Expert Advisory Details

Experts' advice for horticultural operations in April

During this month there is a marked change in weather. The temperature rises rapidly and humidity gets low. The growers are advised to adopt the measures to save their valuable fruit trees particularly newly planted from drought and sun injury. Apply light and frequent irrigations during this month to young plants. The heavy bearing cultivars of peaches like Shan-E-Punjab and of plum like Kala Amritsari and Sutlej Purple normally need fruit thinning in early days of the month to minimize the danger of limb-breakage and to improve the marketable size and quality of the fruits. Apply irrigation at 3-4 days interval to peach varieties Partap, Shan-iPunjab and Florda Prince as the fruits are developing during this period. Apply second dose of inorganic fertilizers to the fruit trees of citrus, pear, litchi, plum, grapes etc. The stock sprouts emerging from the newly planted young fruit plants below the bud union should be removed/pinched off regularly. In young orchards Sathi Moong can be sown upto first week. To check zinc deficiency in citrus, spray the affected trees with 0.47 zinc sulphate (4.7g/litre of water) solution, without addition of lime, to spring flush. In order to get only winter seasons guava crop, spray urea @ 10% or 600mg/litre NAA during April-May when maximum flowers have opened. Pruning of terminal portion of shoots (20-30 cm) in last week of April can also be done to avoid rainy season crop. Also withhold irrigation during this period. Spray 200 ml Crocodile/Confidor 17.8 SL or 160 g Actara 25 WG per acre in 500 litres of water on citrus crop to control citrus psylla and aphids.