Expert Advisory Details

Posted by Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana

Punjab

2020-03-03 10:59:21

Expert advice for vegetable farming in March

The farmers must use these tips to preserve the vegetables:

Chilli: Transplant CH-1, CH-3, CH-27 (hybrids) and Punjab Sindhuri, Punjab Tej, Punjab Guchhedar and Punjab Surakh varieties of Chilli at spacing of 75cm (Row -Row) X 60cm (Plant -Plant). Prepare the field by applying 10-15 tonnes FYM, 25 kg urea, 75 kg single superphosphate and 20 kg muriate of potash per acre. Irrigate immediately after transplanting and later on 10-12 days intervals depending upon soil & climate.

Kharif Onion: 1. In second fortnight of March, sow nursery of onion variety Agri Found Dark Red to produce bulb sets. Sow 5 kg seed on well prepared beds on an area of 8 marlas to produce bulb sets for one acre.

2. On onion bulb crop, Onion thrips feed on foliage and produce white spots followed by curling called “Silver Top”.

3. For controlling purple blotch, spray the crop with 300g of Caviet or 600g of Indofil M-45 and 200 ml of Triton or linseed oil in 200 litres of water per acre.

Okra: 1. Sow Pb-8/Punjab Suhawani varieties in this season. Apply 40 kg urea per acre at sowing and 45kg as top dressing after first picking. Soak 8 to 10 kg seed in water over night. Dibble 4 to 5 seeds per hill on the southern slope of ridges keeping hill at 15 cm spacing. Apply light irrigation after 10 to 12 days depending upon soil & climatic conditions.

Cucurbits: 1. Apply recommended fertilizer and prepare channels as per recommended spacing for each cucurbitaceous vegetable. Irrigate the channels before sowing. Dibble atleast 1-2 seeds per hill.

Tomato: 1. Apply second dose of nitrogen in the first fortnight of this month. Stake plants on beds. Irrigate regularly at 10 to 12 days interval to encourage the maximum fruit setting.

2. Late blight disease may appear on tomato early in this month. The crop may be sprayed with Indofil M-45 @ 600 g/acre to control this disease. Under heavy disease risk situation, spray Ridomil Gold @ 500 g/acre followed by Indofil M-45 at 7 days interval.

3. Spray tomato crop with 60ml Coragen 18.5 SC (chlorantramiliprole) or 30 ml of Fame 480 SL (flubendiamide) or 200 ml of Indoxacarb 14.5 SC per acre in 100 litres of water to check the attack of fruit borer.

Cowpea: Sow Cowpea-263 keeping lines 45 cm and plants 15 cm apart using 8-10 kg seed per acre. Apply 45 kg urea, 100 kg single superphosphate and 16 kg muriate of potash per acre.

Potato: The potato tubers should be sorted out carefully before storage. Tubers showing late blight symptoms in the form of brown-purplish discoloured areas on the skin of the tubers should be rejected and destroyed. Care should also be taken to sort out Late blight, black scurf and scab infected tubers.