Agromet Advisory Bulletin for the State of Punjab
Bulletin No. 55/2015
issued on Friday
10.07.2015 To 13.07.2015
Part A: Realized and forecast weather
Summary of past weather over the State during (07th to 09th July):
Rainfall occurred at isolated places during the entire period.
Maximum temperatures were between 33-35OC which were 2-3OC below normal. Minimum
temperatures were between 24-26OC which were 1-2OC below normal.
Chief amounts of rainfall in cms: 07th – Ferozepur 10, Talwandi Sabo 9, Faridkot(AWS) 5, Muktsar
and Sunam 4 each, Muktsar(AWS) 3, Barnala and Bhatinda(AWS) 2 each; 08th – Khanna 11 and
Samrala 3; 09th – R.S. Dam site 5, Phangota, Barnala & Patiala 3 each.
Highest Maximum Temperature: 35.8OC & 36.5OC at Amritsar on 07th and 09th , 33.2OC at
Ludhiana on 08th July respectively.
State forecast valid until 0830 hrs. of 14.07.2015: Rain/Thundershowers may occur at most places
during next 72 hrs and at many places thereafter.
WARNING: Heavy to very heavy rainfall may occur at isolated places during next 48 hrs.
Outlook for subsequent two days: Scattered to fairly wide spread rain/thundershowers may occur.
Part B
Crop information and Agromet Advisories
Stages of the major kharif/Rabi crops
(Crop stages and state as collected from AMFUs and State Department of Agriculture, Punjab)
Name of crop
Paddy
Sugarcane
Fruits
Vegetables
Fodder
Sunflower
Green Manure
Cotton
Stage
Transplanting
Grand growth stage
Fruiting
Maturity
Sowing/Tillering
Harvesting
sowing
Branching
Crop Advisories and Plant Protection:
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Paddy: Farmers are advised to transplant paddy nursery, as this is the good time, because of heavy to very
heavy rainfall during next 48 hrs and light to moderate rain afterwards. Additionally, for the better
development of seedlings apply 37 kg urea per acre to medium soils at the time of transplanting. In order to
control weed, use Butachlor 50 EC or Butachlor 50 EW or Thiobencarb 50 EC @1200ml/acre within 2-3
days after transplanting. Avoid transplating paddy in poor sandy soil. In order to get better grain quality,
water saving and low build up of stem borers, sowing of crop should be scheduled in the second fortnight of
June. Use nitrogen judiciously based on Leaf colour chart (LCC). Excessive use of nitrogen fertilizer
encourage multiplication of insect pests particularly whitebacked plant hopper in PR 114 and false smut
disease in PR 116.
Summer moong: Summer moong is severely attacked by the thrips, 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. These larvae can be controlled initially by collecting and destroying
the egg masses and young larvae feeding on the leaves. Spray 150 ml of novaluron 10 EC or 800 g of
acephate 75 SP or 1.5 litres of Chlorpyriphos 20 EC in 100 litres of water/acre. Last irrigation to summer
moong should be stopped 55 days after sowing. This would help in uniform ripening of the crop.
Sugarcane: Earthing up of the sugarcane crop may be done if not done earlier during the first week of July.
If sugarcane fields get flooded with water, excess water may be drained out. The attack of top borer can be
checked by applying 10 kg Ferterra 0.4 GR or 12 kg carbofuran encapsulated 3 G or Phorate encapsulated 10
G at the base of the shoots upto first week of July.
Cotton: Due to heavy to very heavy rainfall during next 48 hrs and light to moderate rain afterwards,
farmers are advised not to irrigate the crop and drain the excess water, if needed. Incidence of whitefly is
noticed but below Economic Threshold Level (ETL). Moreover, cotton leaf curl virus disease (CLCuD) has
started in some parts of South-Western region of Punjab around citrus orchards. In the mean time, maintain
the plant population by thinning and provide second dose of nitrogen.
Animal Husbandry: During summer season, concentrate should contain 2-3 per cent more crude protein
content and therefore increase 5 to 7 per cent more oilseed cakes in the concentrate mixture. The animals in
heat should be judged for signs of frequent urination and vaginal discharge. The animals which have not
been vaccinated against H.S. (Gal Ghotu) yet, must be got vaccinated. In case of any outbreak of Gal Ghotu
consult your local Veterinary Doctor immediately for treatment. Hot and humid climate may lead to
conditions of ring worm in animals so keep the animals clean and dry. Similarly, protect wounds from flies
to avoid maggots infestation. Fresh, clean and hygienic water should be made available to the animals
throughout the day.
Poultry: The poultry feed to be used in hot and humid season should have 15-20 per cent more proteins,
minerals and vitamins in order to compensate reduced feed intake. Avoid dampness during rainy season to
avoid incidence of coccidiosis. Add coccidiostats in the poultry feed for prevention of this disease and avoid
the entry of rain inside the sheds.
Vegetables: Farmers are advised not to irrigate the crops like summer vegetables as moderate to heavy rain
forecast during next 72 hours. Avoid the sowing of Okra, sponge gourd, bottle gourd and cluster bean due to
moderate to heavy rain during next 72 hours. Avoid the sowing of brinjal in raised nursery beds due to
moderate to heavy rain during next 72 hours.
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Fruits/Horticulture: Avoid irrigation to Pear and guava crops which carry developing and maturing fruits,
as moderate to heavy rain forecast during next 72 hours. Drain the excess water from the orchards, if needed.
 Green Manure: Farmers are advised to sow the green manure crop (cluster bean, daincha, lobia, sunhemp
etc), where harvesting of rabi crop is over.
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Fodder: For control of weeds, use atrazine 50 WP as pre-emergence application @ 500g per acre on light
textured soils and @ 800 g per acre on heavy textured soils. Atrazine can also be sprayed 10 days after
sowing maize for controlling weeds. Do not allow the rain water to stand in the main crop as this crop is
highly sensitive to standing water and promotes bacterial stalk rot. To check the attack of maize borer,
uproot the borer damaged plants and bury them at the time of thinning or use Trichogramma bioagent for
controlling this borer.Sowing of kharif fodders at regular intervals should be continued for regular supply
of green fodders. Sorghum may be sown for providing fodders late in the kharif season.