddy straw, drip/fertigation, crop regulation, fruit quality improvement technologies, etc. are being adopted at wider scale in the state. Likewise, the protection techniques such as PAU fruit fly traps and fruit bagging are being used extensively in the state in commercial as well as domestic guava plantations. Nutritional importance of guava

Guava fruits are the third richest source of vitamin C in fruits after Barbados cherry and amla. Guava fruits also comprise fair amount of minerals such as calcium, phosphorous, iron, pantothenic acid, riboflavin, thiamin and niacin. Due to antioxidant properties of fruit pulp, it is known to control systolic blood pressure. The nutritional importance of guava in comparison to apple is quite evident in Table.Why guava cultivation is most preferred in the state?

Guava can tolerate hardy soil and climatic conditions. The guava plants can thrive well in a wide range of soils. It is comparatively more tolerant to salts and can be cultivated

Grow guava for high nutritional value fruits and better economic returnsBY JASwINDER SINGH BRAR and trina adhiKaryDepartment of Fruit Science

Theguavacultivationmaybeoneofthebestoptionsasadiversifiedcroppingsysteminthestateowingtoitshigh nutritional value and acceptability/demand of fruits in the market, wide range of adaptability to soil and climatic conditions, double cropping per year, easy management practices and wide range of product options

for processing.

successfully with some necessary soil amendments. Guava can also be cultivated under temporary flood as well as drought conditions. Guava plants can survive hot and dry climate to frost free cold. Due to these factors, the guava is well-distributed crop throughout the Punjab and it is also a well-known backyard fruit plant.

Guava is the only commercial fruit which produces two crops in a year i.e. rainy season and winter season crop in a year under Punjab conditions. The farmers can fetch better returns from both season crops by following proper management practices. The risk of failure of crop for one season can be compensated with other season crop within the same year. The guava fruits bear quite early as compared to other fruit crops and respond very well to pruning treatments, hence they are suitable for high density planting. Therefore, for higher productivity and profitability per unit area, there is an immense scope for increasing area under guava plantation.

Guava is prone to very limited biotic stress factors and only one major pest - fruit fly and one major disease - guava

Table 1: Nutritional value of apple and guava fruits

Nutritional components

Content (per 100 g fruit)Apple Guava

Vitamin A 54 IU 624 IUVitamin B-3 0.09 mg 1.084 mgVitamin C 4.60 mg 228.3 mgVitamin E 0.18 mg 0.73 mgPhosphorus 11 mg 40 mgMagnesium 5 mg 22 mgPotassium 107 mg 417 mgCalcium 6.0 mg 18.0 mgFibres 2.4 g 5.4 gProteins 0.30 g 2.60 g

JULY 2022


wilt may affect the crop. Hence, few management efforts are required to manage the crop. The PAU has developed very effective technologies to manage the fruit fly incidence such as PAU fruit fly traps and on-tree fruit bagging. Guava wilt can also be managed with planting of quality plant material and with proper management of irrigation and orchard floor. Problem of sucking pests is very meager in this fruit crop.

Though the guava fruits are consumed fresh, yet these are also being processed commercially into many products such as guava pulp, guava jam, guava jelly, guava cheese, guava nectar, guava chocolates, RTS, guava squash, pudding, canned guava fruits, guava powder (used for making srikhund, yogurt, bars etc.) and for various culinary products. The guava processing is an economically viable entrepreneurial activity and provides ample opportunities for employment generation, particularly, for the local youths and also for earning much required foreign exchange. The availability of raw material and possibilities of production of large number of processed products from guava may boost the fruit processing industry in Punjab.

Non-bearing or juvenile phase of guava plants is very short and properly managed guava plants start bearing after 2-3 years. So, the farmers can generate enough income after three years, and intercropping of short duration and short statured crops can be cultivated as an intercrop during initial years to generate income without adversely affecting the guava plantation.

The guava cultivation may be one of the best options as a diversified cropping system in the state owing to its high nutritional value and acceptability/demand of fruits in the market, wide range of adaptability to soil and climatic conditions, double cropping per year, easy management practices and wide range of product options for processing.

Jaswinder Singh Brar: 99153-33793•

of step like fields. This practice can be adopted if slope is more and soils are deep enough.

Cultivation across the slope: All agricultural operations including cultivation and planting should be done across slope. It reduces runoff flow velocity, increases infiltration and decreases soil erosion.

Vegetative barriers: Vegetative barriers are dense perennial plantations which check soil erosion and conserve moisture because these establish quickly and have a strong deep root system. Planting of such grasses helps in strengthening of bunds and make them more effective. In addition, these provide fodder and material for other uses. Kanna and Napier Bajra have been found to be most effective in controlling runoff and soil loss.

Ridge and furrows: Making ridges and furrows across the slope for the cultivation of crops reduces runoff velocity and checks soil loss. It conserves additional water in furrows, thereby reducing runoff.

Repair of field bunds: Before the onset of monsoons, repair the field bunds. It helps in infiltration of most of the rainwater in the fields.

Decrease evaporation losses: Start ploughing followed by repeated planking of the field immediately after the harvest of previous kharif crop. This will conserve soil moisture in the seed zone for obtaining good stand of rabi crops.

Green manuring in fallow fields: Sunhemp/dhaincha crops should be grown in fallow fields as they provide good vegetative cover during intense monsoon period that checks soil erosion and add nutrients to the soil.

Harvesting runoff water and its recycling: A substantial amount of runoff can be collected in dug out ponds/tanks. To check seepage loss in light soils, a lining of polythene sheet at bottom and brick-cement lining on sides of tanks

may be required. The harvested water may be used for establishing an orchard and for raising crops using efficient irrigation methods like drip and sprinkler system.

Selection of crop, crop variety and cropping system: It is very important to select proper crop/crop variety or cropping system that withstands or effectively adjusts with the conditions. Maize based cropping system is more profitable in this region. Cultivation of maize and cowpea/mash in strips on slope lands reduces soil loss and results in higher profitability.

Haloding: It involves ploughing with desi ploughing between the inter-row region in a month-old maize crop. This method uproots the weeds and earthing up of the maize crop.

Mulching: This technique conserves soil moisture, controls weed growth, provides conducive environment for plant growth and improves productivity. Left-over residue can be spread in between rows in row crops to reduce evaporation losses. This also adds to organic matter in the soil. Plastic mulching can be done for high value crops.

Deep rooted hardy horticultural crop plantation: Horticultural plants (like ber, amla, etc.) being deep rooted can utilise the moisture stored in sub-stratum and hence for a better option for micro catchment-based farming in sandy soil situations.

Improved/efficient methods of irrigation: Micro irrigation systems can be used to apply water directly to the root zone which helps in achieving higher water use efficiency as well as nutrient use efficiency.

It has been observed that adoption of various soil and water conservation measures can bring about significant increase in crop productivity along with reduction in runoff and soil loss under rainfed conditions in the region.

Ajaib Singh: 94647-64320•

Soil and water conservation.... .........................contd from page 22

JULY 2022


Farm operations in AugustPADDY

To the rice crop, irrigation should be •given two days after the ponded water has infiltrated into the soil but fields should not be allowed to develop cracks. Last dose of nitrogen (30 kg urea/acre) may be applied if already not given. If urea is to be applied with the help of leaf colour chart, apply 25 kg of urea/acre only if 6 leaves out of 10 are lighter than shade no. 4 of leaf colour chart. In direct seeded rice (DSR), apply second and third dosage of about 43 kg urea/acre each at 6 and 9 weeks of sowing.In highly deteriorated soils, zinc deficiency •may appear in patches even after the application of recommended dose of zinc sulphate. In such cases, apply an additional dose of 10 kg zinc sulphate (21%) or 6.5 kg zinc sulphate (33%) per acre mixed with equal amount of dry soil, on the affected area.Iron deficiency may appear in sandy soils. •The deficient plants show yellowing of younger leaves which ultimately turn white. To correct this malady, 1.0% ferrous sulphate solution (one kg ferrous sulphate in 100 litres of water per acre) may be sprayed 2-3 times at weekly intervals. Do not apply ferrous sulphate to soil.In early transplanted crop, drying of leaves •due to bacterial leaf blight disease may be noticed. Spraying with any chemical will not be helpful to control this disease. Do not pond water in the field. Addition of nitrogen will further increase the disease.Sheath blight may be noticed during •August. The disease can be checked by spraying Pulsor/Iglare 24 SC @ 150 ml or Epic 75 WG @ 26.8g or Gallio way 18.76 SC @ 400 ml or Amistar Top 325 SC @ 200 ml or Nativo 75 WG @ 80 g or 320ml Lusture 37.5 SE or Folicur/Orius 25 EC @ 200 ml or Tilt/Bumper/Pikapika 25 EC or Monceren 250 SC 200 ml in 200 litres of water. Keep the bunds clean by removing weeds.To check false smut, spray the crop with •Gallio way 18.76 SC @ 400 ml or Kocide 46 DF @ 500 g in 200 litres of water per

acre at boot stage in disease prone areas.Rice Stem Borers:• The larvae bore into the stems of young plants and result in dead hearts. The rice crop fields showing more than 5 per cent dead hearts (ETL) should be sprayed with 20 ml Fame 480 SC (flubendiamide) or 50 g Takumi 20WG (flubendiamide) or 60 ml Coragen 18.5 SC (chlorantraniliprole) or 170 g Mortar 75 SG (cartap hydrochloride) or one litre of Coroban/Dursban/Lethal/Chlorguard/Durmet/ Classic/Force 20 EC (chlorpyriphos) or 80 ml neem-based bio-pesticide, Ecotin (azadirachtin 5%) in 100 litres of water per acre. These insecticides may be repeated as and when damage reaches economic threshold level. Prefer Ecotin at pest initiation stage. In • basmati rice, when there are more than 2% dead hearts, apply Fame 480 SC @ 20 ml or Takumi 20WG @ 50 g or Coragen 18.5 SC (chlorantraniliprole) @ 60 ml or Mortar 75 SG @ 170 g or one litre of Coroban/Dursban/Lethal/Chlorguard/Durmet/ Classic/Force 20 EC or Ecotin @ 80 ml/acre or Achook/Neem Kavach @ 1 litre in 100 litres of water per acre. In addition to these insecticides, Ferterra 0.4 GR (chlorantraniliprole) @ 4 kg or Padan/Caldan/Kritap/Sanvex/Nidan/Marktap/Miftap/ Katsu 4G (cartap hydrochloride) @ 10 kg/acre or Vibrant 4 GR (thiocyclam hydrogen oxalate) @ 4 kg or Regent/Mortel/Mipro-G/Mahaveer GR/Shinzen 0.3 G (fipronil) @ 6 kg or Dursban 10 G (chlorpyriphos) @ 4 kg per acre can also be used in standing water in basmati rice. These insecticides also control leaf folder in addition to stem borers. Leaf folder:• The larvae of this insect fold the leaves, eat out the green tissues and produce white streaks. Before flowering, the leaf folder damage can be controlled by passing a 20-30 m long coir/jute rope, forward and then backward, both ways while touching the crop canopy. While passing the rope, please ensure that water must be standing in the crop. When the leaf damage reaches 10 per cent (ETL),

this pest can be controlled by spraying 20 ml Fame 480 SC or 50 g Takumi 20WG (flubendiamide) or 60 ml Coragen 18.5 SC (chlorantraniliprole) or 170 g Mortar 75 SG or one litre of Coroban/Durmet/Force 20 EC or 80 ml neem-based bio-pesticide, Ecotin (azadirachtin 5%) in 100 litres of water per acre. Planthoppers: • The nymphs and adults of planthoppers suck the cell sap, particularly, from the leaf-sheath from July to October. These can be controlled by spraying the crop with 94 ml Pexalon 10 SC (triflumezopyrim) or 80 g Osheen 20 SG/Token 20 SG (dinotefuran) or 120 g Chess 50 WG (pymetrozine) or 800 ml of Ekalux/Quinguard/Quinalmass 25 EC (quinalphos) or 80 ml Ecotin or 4 litre PAU Homemade neem extract in 100 litres of water per acre. For better results, use knapsack sprayer while directing its spray towards the base of the plants. Prefer Ecotin or PAU Homemade neem extract at pest initiation stage.

MAIZEAdequate supply of water is essential for •proper growth of the crop. However, maize is very sensitive to standing water, so excess water may be drained out from the field which would also help to keep stalk rot under control. Damage due to standing water can be minimized by two sprays of 3 per cent urea solution at weekly interval or by applying additional nitrogen @ 12-24 kg (25-50 kg urea) per acre in case of moderate to severe damage after the flooding is over.Apply last dose of nitrogen i.e. 37 kg of •urea per acre to early sown hybrids or high yielding varieties of maize at the appearance of tassels. Apply 25 kg of urea per acre to local maize/Pearl Popcorn/ Kesri.To control banded leaf and sheath blight of •maize, spray 100ml of Amistar Top 325 SC in 200 litres of water as soon as it appears in the field. The attack of maize borer can be checked •by spraying with 30 ml of Coragen 18.5 SC (chlorantraniliprole) in 60 litres of water per acre with knapsack sprayer. Bioagent Trichogramma chilonis can also be used to

JULY 2022


controls this pest. Use trichocards having 40,000 eggs of Corcyra cephalonica parasitized by T. chilonis, twice per acre; first release on 10 days old crop and second 7 days after the first release.

COTTONTo keep weeds under check, give hoeing. •Apply 33 kg of urea/acre to varieties, 45 kg to Bt cotton on the appearance of first flower. Use PAU-LCC for need-based urea application. Apply four sprays of 2% potassium nitrate (13:0:45) solution at weekly intervals, starting at flower initiation.Spray against whitefly should be done when •population reaches 6 adults per leaf in the upper canopy of plants before 10 AM with Sefina 50DC (afidopyropen) @ 400 ml/acre or Osheen 20 SG (dinotefuran) @ 60 g/acre or Polo/Craze/Ruby/Ludo/Shoku 50 WP (diafenthiuron) @ 200 g/acre or Lano/Daita 10 EC (pyriproxyfen) @ 500ml or Oberon/voltage 22.9 SC (spiromesifen) @ 200 ml/acre or Ulala 50 WG (flonicamid) @ 80 g/acre or Dantotsu 50 WG (clothianidin) @ 20 g or Fosmite/Volthion/Goldmit 50 EC (ethion) @ 800 ml/acre or PAU Homemade neem extract @ 1200 ml/acre or Nimbicidine/Achook (neem based) @ 1 litre/acre. Initiate spray against jassid whenever some of the fully formed leaves in the upper canopy show yellowing and curling at the margins on 50 per cent on the plants. Use Keefun 15EC (tolfenpyrad) @ 300 ml/acre or Ulala 50 WG (flonicamid) @ 80 g/acre or Osheen 20 SG (dinotefuran) or Neon 5 EC (fenpyroximate) @ 300 ml/acre or Actara/Extra Super/ Dotara/Thomson 25 WG (thiamethoxam) @ 40 g/acre in 125-150 litres of water.

Attack of mealybug can be checked by •spraying 150 ml Transform 11.8 SC (sufloxaflor) using 125-150 litres of water per acre.

To protect the crop from bollworm and •tobacco caterpillar damage, the insecticides given for the control of bollworm and tobacco caterpillar in Table 1 are recommended. These should be sprayed using 125-150 litres of spray material per acre with manually operated knapsack sprayer or 75 litres with the shoulder mounted power sprayer and tractor mounted sprayer when the damage in shed fruiting bodies exceeds 5% and thereafter spray as and when the need arises.

Note:Regularly monitor the pest population.a.

For effective insecticide resistance b. management, do not repeat the insecticide of the same group in subsequent sprays.Do not use mixture of insecticides as c. this will result in faster development of resistance and resurgence of pests.Do not use synthetic pyrethroids on cotton d. for the control of bollworm complex after mid -September.Repeat the spray immediately if it rains e. within 24 hours after spray.Cotton is highly sensitive to the 2, 4-D f. weedicide. Some farmers spray the ester form of 2, 4-D for controlling weeds in maize grown near the cotton fields. Owing to the volatile nature of 2,4-D ester, its vapours cause serious injury to the cotton

crop. Hence, avoid the application of this herbicide in maize, if cotton is grown in the adjoining fields. The other precautions are:After using 2,4-D, fill all spraying o equipment as well as tubs, buckets, etc. with 0.5 per cent washing soda solution (500 g of washing soda in 100 litres of water) in the evening. Next morning, flush all equipment thoroughly with fresh water.To avoid the use of contaminated insecticides o on cotton, it is advisable to test insecticide at least two weeks in advance on a few plants. If the insecticide is contaminated with 2, 4-D, the tender leaves and shoots could become distorted and lanceolated within 10 days. Reject such an insecticide.To control fungal foliar leaf spots, the crop o

Brands (insecticides) Dose/acrePink and Spotted bollworms

A. Synthetic PyrethroidsDanitol/Meothrin 10EC (fenpropathrin) 300 mlFastac/Alphagaurd/Merit Alpha 10 EC (alphamethrin) 100 mlBulldock 0.25 SC (β-cyfluthrin) 300 mlRipcord/Bilcyp/Bullet/Ustad/Cypergaurd 10 EC (cypermethrin) 200 mlCymbush/Cyperkill/Hillcyper/Colt/Basathrin/Agrocyper/Cypergaurd 25 EC (Cypermethrin) 80 mlDecis/Rukrain/Decicare 2.8 EC (deltamethrin) 160 mlSumicidin/Fenval/Agrofen/Fenlik/Triumph card/SB Fenvalerate Milfen/ Markfenval 20 EC (fenvalerate)

100 ml

Pink, Spotted and younger larvae of American bollwormA. Macrocyclic lactonesProclaim 5SG 100gB. CarbamatesLarvin 75 WP (thiodicarb) 250gB. OrganophosphaticCuracron/Carina/Profex/Celcron 50 EC (profenophos) 500 mlFosmite/E-mite/Volthion 50 EC (ethion) 800 mlC. Miscellaneous groupFame 480 SC (flubendiamide) 40 ml

Grown up l`arvae of American bollwormA. NaturalyteTracer 48 SC (spinosad) 60 mlB. OxadiazineAvaunt 15 SC/Avaunt 15 EC (indoxacarb) 200 mlC. Miscellaneous groupSumipleo 10 EC (pyridalyl) 300 mlCoragen 18.5 SC (chlorantraniliprole) 60 mlD. OrganophosphatesCoroban/Dursban/Durmet/Chlorgaurd/Lethal/Force/Markpyriphos 20 EC (chlorpyriphos) 2 litresOrthene/Asataf/Starthene/Markphate 75 SP (acephate) 60ml

Tobacco caterpillarA. Insect Growth RegulatorRimon 10 EC* (novaluron) 150 mlB. Miscellaneous groupCoragen 18.5 SC (chlorantraniliprole) 60 ml

Insecticides for the control of bollworms in cotton

JULY 2022


should be sprayed with Amistar Top or 200 ml/acre in 200 litres of water at 15-20 days interval.

SUGARCANETo prevent lodging, prop up the crop at •the end of this month by using trash twist method.Iron deficiency is observed both in the •ratoon and plant crop on light textured and calcareous soils. Deficiency symptoms first appear on young leaves as yellow stripes between the green veins, later the veins also turn yellow. In severe cases, leaves become white and the plants remain stunted. To correct this deficiency, 1% ferrous sulphate solution (one kg ferrous sulphate in 100 litres of water per acre) may be sprayed 2-3 times at weekly intervals soon after the symptoms appear.Release bio-agent, • Trichogramma chilonis @ 20,000 per acre from July to October (10-12 releases) at 10 days interval for the management of stalk borer in sugarcane. Collect and destroy the infected shoots •affected with different borers, particularly, that of Gurdaspur borer at weekly interval regularly to prevent further infestation of the healthy canes.For the management of Sugarcane Pyrilla, •use Dursban 20EC (chlorpyriphos) @ 600 ml/acre in 400 litres of water.

FODDER PRODUCTIONSow leguminous and non-leguminous crops •in mixture to improve the nutritive value of the fodder i.e. maize + cowpea, sorghum + guara.Apply 30 kg of N (66 kg urea)/acre to the •multicut fodder (napier bajra hybrid and Guinea grass) after every cutting.Harvest the fodder crops at optimum stage •like maize at milk ripe stage, bajra at flagleaf stage, napier bajra or guinea grass at one metre height and sorghum at pre-flowering to flowering stage to obtain maximum nutrients for the milk production.Conserve surplus fodders like maize, •sorghum, napier bajra and guinea grass as silage to be used in lean periods for cheap milk production.

VEGETABLESCauliflower: Sow 250 g seed of mid-season varieties in one marla bed area. Irrigate the nursery beds with a watering can daily in the beginning and thrice a week thereafter. Treat the seed with 3 g Captan per kg of seed before sowing.

Root crops: From the last week of this month, start sowing Asiatic (Desi) varieties of radish (Pusa Chetki), carrot (PC 161, PCP 2, PCY 2, Punjab Black Beauty and Punjab Carrot Red) and turnip (L-1). Before sowing, add 15 tonnes of FYM, 55 kg of urea and 75 kg of Single Superphosphate per acre. Apply 50 kg Muriate of Potash per acre to carrot only. Prepare ridges 45 cm apart and dibble seed in fully moist conditions at 7.5 cm spacing. Apply light irrigation immediately after sowing. Use 4-5 kg seed of radish and carrot, and 2-3 kg seed of turnip to sow an acre.Chilli

Harvest red ripe fruits once a fortnight •to minimize shedding in the fields. Fully developed green fruits may be plucked for use as a salad and pickle. For the control of fruit rot and die back, •spray the crop with 250 ml of Folicur or 750 g of Indofil M 45 or Blitox in 250 litres of water per acre at 10 days interval.

Brinjal and OkraSpray 80 ml Coragen 18.5 SC •(chlorantraniliprole) or 80 g Proclaim 5 SG (emamectin benzoate) or 100 ml Sumicidin 20 EC or 200 ml Ripcord 10 EC in 100-125 litres of water against fruit and shoot borer of brinjal. In brinjal, spider mite attack can be •minimized by spraying 300 ml O-mite 57 EC per acre in 150 litres of water. The attack of jassid on • bhindi can be reduced by spraying 80 ml Ecotin 5% or 2 litre PAU neem extract or 40 ml confidor 17.8 SL (imidacloprid) or 40 g Actara 25 WG (thiamethoxan). For the control of spotted bollworms, give three sprays at fortnightly intervals with 50 ml Coragen 18.5 SC or 200 ml Sumipleo 10 EC or 70 g Proclaim 0.5 SG or 100 ml of Sumicidin 20 EC or using 100-125 litres of water per acre, as soon as flowering starts.

Onion: During this month, start planting kharif onion crop both with bulbsets as well as seedlings. Apply 45 kg of urea, 125 kg of single superphosphate and 35 kg of Muriate of Potash per acre before planting. Transplant seedlings at 15×7.5 cm distance and irrigate the field immediately after transplanting.

HORTICULTURAL OPERATIONSIt is very suitable time for planting of •evergreen fruit plants like citrus, mango, guava, litchi, loquat, sapota, etc. The excess rainwater when stagnates for •several days is harmful to the orchard trees. Adopt prompt measures to drain out excess

rainwater from the orchard. Root damage due to water stagnation in pear and peach can be managed with immediate draining of excess water from the root zone followed by hoeing at optimum moisture (wattar) conditions. Prune the dried ends of the branches along with 5-8 cm of the live wood.Spray the affected citrus trees with 0.47% •(4.7g/ liter of water) zinc sulphate without addition of lime to late summer flush to control zinc deficiency. To correct zinc and manganese deficiency, spray the plant with zinc sulphate (470 g) + manganese sulphate (330g) in 100 litres of water. A gap of one week should be kept between the foliar application of Bordeaux mixture and zinc sulphate and manganese sulphate solution. The physiological fruit drop in citrus can •be checked by spraying 2,4-D sodium salt of Horticultural grade (5 g) in 500 litres of water/acre in mid-August. To control foot rot (• Phytophthora) of citrus, give one application of Curzate M8 as paint (2 g/100 ml of Linseed oil) to the infected trunk portion and drench (25 g/10 litres of water/ tree) the soil at the base of the tree in July-August or drench the soil and main limbs of the affected plants with sodium hypochlorite (5%) @ 50 ml in 10 litres of water per tree under their canopies. One week after the spray of sodium hypochlorite, you can apply talc based bioformulation of Tricoderma asperellum @ 100 g mixed with 2.5 g FYM per plant at foot and basin region of the plant to manage this disease.To control Anthracnose and downy mildew •diseases of grapes, spray the vines with Bordeaux mixture (2:2:250) at the end of August using 500 litres of water/acre.Fix PAU fruit fly traps @ 16/acre in citrus •orchards in the second week of August and recharge the same if required.

ORNAMENTALSPermanent plants: New plantation of ornamental trees, shrubs and climbers can be continued in this month. Pot plants: This is an ideal time for the potting and repotting, while repotting, the roots of the plants need to be pruned and the soil mixture is refilled in this process. Some plants can be propagated through this method.Lawns: New Lawn can be planted in this month in already prepared land. Frequent mowing of the lawn is done for carpet like effect. Chrysanthemum: Rooted cuttings planted

JULY 2022


in pots in the last month should be trained according to their types viz. standard and spray type. The small flowered ‘spray’ type varieties should be pinched by removing terminal buds.Roses: Regular weeding of roses should be done and suckers should be removed. Take care of attack of red scale.Trees and shrubs: The shrubs can be propagated from hardwood cuttings during this month. Tree seeds can also be planted during this month.Marigold: Punjab Gainda No.1 marigold can be transplanted for seed production purpose.

AGRO-FORESTRY Transplanting of most of the tree species like Safeda, Kikar, Subabul, Tahli, Dek, Nim, Sagwan etc. is done during July-August (rainy season). The pits of 50×50×50 cm should be filled with 50 per cent top soil and 50 per cent farm yard manure. Plant the seedlings in the centre of the pit after gently removing the polythene bag. Care should be taken that the earth ball and roots do not get damaged. Apply the light irrigation immediately.POPLAR: All the kharif crops (except paddy) can be grown in poplar during first two years of tree growth. Afterwards kharif fodders such as maize, sorghum, bajra, guinea grass, etc. should be grown. The incidence of defoliators and leaf webber is common in this month. Collect the badly infested leaves having eggs and caterpillars of defoliators and leaf webber, and burry in the soil. Keep the fields weed free.

BEE KEEPINGInspect all the honey bee colonies very quickly and if there is scarcity of food reserves in the colonies and also dearth of bee flora in the fields, provide sugar syrup (sugar and water mixed in ratio of 1:1) to all the colonies in the late evening. Prefer to provide this feed in Division Board Feeder or directly into empty raised combs. For augmenting brood rearing, the colonies should be fed either stored pollen or PAU pollen substitute/supplement. Take all precautionary measures to avoid robbing and appropriate measures to check it if at all it occurs. Protect colonies from the attack of wax moths, ants, wasps and green bee-eaters. Take appropriate measures to check wax moth infestation of stored combs. Unite weak, queenless and laying worker colonies, if any, with queen-right colonies after the necessary preliminaries. Must keep the colonies on high stands and tilted a little in front to prevent the entry of rainwater into the colonies or its

accumulation inside the hive. Hives should not be left in low lying places and ensure their placement at upland to ensure adequate ventilation in order to minimize the impact of high humidity, besides preventing chances of stagnant rainwater entering into the colonies. Do not keep colonies in the way of dry water-way/channels. Must use top cover covered with galvanized iron sheet. Remove all the weeds growing underneath and around the colonies. Ensure that aeration facilitating wire gauge of inner cover is clean and should not be clogged with propolis.

MUSHROOMPrepared paddy straw bundles are wetted •with fresh water and spawned for the cultivation of paddy straw mushroom.After one day of spawning, the spawned •beds should be watered daily two times a day. Harvesting of this mushroom will be •continued for one month after spawn run.After the completion of crop cycle, discard •the old beds and prepare new beds for next crop.Harvesting of milky mushroom will be •continued during this month.

DAIRY FARMINGUse foggers or sprinklers intermittently. •Use of only fans should be continued. If the animal has a wound, protect it from •flies so that maggots do not develop into it. Keep the surroundings clean and preferably apply fly repelling ointment on the wound i.e. Himax or Lorexane. To treat maggot wound, apply negasunt powder first above ointments.This month is hot and humid during which •flies, lice and ticks are very common. These suck blood, cause skin irritation and spread diseases. To check these, spray Butox/cleaner/amitraz 2 ml/litre water on animals and use Kohrsolin 10 ml in 1 litre of water on the animals during early hours of the day as well as on the sheds and repeat the spray after 10-15 days. Do not spray animals below 6 months of age. Animals’ sheds, especially, corners, crevices etc. should also be sprayed. Take full care that insecticides do not get mixed with feed, fodder and drinking water. Strictly follow the manufacturer’s instructions while spraying the insecticide. Also deworm the animals with broad spectrum anthelmintics like albendazole, fenbendazole and levamisole. During this period, there is scarcity of •green fodder. Use silage or sugar beet pulp

alongwith wheat straw. Progressive farmers are already using silage throughout the year. Provide concentrates during cooler hours of the day.Provide at least 30-35 kg of green fodder •mixed with 1 to 1½ kg of wheat straw alongwith 50 g of common salt and 50 g of soda bicarb. Provide 1 kg concentrate feed for every 2.5 kg milk produced by cow and 2 kg milk by buffalo.Observe color of urine. If pale yellow, •means animal is taking less water. Provide water adlib.Keep checking mucus membranes in mouth, •conjunctiva of eye and vaginal mucosa for paleness to ascertain anemia and tick born diseases alongwith rectal temperature. If temperature is above 102oF, then take advice of a veterinarian.

POULTRY FARMINGThe ration should contain 15-20 per cent •more protein, minerals and vitamins as feed intake in summer.Damp litter and high temperature are good •media for the growth of protozoa which cause Coccidiosis in the chicken; so avoid dampness in the deep litter house by stirring the litter 2-3 times in a week.Place the nests inside the sheds, 1-2 weeks •prior to the start of egg production. Feeding should be done during cooler •parts of the day by restricting feed during afternoon hours from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm to reduce heat stress. Keep sufficient cold water available for •the birds all the time. Add electrolytes in drinking water 5 g/litre of water per 100 birds or 40-50 g vitamin C per quintal of feed. The temperature of the poultry house should •not be more than 26oC. Be careful about the health of the birds. Immediately consult the expert in case of sickness of the birds. Do not store the compound feed for more •than 15 days to avoid aflatoxins.Control the flies in the shed, especially, in •cage house.Debeaking and vaccination may be done up •to 14-16 weeks of age. The price of eggs starts rising from this •month; so there should be minimum disturbance after laying starts.

Compiled by: Amarjit SinghInformation supplied by: PK Chhuneja, RK Gupta, KS Suri, Amit Kaul, JS Brar, GPS Dhillon, Ranjit Singh, Ruma Devi, Shivani Sharma and Tejbir Singh

JULY 2022


Training Programmes in August 2022KVK, AMRITSAR (98723-54170)

August 02 : Feeding and management of poultry birds August 04-12 : Preparation of eco-friendly cleaning agents August 08 : Production technologies of root crops and leafy

vegetablesAugust 16-17 : Iron rich recipes for anaemia management through

local products August 22-30 : Mushroom cultivation as subsidiary occupation August 31 : Preparation of soaps and hand-wash

KVK, BATHINDA (0164-2215619)August 01-09 : Poultry farmingAugust 03 : Feeding and management of poultry birdsAugust 05 : Integrated weed management in rabi cropsAugust 09 : Market led extension for rabi crops August 11-12 : Dietary management of anaemiaAugust 16-17 : Dietary management of lifestyle diseasesAugust 23 : Production technologies of root crops and leafy

vegetablesAugust 25 : Organic farming of vegetables August 30 : Improved cultivation techniques of rabi crops

KVK, Faridkot (01639-253142)August 01-05 : Construction of biogas plant August 08-12 : Embellishment of clothes using modern and

traditional techniques of dyeing August 10 : Production technology of root crops and leafy

vegetablesAugust 16 : Organic farming of vegetables August 17 : Integrated nutrient management in kharif crops August 22-26 : Poultry farmingAugust 23 : Feeding and management of poultry birds August 25-31 : Value addition to agriculture produce August 30 : Preventive/post-accident guidelines in agriculture

KVK, FATEHGARH SAHIB (01763-221217)August 01 : Efficient use of crop residue machinery August 05 : Feeding and management of poultry birds August 08-12 : Mushroom cultivation as subsidiary occupation August 09 : Production technologies of root crops and leafy

vegetablesAugust 11 : Cultivation of onion for bulb crop and seed

productionAugust 17 : Soilless model for vegetable kitchen garden August 22 : Integrated pest management in kharif crops August 24 : Nutritious recipes for young children and pregnant/

lactating women August 26 : Planning and infrastructure for cultivation of

mushrooms August 29 : Formulation of balanced feed for dairy animals August 31 : Efficient use of crop residue machinery

KVK, FEROZEPUR (Mallewal) (01632-279517)August 04 : Custom hiring of agricultural machinery August 08-12 : Poultry farming August 16 : Feeding and management of poultry birds August 22 : Dietary management of anaemia August 26 : Organic farming of vegetables and soilless model for

vegetable kitchen garden August 31 : Safe and judicious use of pesticides

KVK, Gurdaspur (01874-220743)August 03 : Prevention and control of endo and ecto parasites in

dairy animals August 08-12 : Pig farming August 16 : Green fodder production round the year and seed

production of berseem August 22-26 : Mushroom cultivation August 29 : Identification of major insect-pests of rabi crops and

their damage symptoms August 31 : Pesticide residue free basmati cultivation

KVK, HOSHIARPUR (Bahowal) (98157-51900)August 04 : Safe and judicious use of pesticides August 10 : Feeding and management of poultry birds August 12 : Dietary management of anaemia August 16 : Improved cultivation technologies of fruit crops August 22-26 : Goat farming August 31 : Processing of milk at domestic level

KVK, JALANDHAR (Nurmahal) (01826-292053)August 01 : Preventive/post-accident guidelines in agricultural

operations August 05 : Feed formulation for different categories of pigs August 09 : Integrated Farming System August 12 : Dietary management of lifestyle diseases August 16 : Protected cultivation and nursery raising techniques

of vegetable crops August 18 : Cultivation practices of garlic August 22 : Safe and judicious use of pesticides August 24 : Pesticide residue free basmati cultivation August 26 : Use of Happy Seeder for crop residue management August 29 : Insect-pest and disease management in kharif crops August 31 : Soil, water and nutrient management for sustainable

crop productionKVK, Kapurthala (01822-233056)

August 01 : Nutritional recipes for young children and pregnant/lactating women

August 08-12 : Goat farmingAugust 10 : Custom hiring of agricultural machinery August 16 : Garment enrichment through different techniques August 22-26 : Integrated pest management in kharif crops August 25 : Integrated pest management in kharif crops August 29 : Feeding and management of dairy animals August 31 : Latest cultivation techniques of vegetable crops

KVK, LUDHIANA (Samrala) (01628-261597)August 01-05 : Vermi-composting August 04 : Preventive/post-accident guidelines in agricultural

operationsAugust 08-12 : Cooperative farmingAugust 10 : Green fodder production round the yearAugust 12 : Low cost nutritious recipes using underutilized

vegetables August 16 : Nutritional recipes for young children and pregnant/

lactating women

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August 17 : Dietary management of anaemia August 22-30 : Preparation of bakery and confectionary products August 25 : Marketing of rabi crops

KVK, Mansa (01652-280843)August 02 : Communication skills for transfer of technology August 04 : Feed formulations for different categories of pigs August 08-12 : Establishment of agro-processing units August 10 : Small scale agro-industry: A way to become an

entrepreneur August 16 : Dietary management of anaemia August 18 : Identification of parasitoids and predators of major

crops August 22-26 : Nursery production of horticultural cropsAugust 24 : Recommended practices for clean milk production August 29 : Formation of farmer groups/FPO/CIG August 31 : New cultivation technologies of vegetable crops

KVK, MOGA (Budh Singh Wala) (98142-19099)August 03 : Awareness regarding weather forecast August 05 : Feeding and management of poultry birds August 08-12 : Goat farming August 16 : Dietary management of anaemia August 22-26 : Establishment of agro-processing units August 25 : Green fodder production round the yearAugust 29 : Production technologies of root crops and leafy

vegetables August 31 : Nutritious recipes for young children and pregnant/

lactating womenKVK, PATHANKOT (98148-30820)

August 02 : Feed formulations for different categories of pigsAugust 05 : Food safety and techniques to check food

adulteration August 08-12 : Poultry farming August 10 : Cultivation of onion August 17 : Production technologies of root crops and leafy

vegetablesAugust 22-26 : Mushroom cultivation and processingAugust 29 : Personal hygiene and nutrition for adolescent girls August 31 : Nutritious recipes for young children and pregnant/

lactating women KVK, PATIALA (Rauni) (94642-10460)

August 01-05 : Repair and maintenance of agricultural machinery August 08-18 : Entrepreneurship development programme in dairy

farming August 10 : Custom hiring of agricultural machinery and its

maintenance August 12 : Climate change and its effect on agriculture August 16 : Processing of soybean August 22-26 : Entrepreneurship development programme in

mushroom cultivation August 24 : Personal hygiene and nutrition for adolescent girls August 29 : Seed production of onion and cultivation of winter

vegetables August 31 : Efficient spraying technology in field crops and

quality production of basmati for export KVK, ROPAR (01881-220460)

August 01-05 : Preparation of value added products out of waste materials

August 10 : Clean milk production and its processing

August 12 : Production technologies of root and leafy vegetable crops

August 16 : Organic farming of vegetables August 22 : Soilless model for vegetable kitchen garden August 26 : Proper spraying techniques for management of brown

plant hopper in rice August 31 : Nutritious recipes for young children and pregnant/

lactating women KVK, SANGRUR (Kheri) (01672-245320)

August 01-05 : Nursery production of horticultural crops August 10 : Custom hiring of agricultural machinery August 16 : Production technologies of root crops and leafy

vegetables August 22-26 : Mushroom cultivation as subsidiary occupation August 25 : Techniques of fabric and pot painting August 29 : Rice residue management technologies for improving

soil health August 31 : Nutritional and creative activities for children

KVK, SHAHEED BHAGAT SINGH NAGAR(Langroya) (01823-250652)

August 01-05 : Nursery production of horticultural crops August 08-12 : Value addition to agricultural produce August 10 : Safe use and handling of spraying equipment and

farm machinery August 16 : Prevention and control of endo and ecto parasites in

dairy animals August 18 : Nutritional security through integrated nutrition

garden August 22-26 : Poultry farming August 24 : Production technologies of root crops and leafy

vegetables August 25 : Establishment of nutrition garden in urban and peri-

urban areas August 29 : Safe and judicious use of pesticides August 30 : Round the year green fodder production August 31 : Nutritious recipes for young children and pregnant/

lactating women KVK , SRI MUKTSAR SAHIB (Goneana) (98556-20914)

August 01-12 : Value addition to household articles through traditional embroidery (Phulkari, painting and block printing)

August 03 : Safe use and handling of spraying equipment and farm machinery

August 05 : Safe and judicious use of pesticides August 08-17 : Poultry farming August 22 : Garment enrichment through different techniques August 24 : Improved cultivation practices for carrot production August 26 : Feeding and management of poultry birds August 30 : Efficient use of crop residue machinery

SKILL DEVELOPMENT CENTRE (0161-2401960/Ext 261)August 01-28 : Integrated crop production training course (127th

batch) August 08-12 : Organic farming (vermi-compost and use of

biofertilizers for enhancing crop yield and soil fertility)

August 23-24 : Nursery growing techniques for flower crops August 30-31 : Hybrid seed production of maize and sunflower

Compiled by: Inderpreet Kaur Boparai and KB Singh

RNI No. 10082/64 Date of Publication: 17/06/2022

Postal Regd. No. LDC/0775/2020-22 Date of posting: 25, 26 & 27 of every month

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