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The current spell of rainfall in some parts of north-west India is beneficial for formation of grains in the standing crops and also for pre-Rabi and Rabi crops. After a dry period in the beginning of this month, the current spell has helped ease moisture stress being faced by crops. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research has issued advisories for farmers whose crops are facing moisture stress. Some of the practices which farmers should follow are:
Making fields free of weeds for full utilization of water and nutrients by the crops.
The crops should be suitably thinned out.
Lower yellow leaves should be removed and spread on soil as mulch.
Resorting to maximum possible use of organic bulky manures.
Most efficient methods like sprinklers, drippers, etc., may be used to save water.
Frequent inter culture to facilitate effect of loose soil as dust mulch.
Conveyance losses should be reduced while irrigating the light textured soils. A simple and cheap technique is to spread a polythene sheet in the field channel before irrigating the field and then roll it back for irrigating other fields.
In row crops like maize, cotton etc. ridges and furrows can be made for irrigating every alternate furrow on rotation basis to save precious water.
The best use of rainwater should be ensured. In case a rainfall of about 1-3 cm occurs near the irrigation date, the irrigation may be avoided.
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