Farmers advised to check nutrient deficiency in paddy

Ludhiana, July 15 (UNI) The scientists of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) have advised the farmers to check the onset of nutrient deficiency in paddy.

The Plant Clinic of PAU has been receiving samples which are deficient in zinc or iron and those suffering from diseases like sheath blight and brown spots.

Dr D S Bhatti, Incharge, Plant Clinic, informed that the symptoms of zinc deficiency in paddy appear 2-3 weeks after transplanting. The lower leaves become rusty brown near the base and ultimately dry up and the seedlings with zinc deficiency remain stunted and tillerless.

To control this malady, Dr Bhatti suggested application of 25 kg zinc sulphate heptahydrate or 16 kg zinc sulphate monohydrate per acre at puddling in case previous crop in the field had shown the symptoms of zinc deficiency. However, if a deficiency was noticed in the growing crop, this quantity of zinc sulphate should be applied as soon as possible.

In highly deteriorated soils, the symptoms of zinc deficiency sometimes appeared in patches even after the application of the recommended dose of zinc sulphate. In that event, the farmers should apply 10 kg of zinc sulphate heptahydrate or 6.5 kg zinc sulphate monohydrate per acre mixed with an equal quantity of dried soil on the affected patches.

Refering to iron deficiency in the paddy crop, Dr Bhatti pointed out that due to scarcity of water, chlorosis among seedlings appeared in the youngest leaf about three weeks after transplanting.

Plants die and often the crop fails completely.

Dr Bhatti advised that farmers should go in for copious irrigation as soon as chlorosis appeared, accompanied with two or three sprays of one per cent ferrous sulphate solution at weekly intervals.

UNI