Varsity's paddy plan makes a breakthrough

There is satisfaction and relief at Punjab Agricultural University that its efforts to create awareness and educate farmers not to go in for early transplantation of paddy have yielded rich dividends.

Keeping in view the critical source water, which is fast depleting in the state, PAU had advised farmers to transplant paddy only after June 15.

This appeal, including a joint appeal issued by the Vice-Chancellor, PAU, Dr Kirpal Singh Aulakh, Chairman, Punjab Farmers' Commission, Dr G S Kalkat and Vice-Chairman, Punjab State Planning Board, Dr S S Johl, was backed by data to tell farmers how early paddy transplantation would hasten the down-fall of sub-soil water.

Reports from across the state indicate that such an appeal intended to "save water, save Punjab" has had the desired effect.

With paddy transplantation now in full swing and electricity being diverted to operate the tubewells, PAU scientists today called upon the farmers to start transplanting rice varieties, namely PR-118, PR-116, PR-114, PR-111, PR-106, PR-108, PR-113 and PR-115, from June 20 onwards.

Farmers have been told that since PR-115 is harvested earlier than other varieties, this facilitates timely sowing of potatoes, peas and barseem. There are indications that paddy nursery in some of the fields, particularly those in light soil, show signs of iron deficiency.

There the young leaves turn yellowish white and plant growth slows down. Farmers have been advised to spray 1 per cent ferrous sulphate in such a condition.

Since PAU is stressing on basmati, farmers have been asked to complete the sowing of basmati nursery, particularly for varieties like Pusa Basmati-I, Super Basmati and Pusa Sugandh-II, in the first fortnight of June.

PAU agro-meteorologists in the weather and crop outlook, have predicted a partly cloudy weather over Punjab in the next two to three days with daily maximum and minimum temperatures hovering between 38 degree Celsius and 40 degree Celsius, and 24 degree Celsius and 26 degree Celsius respectively.

On other important crops like sugarcane, for better growth, farmers have been advised to irrigate at intervals of 7-12. It is also time for the second dose of urea at 65 kg per acre.

Regarding cotton, farmers have been advised to take appropriate physical and chemical measures to control weeds, which appear because of irrigation or rain.

This is also the time to complete cultivation of soybean by the first fortnight of June as also arhar.

Sowing of moong in light textured soil should start in the last week of June. Summer moong crop is at pod formation stage and whenever pod borer and tobacco caterpillar appear, these should be controlled by spraying Thiodan. PAU strongly advises farmers to sow only the recommended varieties of maize like hybrid PMH-1. Sowing should be done in trenches.

This is the ideal time to sow nursery of kharif onion using 5 kg seed for an eight marla plot of either Agrifound Dark or N-53 variety.

One can also start sowing rainy season lady finger (bhindi). Use 5 kg seed for one acre with 45 cm row-to-row spacing. The seed must be soaked in water for 24 hours before sowing.

Horticulturists have received reports of 'case worm' attack on flowering, plantation and fruit trees. To control this, farmers have been advised to use Sevin or Thiodan spray.

The weatherman predicts daily loss of water through evaporation to be around 10 mm to 12mm per day and mean relative humidity around 45 per cent during the next two to three days.