The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Steps to increase pulses productivity

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Thursday, Dec 06, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Steps to increase pulses productivity

R. Vimal Kumar

“Spray mixture with hand sprayers alone”

Tuticorin: The Agriculture Research Station, Kovipatti, has launched a campaign in Kovilpatti taluk on a pilot basis to disseminate the concept of ‘foliar nutrition to pulses’, a low-cost technology to enhance the productivity of pulses grown under rainfed conditions.

The move has been initiated at a critical stage of production, when the plants are now in a flowering phase.

V. Subramanian, Chief Scientist, ARS, said that since the plants showed an ability to absorb more nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium during the flowering stage, di ammonium phosphate solution in certain proportion should be sprayed to prevent dropping of flowers, owing to malnutrition. To prepare the solution required for an acre, the farmers were being advised to mix four kilograms of DAP with 10 litres of water.

The solution should be kept overnight and then it has to be decanted with 190 litres of clean water next day.

Mr. Subramanian said that the farmers should then spray the mixture with hand sprayers alone. “Use of power sprayers can damage the flowers since the droplets are splashed out in high velocities and hence, the farmers should refrain from its usage,” he added.

The farmers have to repeat the spraying during the pod formation stage too.

“While spraying, farmers should ascertain that moisture was present on the soil surface for better absorption of nutrients,” Mr. Subaramanian said.

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