Pulwama, Jan 19: Farmers across different areas of South Kashmir have kept their fingers crossed while praying for precipitation in the form of rain or snow as protracted dry spell is believed to trigger early sprouting in fruit trees.
Experts of horticulture maintain that chilling requirements by various fruit trees have been fulfilled by sub-zero temperatures recorded from December of previous year till date.
Mohammed Shafi Dar, District Level Subject Matter Specialist in Horticulture Department Kashmir, explained that after fulfilment of chilling hours, rise in day temperatures provides a false stimulus to fruit trees resulting in the breaking of bud dormancy and their subsequent sprouting.
The expert said that stone fruit trees like pear and almond are likely to get most affected due to the protracted dry spell.
He said that they have received reports of early sprouting in almond and pear trees at certain places in Pulwama and Budgam districts.
“Imported varieties may get more affected than traditional ones as the latter are comparatively have been already acclimatized with the local climate and its vagaries than the former,” he said.
Dr Jahangir Ahmad Baba, Assistant Professor Fruit Sciences at SKUAST-K’s KVK in Pulwama, said temperate fruit crops after fulling chilling period requirement need warm climate to break bud dormancy.
He said that increase in day temperatures can cause early blooming in these fruit trees.
Mohammed Ashraf, an apple orchardist from Shopian district, told Rising Kashmir that so far no abnormal trend has been noticed in apple trees in their area due to relatively low temperatures as compared to other parts of Kashmir.
However, he was apprehensive that rise in day temperatures amidst the protracted dry spell may trigger early blooming in apple trees in the area.
The horticulture experts cautioned that early blooming in traditional varieties of almond or pear may have bad consequences.
They explained that the early blooms can suffer injury due to dip in temperatures during subsequent months which can result in bloom fall.
Secondly, they said that pollinator species of various insects will also be impacted by the change in temperatures which will affect the overall pollination process.
The experts said early blooming will have an adverse impact on the psychological health of a plant too.
The experts were optimistic that perception till February will strengthen bud dormancy thereby preventing early blooming in horticulture crops.
The experts advised orchardists to converse moisture in their orchards in case of inadequate rains or snow.
“The moisture can be retained by mulching using polythene, paddy or wheat straw and leaves of willow or poplar trees,” the experts suggested.
Meanwhile, offering special prayers for seeking divine intervention in ending the protracted dry spell continued in this southern district.
