Farm Operations in May

RICE 1. May is the month for sowing paddy nursery. Grow recommended varieties i. e. PR 121, PR 122, PR 118, PR 116, PR 114, PR 113, PR 111, PR 115 etc. complete the sowing of paddy nursery during the second fortnight of this month. Apply 12-15 tonnes of well-rotten farmyard manure per acre. Plough the field twice after about a week to kill germinated weeds. Flood the field and puddle it well. Apply 26 kg urea and 60 kg single super phosphate and 40 kg zinc sulphate (heptahydrate) or 25kg Zinc sulphate (monohydrate) per acre at puddling. Prepare plots of convenient size. 2. Treat seed before sowing to prevent primary seed borne infection. Soak 8 kg seed in 10 litres of water containing 5 g Emisan 6 and 1 g Streptocycline for 8 to 10 hours before sowing. 3. Sow the treated and pre-germinated seed @ 1kg/20 sq.m. Keep the soil moist by irrigating the plot frequently. Apply another dose of 26 kg urea per acre about a fortnight after sowing. 4. Weeds in paddy nursery can effectively be controlled by applying 1200 ml per acre of any recommended brand formulations of butachlor 50 EC or thiobencarb 50 EC. The herbicide should be applied in the standing water 7 days after sowing of the pre-germinated seed of paddy. Alternatively apply Sofit 37.5 EC (pretilachlor + safner (Readymix) @ 500 ml/acre 3 days after sowing of pregerminated seed. 5. During the initial stages of growth, light irrigation should be given but after about 10 days, water should be kept standing to avoid iron deficiency particularly in case of light textured soil. However, if the seedlings in the nursery show yellowing of younger leaves. Spray 0.5-I % ferrous sulphate solution(0.5-1 kg ferrous sulphate in 100 litres of water) thrice at weekly intervals. If the leaves turn rusty brown after becoming yellow, give a spray of 0.5 % neutralised zinc sulphate heptahydrate solution. 6. In case attack of Grasshopper in rice nursery then spray 800 ml of Ekalux/Quinguard 25 EC . If the attack of Hispa is noticed in the nursery, clip off and destroy the leaf tips of the affected seedlings before transplanting. COTTON 1. Complete the sowing of cotton in the first fortnight of this month and follow clean cultivation, destroy Kanghi buti (Sida sp.) and Peeli buti (Abutilon sp.) which act as collateral host of cotton leaf curl. 2. If jassid incidence is noticed in the standing crop, spray 80g Ulala 50 WG) (flonicamid) or 40 ml Confidor 200 SL or 40 g Actara/Dotara 25 WG in 100 litres of water per acre. 3. In situations, where Itsit emerges after first irrigation or with the rain shower, Stomp 30 EC @ 1.0 litre/acre can also be applied as post-emergence after first irrigation to cotton. Spray herbicide uniformly by dissolving in 200 litres of water. Give one hoeing/interculture about 45 days after sowing to control the weeds.

MAIZE 1. Start sowing maize during the last week of this month. 2. Sow only the PAU recommended hybrids/varieties. 3. Treat the seed before sowing with 3g Bavistin per kg seed. Sowing can be done in trenches only upto mid June. Trench planted maize resist lodging and gives more yield. 4. Apply fertilizers on soil test basis. To medium fertility soils, apply 35 kg urea, 150 kg single superphosphate and 20 kg muriate of potash per acre to maize PMH1, Parbhat & Sweet corn 1 and 25 kg urea, 75 kg single superphosphate and 20 kg mutiate of potash per acre to maize PMH2, Kesri and Pearl Popcorn at sowing. Omit the application of phosphours, if maize follows wheat which received the recommended does of phosphorus. Apply potash only to soil tested low in this nutrient. Application of FYM @ 6 tonnes per acre before sowing is beneficial. 5. For the control of weeds depending upon the soil type, Atrataf 50 WP @ 500-800 g/acre can be sprayed upto 10 days of sowing. For the control of hardy weeds like Bans Patta (Brachiaria reptans), Acrachne ghas (Acrachne racemosa) and Koan makki (Commelina benghalensis) use Atrataf 600 g + 1 litre of Stomp 30 EC or Lasso 50 EC or Treflan 48 EC within 2-3 days of sowing. SUGARCANE 1. Control weeds in the plant as well as ratoon crop. Due to prevailing hot weather conditions, sugarcane crop require frequent irrigations at 8 to 10 days interval. Apply 65 kg urea per acre to ratoon crop. Moisture conservation may be done by spreading mulch in between cane rows. Use rice straw/wheat straw/rice husk as mulch. This also checks the growth of weeds. 2. For checking attack of black bug, spray 350 ml of Dursban/Lethal/Massban 20 EC in 400 Iitres of water per acre. Direct the spray material into the leaf whorl for better results. 3. Sugarcane mite can be checked by detroying Baru (Sorghum halepanse) weed growing nearby which is an alternative host for mite. 4. Early shoot borer can be controlled by applying 10 kg granules of Padan/Caldan/Kritap 4 G (cartap hydrochloride) or 10 kg Regent/Mortel 0.3 G (fipronil) mixed in 20 kg sand or 45 ml Imidagold 17.8 SL (imidacloprid) or 2 litres of Durmet /Classic /Dursban /Markpyrphos 20 EC (chlorpyriphos) in 400 litres of water/ acre with sprinkler along the rows at post germination stage (about 45 days after planting). Earth up slightly and follow with light irrigation. These insecticides will also control termites. 5. Sometimes iron deficiency appears in ratoon and planted crops on light textured soils and calcareous soils. The deficiency symptoms first appear on younger leaves as yellow stripes between green veins. Later, the veins also turn yellow. To control this, spray the crop with 1.0 kg ferrous sulphate dissolved in 100 Iitres of water. Two-three sprays at weekly intervals are sufficient.

GROUNDNUT 1. After the harvest of wheat, groundnut can be sown upto the end of May after applying rauni irrigation. Treat the seed before sowing with 12.5 ml of Dursban 20 EC (chlorpyriphos) per kg kernels. Make a thin layer of kernels on tarpaulin or floor and spray the insecticide with help of sprayer. Mix it properly and allow to dry in shade. The seed should be further treated with 5 g Thiram or 3 g of Indofil M-45 per kg of kernels. 2. Apply 13 kg urea and 50 kg single superphosphate, 17 kg Muriate of Potash and 50 kg gypsum per acre at the time of sowing. If recommended dose of phosphorus had been applied to wheat, its application to groundnut can be omitted. Apply potassium only to soils tested low in this nutrient. SUMMER MOONG 1. Summer moong is severely attacked by the thrips, which are small, dark brown and found in flowers and cause flower drop, deformation of pods, deterioration of grain quality and ultimately heavy reduction in yield. Spray the crop at flower bud initiation stage with 600 ml triazophos 40 EC or 100 ml Rogor 30 EC or Malathion 50 EC or 120 ml Metasystox 25 EC in 80-100 litres of water per acre. 2. Last irrigation to summer moong should be stopped 55 days after sowing. This would help in uniform ripening of the crop. SUNFLOWER 1. Due to prevailing hot weather conditions, sunflower would require irrigation at 8-10 days interval during this period. Various types of caterpillars such as Cabbage semilooper, Tobacco caterpillar and hairy caterpillar feed on green leaves and defoliate the attacked plants. These larvae can be checked by spraying 200 ml Nuvan 85 SL in 100 litres of water per acre. Repeat the spray after two weeks, if necessary. This treatment will also control jassids and other sucking pests in case these appear. 2. To control Headborer or American bollworm, spray one litre of Dursban 20 EC or 1 kg Sevin 50 WP or 800 g Asataf 75 SP in 100 litres of water per acre. MENTHA 1. Due to prevailing hot temperature conditions, mentha crop requires frequent but light irrigations. 2. Termites attack the underground parts of the plants and damage the roots and the stems of mentha. Apply chlorpyriphos 20 EC @ 2 litres per acre . Mix the insecticide in 10 kg soil and broadcast uniformly in the field followed by light irrigation. TURMERIC Complete the sowing of turmeric during the first week of this month in the submontaneous and Northern . Do not allow the planted crop to suffer from water stress. Give light and frequent irrigations till crop emerges. After the sowing of crop spread the paddy/wheat straw over the crop. It helps in reducing irrigations and weeds.

FODDER PRODUCTION 1. Grow mixture of non-leguminous and leguminous crops i.e. maize + cowpea to get more nutrients. 2. Treat sorghum with Emisan 6 @ 2.5 g/kg and cowpea with Emisan @ 2.5 g/kg seed or Bavistin @ 2 g/kg of seed before sowing. 3. For the control of weeds, apply Atrataf @ 500-800 g in maize, 400 g in sorghum and 200 g in bajra as pre-emergence per acre. 4. For getting good growth of fodders, provide irrigation at regular interval. VEGETABLES 1. Irrigate the standing vegetable crops once a week regularly. Pick up the fruits of bottlegourd, pumpkin, chilli, capsicum, longmelon, watermelon, squashmelon, wanga, vegetable marrow, muskmelon, brinjal, cucumber, cowpea, luffa, tomato, and bhindi at the peak of development and at edible stage. Picking in the evening on alternate days in case of cucurbits is more desirable because it causes less disturbance to pollinators. However, pick fruits of bottlegourd and ridgegourd in the morning since their flowers open in the evening. 2. Harvest mature umbels of onion and carrot at a weekly intervals. Dry, thrash, clean and store the seed in a damp proof place. Harvesting is to be completed in 3 to 4 rounds in the morning as all the umbels do not mature at a time. 3. Harvest the onion and garlic bulbs. Cure under shade and store them in a dry place. The garlic should be stored with stalks intact and after packing in small bundles. The onion stalk should be cut just 2-3 cm above the bulb before storage. 4. Sow Pusa Chetki variety of Radish. 5. Tomato fruits are available in plenty and at throw away price. Prepare ketchup, chutany, juice etc. for year round domestic use. 6. Fruit and shoot borer of brinjal should be controlled by spraying 100 ml Sumicidin 20 EC or 200 ml Ripcord 10 EC or 160 ml Decis 2.8 EC or 800 g SevinlHexavin 50 WP or 800 ml of Ekalux 25 EC or 500 ml triazophos 40 EC in 100-125 litres of water per acre. These chemicals except last two and 600 ml Carina 50 EC or 30 ml Fame 480 SL in 100 litres of water per acre can also be used for checking tomato fruit borer damage. 7. Brinjal mite may also be checked by spraying 300 ml Omite 57 EC or 450 ml Fasmite 50 EC or 250 ml of Metasystox 25 EC in 100-150 litres of water per acre. 8. Red pumpkin beetle attack on young cucurbits can be avoided by spraying 75-150 g of Sevin/Hexavin 50 WP in 50-100 litres of water per acre. 9. For the control of powdery mildew in cucurbit, spray the crop with Karathane 50-80 ml/acre at the appearance of powdery patches on the leaves. Avoid sprays of sulphur or copper based fungicide on cucurbits.

10. For the control of downy mildew, spray the crop with Indofil M 45 at the rate of 300-600 g in 100-200 litres of water. Repeat sprays at 7 days interval. Under heavy disease situation give two sprays of Ridomil MZ @ 500 g or Aliette @ 600 g per acre in 200 litres of water at 10 days interval followed by one more spray of lndofil M-45 @ 600 g/acre. HORTICULTURAL OPERATIONS 1. This is the best time for pruning of ber, as trees shed their leaves and become dormant by the end of May. Light annual pruning (i.e. heading back of 25% growth plus general thinning out of diseased, broken and crisscross branches) should be practised. Severe pruning may be done after every 4 - 5 years. After pruning, the plants should be applied with 100 kg well rotten farm yard manure to a full grown tree. 2. To avoid the adverse effect of hot weather on fruit trees apply white-wash on the trunks of the trees if it is not done earlier. 3. To maintain good health and ensure regular cropping in kinnow, the fruits on young trees must be thinned out judiciously soon after fruit set. 4. The recommended dose half of the inorganic fertilizers along with full dose of FYM should be given to guava by the end of this month. 5. For Banana, apply 60 g urea and 60 g muriate of potash per plant. 6. During summer, splitting of fruits is quite common in litchi, pomegranate and lemons. Water spray may prove useful in keeping the ambient atmosphere of the fruit humid as moisture has a good local effect on the fruit against splitting. 7. To peach and plum trees, give frequent irrigations for proper development of fruit size and better quality. To grapes, apply irrigation at weekly intervals during this month. The young litchi plants may need irrigation twice a week. 8. Zinc deficiency in citrus and plum can be controlled by giving foliar spray with 0.3 per cent zinc sulphate solution. 9. Harvesting of fruits of peach, plum, phalsa, papaya and mature bunches of perlette grapes may be undertaken and marketed after proper grading and packing. 10. Spray 800 ml Rogor 30 EC in 500 litres of water per acre to control leaf curl aphids in peach. Spray 200 ml imidacloprid 200 SL or 160 g thiamethoxam 25WG in 500 litres of water to control ophids in pear. To check the attack of insect-pests in citrus, a third spray of 1250 ml Rogor 30 EC or 200 ml crocodile 17.8 SL or 1250 ml Sutathion 40 EC or 1000 ml Fosmite 50 EC in 500 litres of water per acre should be given. Last two insecticide will also control thrips in citrus. For the control of guava shoot borer in nurseries, spray 400 ml Ekalux 25 EC or 500 ml Durmet 20 EC in 100 litres of water per acre. 11. For the control of powdery mildew, spray the grape vine with Bayleton @ 40 g/100 litres of water in the first week of May and spray Bordeaux mixture 2: 2 : 250 in the last week of May for controlling anthracnose.

12. Spray 20 ppm of 2,4-D Sodium salt in the first week of this month to check fruit drop in mango. ORNAMENTALS Lawns In this month, timely irrigation and frequent mowing is required as the growth of grass is very fast due to rising temperature. In the lawn where Dila/Motha is infested in the grass, expose the soil to sun in May-June and all the weeds should be removed from the soil. Proper levelling and re-grassing of that area may be carried out in July-August. For establishment of new lawn, sun may be exposed to seen during this month by ploughing. Annuals Judicious watering and weeding of summer season annuals is required and the gaps in the plot should be filled up with new plants. The transplanting in the gaps and in newly established bed should be carried out in the evening only. Roses Due to hot season, roses require judicious watering in this month but overwatering should be avoided. The rootsuckers and diseased/dried parts of plant should be removed frequently. Chrysanthemum In case of large flowered varieties, plants should be repotted and second pinching should be done in case of small flowered varieties for getting more number of cuttings. Permanent plants Trees, shrubs and climbers should be watered at required intervals of 5-7 days. Care should be taken for the newly planted young plants and if required, staking of young saplings should also be done. Bougainvillea plants should be pruned after the flowering is over. Pot plants The pot plants should be transferred to a shady area in this month to protect them from direct sunlight. This can be done under the trees or by employing shade nets over the pot plants. Watering twice a week is required in this month to the pot plants. FARM FORESTRY Poplar 1. Turmeric can be sown in poplar having less than three years of age. In the plantations of more than three years age, kharif fodders such as maize, sorghum, bajra, guinea grass etc. should be grown. 2. Poplar leaf defoliator and leaf webber should be controlled by collecting and destroying infested leaves. Spray monocrotophos 36 SL @ 600 ml (Monocil, Nuvacron, Monolik) per acre by mixing in 200-250 litres water with rocking pump.

BEEKEEPING For protecting honey bee colonies from harsh summer heat, make suitable arrangements to place honey bee colonies under thick shade of trees, else make other alternative arrangements to provide some artificial shade. In no case, the colonies be displaced by more than three feet on any day to move colonies to closer distances. In case the colonies are to be shifted to longer distance to move to the shade and by above proposed movement, longer period is required, in that case, close the colonies in the late evening and shift these to some suitable place more than three kilometers from the original site and bring these to the already selected shady place after about seven days. In any case, sufficient distances among the colonies must be maintained to prevent drifting and robbing menaces which inter alia are the causes of the spread of bee diseases and mites. To meet the increased water requirement, put a few sticks/bushes or pieces of wooden planks, in the water tanks of tube wells, for the bees to sit on for collecting the water. This requirement can also be met by providing water in earthen pots kept under the legs of hive stand. This would also keep the ants away from the colonies. Colonies should be made more ventilated by placing thin twig pieces (splinters) between bottom board and brood chamber and between brood chamber and super chamber, but ensure the bee tightness of such spaces so created. The increased ventilation also hastens the honey ripening. Extract sealed (ripe) honey from earlier clover (Berseem) or sunflower nectar flow. Follow all recommended precautions to avoid robbing during and after honey extraction. Dust sulphur powder on the top bars of bee combs @ 1.0 g per comb against Tropilaelaps clareae, the brood mite. Alternatively, fumigation with formic acid (85%) @ 5 ml daily for two weeks may be applied, which however, should be avoided during nectar flow. The latter treatment will also take care of Varroa mite. In the case of infestation by Varroa, destruction of sealed drone brood comb part, Varroa trapping on drone brood and then its destruction along with drone capped brood, dusting of finely ground sugar powder on bees and the use of sticky papers with wire mesh Varroa bottom board can also be integrated. Proper spacing among the colonies and extraction of honey from only the brood free combs in supers separated from brood chamber with queen excluder help in preventing spread of Varroa among the colonies in apiary. Keep vigil of the brood diseases and on suspicion, immediately consult experts and appropriate control measures should be undertaken; non-chemical methods should be preferred and avoid the use of antibiotics.

MUSHROOM GROWING 1. Procurement of wheat straw and storage at a dry place for composting to be started in September for button mushroom. 2. Clean and disinfect growing space for laying of beds of paddy straw mushroom (summer variety). 3. Wet the bundles and lay beds as per recommended PAU technology.

4. Continue watering twice a day on the beds and floors. 5. Complete harvesting of crop in one month. 6. Spawn the bags of milky mushroom after pretreatment of wheat straw by boiling. 7. Case the spawn run bags of milky mushroom after 15-18 days. DAIRY AND ANIMAL HEALTH 1. Silent heat is the major problem in buffaloes during hot months. Observe the heat symptoms in the early hours of morning and late hours in the evening. Mucous discharge from vagina is the only prominent sign while other symptoms are weak in summer. 2. Gal Ghotu, Black Quarter (Pat Soja) can cause heavy loss of animal life in unvaccinated animals. If it is not already done, get your animals vaccinated immediately against the disease. 3. Save your animals, from ticks, lice and flies. These suck blood, cause irritation and spread diseases. Due precautions should be taken while applying the insecticide on the animal body. Follow the instructions of veterinarian/manufacturer strictly. 4. Keep the animals in shade and provide clean fresh drinking water. 5. Draft animals should not be made to work during peak hours of summer. 6. Due to sun stroke if an animal starts bleeding from nose, do not disturb it much and pour ice cold water over face and head and keep its head lifted. Transfer animal to a cool shady place. Consult Veterinarian at the earliest. 7. In case of high rise of temperature in dairy animals, get their blood tested for protozoan diseases from the Deptt. of Parasitology, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Science University, Ludhiana or State District Laboratories near to your place. POULTRY FARMING 1. Provide double number of waterers for increasing space to meet increasing requirement of water. Change the water frequently to provide cool water. 2. Sprinkling of water around the shed, more green area surrounding this shed is helpful in reduction of heat. White washing of poultry shed from outside will be helpful in reflecting the sun rays back from the shed. 3. Increase protein, minerals and vitamins in feed as the feed intake is reduced during summer. 4. Provide no light to growers of 6-16 weeks age but layers must be provided light at night and early in morning to compensate the decreased feed consumption during the day time. 5. Get your birds of 6-8 weeks of age vaccinated with injection of R2B Ranikhet disease. Do not give this vaccine in drinking water or lassi. In the case of an outbreak of Ranikhet disease immediately give R2B vaccine injection to healthy birds to avoid further loss. Provide vitamin supplemented water to vaccinated birds.

6. If there is sudden fall in egg production or mortality, consult the Poultry Expert immediately. 7. Do not provide feed during day hours to the birds as it will increase heat load. Therefore, feed the birds during cool hours preferably during early hours in the morning and late in the evening. FISH FARMING 1. Maintain water level at 5 feet (1.5m). 2. Stock the ponds with the seed of grass carp @ 400-500 per acre, if these were not stocked in April. 3. Continue manuring and fertilization @ 120 kg/acre/ week of FYM and 16 kg/acre/ week of single super phosphate or 5 kg/ acre/ week of diammonium phosphate. 4. Apply quick lime @ 25 kg per acre. The lime should be dissolved in a bucket of water and be poured on the surface of the pond. The lime should be applied 3-5 days after the application of the manures. 5. Continue supplementary feeding also according to the following feeding table. Average Upto 50100200300400- 500200 g 300 g 400 g 500 g 600 body weight of 50 g 100 g g fish Feed/ 0.1 0.3 1.2 1.3 4.5 8.9 10.4 1000 fish/day(kg)

6. Carefully observe the fishes during this month. If the fishes start coming on the surface and gasp, aerate the pond water for 2-3 hours before sun rise.

Market Intelligence Farmers Expect Better Sunflower Prices Due to Increased MSP Punjab produced 39 thousand tonnes of sunflower from an area of 20 thousands hectares during 2011-12. The Agricultural Market Intelligence Centre, Department of Economics and Sociology, PAU, Ludhiana, gathered and analyzed market intelligence regarding sunflower from various sources to help the farmers to take sowing decisions. Based on the information, the centre forecasted sunflower prices in the range of Rs. 3500 3700/q during May and June, 2013. The government increased the Minimum Support Price of sunflower from Rs. 2800/q in 2011-12 to Rs. 3700/q in 2012-13. It is also for the information of the farmers that prices of sunflower in the major markets of the state ruled around the Minimum Support Price during 2011-12. For further information, world sunflower production was about 40.27 million tonnes from about 25.71 million hectares of area during 2011-12. Ukraine was the largest producer of sunflower followed by Russia, Argentina,

China, France and USA. In India, sunflower occupies the fourth place among oilseed crops in terms of acreage and production. The area under sunflower in the country was 2.50 million hectares with a production of five lakh tonnes during 2011-12. The major producers of sunflower are Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh which account for about 81 per cent of the area and about 90.27 per cent of production of the country. Total oilseed production in the country during 2011-12 is estimated at 35.6 million tonnes and total edible oil production during the same period was 11.5 million tonnes. According to Solvent Extractors Association (SEA), India imported about 10 million tonnes of edible oils which includes 7.88 million tonnes of palm oil, 1.20 million tonnes of soybean oil and one million tonne of sunflower oil during the same period.

Compiled by : Surjit Singh Information supplied by: Chander Mohan, Jagdev Singh Kular, D.S.Bhatti, Tarsem Singh Dhillon, Puspinder Singh Aulakh, Ranjit Singh, Avtar Singh, P.K.Chhuneja, P.K.Khanna, Manoj Kumar Sharma, Gurpreet Kaur Sehgal and Jagroop Singh Sidhu.