Srinagar, Dec 02: Directorate of Extension SKUAST-Kashmir, Shalimar Friday issued an advisory for apple packaging, orchard sanitation, pruning, sowing of seed and other farming activities and advised farmers to take proper measures.
Regarding apple, it suggested farmers to remove twigs infested with during pruning and dispose them away from the orchards and apply Chaubatia paste on cut areas.
“Maintain good sanitation in infested orchards, all the dropped/infested fruits of apple or other fruits should be collected and buried deep in the soil. Burl-aping should be practiced and overwintered stages should be destroyed along with the burlap,” it said.
The advisory said that the heavily infested branches, twigs and completely dried trees should be uprooted, removed from the orchard and burnt.
It said due to persistent snowfall and decrease in temperature, apples left in open spaces should be shifted to safe and protected storage structures to protect them from frost and chilling injuries.
For sorting and grading it advised farmers to remove the damaged, diseased and under-utilised fruits from the lot. “Grade the fruits on the basis of colour and size in four grades A (Extra Large), B (Large), C (Medium), D (Small),” it said.
“Graded apples always fetch premium prize as grower gains e confidence of customers and customer gets satisfaction. Graded apples can be traded in international market also. Conversion of C grade apple into processed products increases their value,” it said.
Regarding packaging the advisory advised farmers to use CF boxes for packaging of graded apples using fibre trays. “Don’t use wooden boxes and avoid use of paddy straw as cushioning material. For long storage of apples in CA and Cold Stores, use either plastic crates or CF boxes with outer polyethylene lining or laminations,” it said.
The advisory said use of plastic crates or laminated CF Boxes don’t absorb moisture during long storage and as such maintain the quality and increases shelf life of apples.
Regarding stored cereals and food commodities, the advisory suggested to ensure safe storage of cereals by drying so that the moisture content is reduced to less than 9 percent. “Proper seed bins should be used after thorough cleaning and sun drying,” it said.
Regarding sowing of seed for vegetables farmers, it advised to avoid diseased, damaged cloves adding that cloves should be planted deep to avoid frost injury/bird damage. “To ease out germination cloves should be planted upright not horizontally,” it said.
Regarding root crops (carrot, radish, turnip) it said that transplanting should be done on ridges to avoid damage to the crop due to snow.
For Bulb Crop (Onion) it advised farmers to avoid diseased and damaged bulbs while over-sized, under sized and diseased bulbs should not be used for seed production.
For training of young fruit trees it said that the plants are trained according to growth habit and vigour of the rootstock.
“Adopt modified leader system for pome, stone and nut fruits. Adopt Tall spindle for High Density plantation in apple and pear. Adopt kniffin, bower or head system for grapes. Adopt T- bar or pergola system for kiwi,” it said.
“After the plants have been trained to a particular form, precautions should be taken to maintain the desired frame work of the tree. This is possible by avoiding the formation of water shoots, suckers and weak crotches,” the advisory.
For pruning of bearing fruit trees it is critical to know the bearing habit of fruits before undertaking the pruning.
“Keep tools clean and blades sharp so that they don’t produce a ragged cut that is slow to heal. Thin out dry, diseased and intercepting branches. Remove shoots with unproductive spurs. While removing a thick branch, first small cut should be made on underside of limb to avoid bark peeling,” it said.
It advised to apply white lead paint or Bordeaux paint or chaubattia paste on cut surface with diameter 1-2 cm or more to check the entry of rot causing fungi adding that it is better to apply these pastes after the wound has dried up.
“Stop pruning activity during freezing temperatures. Graft sticks from identified source should be kept under store,” it said.
Regarding orchard floor operations the advisory said that orchard sanitation must be ensured so as to eradicate the primary inoculums of various diseases.
“Clean and store bamboo canes in the shed (or other dry place) to ensure they’re still in good condition for next year. Broken ones can be shortened, where possible, for re-use. Water channels and drains should be cleared. Suckers and water sprouts be removed,” it said.
For nursery, the advisory said that bed should be prepared by repeated ploughing and pulverising the soil to obtain a fine tilth.
Regarding vegetables it said mixed vegetable pickles are naturally appetising fomented products, where in vegetables can be successfully converted into value added product.
“Vegetables pickles have exceptional probity activity and as such can prove beneficial for overall human health,” the advisory said.