The Hindu Business Line : Pest, disease alert on paddy crop

PADDY fields in the State should be closely watched for pest attack and incidence of various diseases even as a second top dressing for the Mundakan crop gets under way, says the Agromet Bulletin dated November 22 issued by the Met Office, Thiruvananthapuram.

If incidence of blast, sheath blight or sheath rot were to prove severe, spraying of Ediphenphose or Carbendazim or Carboxin in 1 ml of water should be undertaken.

Leaf roller, stem borer or plant hoppers would warrant spraying with Carbaryl 50 per cent with 2.5 kg or Phosphamidon 40 per cent EC formulations 625 ml dissolved in 300 litres of water.

In areas with crop damage from excessive rain and flood, re-sowing may be done judiciously selecting short duration varieties in consultation with local agricultural officers or professionals.

In coconut, incidence of leaf rot or stem bleeding is likely. 1 per cent Bordeaux mixture may be sprayed or Bordeaux paste applied to control the disease.

Rhinoceros beetles should be hooked out using a beetle hock while harvesting coconuts, and plant protection measures adopted against possible red palm weevil attack.

In sugarcane, lime application, organic manuring, fertiliser application and new planting can be continued with. In arecanut, 1 per cent Bordeaux mixture may be sprayed to control leaf and spindle yellowing.

In ginger, clump or rhizome rot can be prevented by immediate soil drenching with Bordeaux mixture or Cheshunt compound.

Leaf mould application for vanilla can be continued along with drenching of soil and around the base and spraying of foliage with 1 per cent Bordeaux mixture to control fungal disease affecting stem, flowers and fruits.

Process of mother plant marking and labelling for selection of vine can be continued. It is time for the prophylactic drenching of soil around the vine with 1 per cent Bordeaux mixture for controlling phytophthora foot rot.

In cashew, all offshoot branching seen up to a height of one metre of the trunk should be de-suckered and pruned. Quinalphos at 2 ml diluted in 1 litre of water may be sprayed to control infestation by tea mosquitoes. New planting can be continued in banana, tapioca and seasonal vegetables.

State and stage of crops: The Mundakan paddy crop is in the late tillering stage to panicle initiation stage and weeding operations and second top dressing are in progress.

In late sown paddy fields, the crop is in the late tillering stage. Intercultural operations, a second dose of fertiliser application and plant protection measures are in progress along with harvest operations in coconut, rubber, arecanut and cardamom.

In pepper, berries have reached the maturing stage. Harvesting has commenced in turmeric. Ginger too has reached the harvesting stage. Cashew and fruit trees are in the flushing stage.

New planting operations are on in banana, tapioca and seasonal vegetables. Nutmeg is also nearing the harvesting stage. Top dressing with manures and fertiliser, close on the heels of intercultural operations, are also apace in these crops.

Summary of weather: During the four-day period starting November 18, the northeast monsoon was weak over the State on November 21. Rain occurred only at isolated places on November 21 and dry weather prevailed during the previous four days.

Chief amounts of rainfall in mm (from November 18 to 21) are:

November 21: Nedumangad - 15.0; Thiruvananthapuram Airport - 7.5; Punalur - 7.5; Varkala - 7.0 and Thiruvananthapuram City - 6.4

Mean minimum temperature varied between 21 deg C and 24 deg C in various districts. The Cochin International Airport recorded the lowest minimum of 20.0 deg C on November 20.

Mean relative humidity varied between 50 per cent and 83 per cent, mean cloud coverage between 1 okta and 5 okta and mean wind speed, 2 kmph and 8 kmph.

Forecast valid November 24 spoke about the possibility of rain/thundershowers at isolated places in all districts.

Outlook for two subsequent days did not indicate any change.

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