Tuesday, March 22, 2011

PAU EXPERTS CAUTION COTTON GROWERS

LUDHIANA, MARCH 22:

\"With the approaching of cotton sowing, it is important for the farmers to know the causes, symptoms, extent of incidence and the management of this crop. Some new challenges such as 'parawilt and tirak' (physiological disorders, without any association with pathogen) are being faced by cotton growers now," divulged PAU scientist Dr R.S.Sarlach of the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics (DPBG).

Sounding a note of caution, Dr Gurpreet Singh of PAU, said that prolonged drought, high temperature and bright sun light followed by irrigation / heavy rains favour parawilt. Advising the growers about its management, he told that plants may be saved from 'parawilt' with timely foliar application of cobalt chloride (ethylene production inhibitor) @ 10 mg per litre of water (10 ppm) at initial wilting stage. He stressed that the treatment is effective only at initial stage and added that the affected plants will recover within a week of spray without any loss in seed cotton yield. Referring to the stock solution for efficient and proper dose of spray, he recommended that it should be prepared by dissolving 2 g of cobalt chloride in one litre of water. Then 75 ml. of this solution should be dissolved in 15 litre of water and sprayed on 'parawilt' affected plants only. Dr Singh informed that the farmers can have this chemical free of cost from Cotton section, Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, PAU, and Krishi Vigyan Kendras at district head quarters.

Describing 'tirak' as bad opening of bolls, another PAU scientist Dr P.S.Sekhon said that it is emerging as a serious physiologically disorder. Symptoms of 'tirak' include yellowing and reddening of leaves followed by bad opening of bolls. It appears when cotton suffers from persistent drought, nutrient deficiency on light sandy soil, inadequate water supply and too early sowing. He added that it is common in hybrids, which start early boll formation at a high temperature in June. Dr Sekhon alerted the farmers and advised that the judicious use of fertilizers and timely irrigation during flowering and fruiting stages and use of recommended plant protection schedule help to reduce the intensity of this physiological disorder.
News From: http://www.7StarNews.com

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