Eradicate weeds for checking mealy bug

Ludhiana, Jun 7 (UNI) Punjab Agricultural University experts have advised the farmers of Punjab to remove weeds from their fields and destroy them completely to control the population of mealy bug.

The mealy bug population is building up on weeds particularly congress grass on wasteland, irrigation channels, roads and others in the cotton belt of the state and due to early rains the pest is multiplying at a faster rate.

The population of mealy bug is also developing on other weeds like Peeli buti, Kangi buti, Tandla, Puthkanda, Datura and Itsit.

The experts advised that the weedicide should not be sprayed on mealy bug infested weeds but should be removed manually and the uprooted weeds should not be thrown in cotton fields and water channels.

The cotton crop in the vicinity of cotton stacks should be examined carefully for the build up of pests, the experts said.

Any further delay in eradication of weeds will result in migration of mealy bug to cotton crop, they warned.

UNI PS RL HT1528