Adopt alternative means to dispose fallen leaves, twigs: Experts urge orchardists

Pulwama, Dec 08: The experts from Horticulture Department of Kashmir have urged orchardists to seek alternative means for disposing fallen leaves and twigs from their orchards.
The experts informed that practice of simultaneous burning of leaves and twigs by farmers after winter pruning of apple orchards is causing various environmental and visibility issues.
Burning fallen leaves and twigs during autumn or winter is an age-old practice followed by people here to get charcoal which is used in Kangris ( traditional fire pots) to beat cold during harsh winters.
However, over the years the burning has been spurting large quantities of smoke and other particulate matter into the atmosphere affecting air quality and raising health issues.
Mohammad Shafi Dar, Subject Matter Specialist Horticulture department in Pulwama, informed Rising Kashmir that they have started campaigns to reach out to orchardists with other alternative means of leaf and twig disposal.
He said that they inform people that the fallen leaves can be turned into compost.
“For composting fallen leaves need to be collected at a particular place in an orchard and treated with urea at the rate 4Kg per litre of water,” he said, adding the heap will turn into compost within a month or two which can be used as organic manure.
He added that another way of disposing of fallen leaves is to bury them in a pit and it will turn into compost after decaying.
For managing tree twigs or branches, he revealed that machines which churn the branches into sawdust are available in the market.
“We are striving to introduce them,” he said, adding that the sawdust can be used as compost or a mulching substance to retain moisture in the orchard.
Dar revealed that adoption of new practices will have multi benefits.
“It will ensure orchard sanitation for disease control, help in addressing environmental concerns and produce compost which can be used as manure,” he said.