Sunday 27 May 2012

Scab - Apple Orchards Diseases


By Sarbjit Singh Reen
Scab is not the only problem in Kashmir and Jammu apple orchards, the farmers in Kashmir know well the means and ways to tackle scab. There are other diseases like Mosaic, cankers root rots which have now become the main headache for growers and extension workers. For the last so many years we have spraying chemicals to control scab and still we are doing so. Every year farmers report that this chemical is not now effective as it quality is not good now but nobody studies the exact cause of it. Fungicide resistance is an important subject to talk about in such circumstances, but this all can become possible with the excellent support of research institutes. What we require is
1 efficacy charts of different fungicides against different diseases of apple.
2. Tank mixing of different fungicides, site selective with broad spectrum so as to minimize resistance development.
3. proper identification and proper time of the emergence of different pests in different locations of kashmir so that timely pest sampling can be done and percent damage can be calculated and proper control measures can be started well in time.
4. most of the Kasmir areas fall in temperate climate but areas of lower altitude which exists in Kupwara(Karnah and teetwal) there such varieties of apple ie red delicious are not successful. This area I think falls in mid temperate zone and is between 900 to 1450 meters here both sub tropical plants and temperate plants can survive but good yields are not possible from both of them. Calculation of chill hours in these areas is must and accordingly varieties suitable for these areas should be identified.
5 canker and its management is essential and for that dormant sprays of copper oxycholoride should be included in spray programmes.
6. our research institutes should now gear up and come up with some great work that can really help the farmer community.

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