Una, December 16- During the winter season, the fog in the plains of Himachal has a serious impact on the gardens and crops. Especially the risk of damage to fruit plants like mango and papaya increases due to fog, due to which farmers and gardeners have to suffer huge losses. Dr. KK Bhardwaj, Deputy Director of Horticulture Department of Una district has given many important suggestions to the gardeners to deal with this problem. Dr. Bhardwaj explains that due to fog, the cells of the plants burst, due to which the fruits get spoiled and the flowers start falling. If appropriate steps are not taken in time, then its effect can also be seen in the coming years, when the yield of plants decreases or the crop does not grow at all. The effect of fog on vegetables is also so severe that many times the entire crop gets destroyed.
To prevent damage to plants due to fog, Dr. Bhardwaj advised that young plants of 4-5 years of age should be covered with grass or reeds and they should be kept open from the south-west direction, so that sunlight and air flow remains. He said that if there is a possibility of fog, sprinkle water on the plants and keep the garden irrigated. Emphasizing on fertilizer management, he said that nitrogen fertilizer should not be applied in winter, but recommended amount of potash should be given to increase the endurance of plants. It has been advised to cover nurseries with grass or shady net to protect them from fog. It has been asked to cover nurseries of fruit plants with grass or shady net to protect them from fog.
He tells that if the plants get affected by fog, then at the end of February, before the new shoots appear, prune the affected branches in such a way that along with the dry branches, some green part is also cut. After pruning the plants, spray copper oxychloride (3 grams per liter of water) and apply a paste of Blitox or Bordeaux paste (blue vitriol 800 grams + lime 1000 grams / 10 liters of water) on the cut parts. Spray 0.5 percent (5 grams / liter of water) urea solution 15 days after the new leaves appear.
Dr. Bhardwaj appealed to the gardeners to seek advice from their nearest subject expert (horticulture) or horticulture development officer or horticulture extension officer for setting up new gardens. Along with this, get your fruit plants insured under the re-formulated weather based crop insurance scheme being run by the government so that the gardeners can be compensated for the financial loss caused by the possible damage to the yield.