Farmers Corner

Agrometeorological Advisories (Kozhikode District)

(Period: 09.09.2022 to 14.09.2022)

General Condition

There will be light to moderate rainfalls (up to 64.4 mm within a time span of 24 hours.) may also occur on 13th September 2022 and chances for isolated heavy rainfalls (up to 115.5 mm within a time span of 24 hours.) may also occur on 9th ,10th , 11th and 12th September 2022.
As per the extended rainfall forecast, there will be rain during the next week also. The sky will be cloudy. High relative humidity will be experienced. High atmospheric temperature and heat index will be felt during the rain free intervals.

General Recommendations: The prevailing climatic conditions may favour disease causing fungus to spread its fruiting bodies. Hence beware of diseases like rots and wilts in coconut, black pepper, banana, ginger etc. leaf blight and bacterial leaf blight in rice. Maintain hygiene conditions in crop fields. Infected and fallen nuts, leaves and tree parts should be removed from the fields and burnt. Postpone fertilizer application to the crops. Provide propping to tender stem crops like banana, tomato etc. Ensure sufficient drainage in crop fields. Beware of lightning.

Paddy

Flowering to milky stage: Rice bug:Strict vigilance is necessary at milky stage. Keep the field and bunds free of weeds and grasses. If attack is seen apply fish amino acid @ 20 ml/litre.

Dough stage:Drain the fields to harden the grains. Don’t allow stagnation of water in the fields..

Coconut  

All stages: Bud rot: Detection of disease at its early stage will help to adopt efficient corrective measures. Cut and remove the affected tissues from the crown and apply Bordeaux paste. After that cover the cut surface with polythene sheets to protect it from rain falls until new leaf emerges. Burn the removed tissues immediately. As a prophylactic measure spray 1% Bordeaux mixture into the axils of top leaves of the surrounding palms

Cashew

Pre-bearing stages: Tea mosquito bug
Prophylactic measures: 1) The fungal biological control agent, Beavaria bassiana can be sprayed @ 20g/L Or 2) Spray 1% Bordeaux mixture mixed with quinalphos (2ml/litre of Bordeaux mixture)

Black pepper

Bearing stage: Pollu beetle/disease: As a pyrolytic measure spray spray 1% Bordeaux mixture mixed with quinalphos (2ml/litre of Bordeaux mixture ). If attack is seen spray solution containing hexaconazole (5ml) + cyhalothrin (3ml) per 5 litres of water

Banana

Various stages of growth: Sigatoka leaf spot: There should not be any water stagnation in the basins of the crop. As a prophylactic measure spray Pseudomonas (@ 20g/litre) at fortnight intervals. If disease appears:-Cut and burn all affected leaves. Spray Carbendazim and Mancozeb (@ 2ml per litre) alternatively at fortnight intervals.

Areca nut

All stages: Mahali disease:
Apply Bordeaux mixture (1%) to the bunch and leaves.

Animal Husbandry

Location specific vaccination and de-worming have to be given with the consultation of nearby veterinary doctor. Spray copper sulphate to control snails. Keep the surroundings dry and clean. The litters in the poultry house should be kept dry and turned frequently.

Source: KERALA AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY, VELLANIKKARA, KAU POST, THRISSUR, KERALA AAS BULLETIN FOR KOZHIKODE DISTRICT AMFU,AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH STATION
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മലയാളത്തിനായി ഇവിടെ ക്ലിക്ക് ചെയ്യുക

Attention banana growers-root mealy bug-a new threat to banana cultivation.
      Banana plants of varieties Nendran and Rasthali grown in about three hectares of leased land at Poozhithode of Kozhikode district has been found to be severely infested with root mealy bug. Symptomatology- The plants were at six months old stage. Five thousand five hundred plants were grown in the area of which about 120 plants were showing symptoms like creamy white discolouration of the last unfurled leaf and the leaf remaining unopened for longer duration, with a burnt like appearance at the tip. The feeder roots were found to be severely damaged with dead root hairs. Live stages of mealy bugs including immatures and adults were collected from the soil, confirming the severe incidence of mealy bugs in the soil. The banana suckers which were brought from nurseries of Mukkom and Kuttiadi areas and planted without proper curing is suspected to be the possible source of infestation. Similar cases have also been reported from Kelothvayal and Chathamangalam areas of the district.
Prevention is better than cure Since suckers are suspected to be the possible source of infestation, spread of this serious pest is to be checked by prevention of use of suckers from infested areas within and outside the state. Dipping of suckers in boiled water for 10 seconds helps to destroy the live stages of mealy bug adhered to the sucker. Soil drenching of chlorpyriphos 20 EC @2.5ml per litre of water in the root zone may be taken up in consultation with the Agriculture Officers of the area.