Experts call for post-harvest interventions for apple orchards

Pulwama, Oct 14 : As apple harvesting nears its end in the plain areas of Kashmir, horticulture experts are urging orchardists to implement various post-harvest interventions to ensure the continued health of their orchards. The experts emphasise the importance of orchard sanitation, infection control, rodent management, and proper drainage systems.
Mohammad Shafi Dar, a district-level specialist from the Department of Horticulture in Pulwama, explains that one of the most critical concerns post-harvest is managing fallen fruit and leaves. While they may seem harmless, fallen fruit and leaves can pose a serious threat to orchard health, as they serve as a primary source of disease inoculum. He advises orchardists to collect the fallen apples from their orchards and dispose of them scientifically.
“Leaves don’t always fall all at once, and when they remain on the trees, the risk of damage, especially during snowfall, increases,” Dar said. His solution is simple yet effective: spraying urea at a rate of 4 to 5 kilograms per 100 litres of water when 1 to 2 percent of leaves turn yellow. This application, according to him, encourages the simultaneous falling of leaves and also accelerates their decomposition, significantly reducing the threat of scab infections in the orchards.
In addition to leaf management, pests like the woolly aphid and apple blotch leaf miner can become persistent problems if left unchecked.
“Woolly aphids can migrate to the roots during winter, jeopardizing the tree’s ability to absorb nutrients,” Dar explained. To counter this, he recommends applying targeted insecticide treatments during the post-harvest period to ensure that the trees are pest-free before winter sets in.
For apple blotch leaf miner, Dar advises cleaning tree trunks with wire brushes and applying Quinalphos at the recommended concentrations.
Winter in Kashmir not only brings snow but also the danger of rodents, which can cause significant damage to orchards if left uncontrolled. Dar suggests a proven method for rodent control: a mixture of rodenticide, rice, and mustard oil. This concoction is strategically placed in rodent burrows to keep their population in check.
Another critical aspect of orchard management during the harsh Kashmiri winters is ensuring proper drainage.
Heavy snowfall and rain can lead to water stagnation, which may result in root rot. Dar stresses the importance of maintaining adequate drainage systems in apple orchards, as this can be the difference between a thriving orchard and one suffering long-term damage.
The subject matter specialist also recommended hiring properly trained pruners for pruning of high density orchards.