#Monsoon2020: Rice Cultivation Advisory and Locusts Prevention

Preventive steps against Locusts

As the Locust attacks are observed in India, thus the farmer should remain alert and as a preventive measure may use –  

• Malathion 50% EC @ 1,850 ml or 

• Malathion 25% WP @ 3,700 gm or  

• Chlorpyriphos 20% EC @ 1,200 ml or  

• Chlorpyriphos 50% EC @ 500 ml per ha in 500 liters of water.  

Alternatively,  

• Spray 1.0 litre of neem oil in 200 litres of water per acre to control locust swarm,  

• Dig 2 feet deep and 2 feet wide trench in front of marching hopper band and then apply  

• Quinalphos 1.5% DP or  

• Chlorpyriphos 1.5% DP or  

• Methyl Parathion 2% DP  

in the trench  

• Make loud sound (100-125 Decible) by beating empty tins/metal plates, drum or radio or through other electronic sound system to prevent locust swarm landing in the crop. 

(Source: NRRI, Cuttack) 

Related link –  

https://krishijagran.com/agripedia/paddy-cultivation-advisory-amid-covid-19/  

Summer rice

1. Store at 14% moisture content by drying under sun for 2 days. For seed purpose the grain should be dried to 12% moisture level.   

2. Store the sundried rice grains in storage bin or polythene line gunny bags to prevent the infestation of storage grain pests.   

3. Fumigate by using Aluminium phosphide tablets @ 3 tablets / ton of grains (total 9 gm of tablets) in fairly air tight containers to prevent storage insect pest infestation. Minimum exposure period is for about 7- 10 days.  

Fumigation should not be done in dwelling houses.  

Dry direct seeded kharif rice 

1. Complete the final land preparation by using cultivating 2 - 3 times to get a fine tilth followed by proper land leveling.  

2. In light soil, tractor drawn rotavator may be used for obtaining fine tilth to go for dry seeding behind the country plough or using seed drill.   

3. Land preparation should be done in rainfed shallow lowland areas, where direct seeded rice is to be grown.   

4. For upland direct seeded rice, use varieties like:  

5. Complete the sowing of seeds by using seed drill or behind the plough keeping row spacing of 20 cm with the onset of #monsoon.   

6. Fertilization – 

7. Complete sowing of seeds and use seeds @ 14-16 kg per acre.   

Varieties for intermediate deep water – 

Varshadhan, Durga, CR Dhan 501, Sarala and Gayatri  

Varieties for Deep water –  

CR Dhan 500, Jayanti Dhan, Jalamani, CR Dhan 505, Prasanta.  

8. Mechanical separation by dipping rice seeds in 2% common salt solution helps in selection of good quality seeds and removal of weed seeds.   

Seed may be treated with Trichoderma viride @ 10 gm per Kg of seed before sowing.  

Transplanted rice 

1. Prepare land for dry nursery at the onset of pre-monsoon showers.  

2. For shallow lowland transplanted rice, arrange good quality seed of varieties like  

3. For coastal saline region farmers are advised to arrange salt tolerant varieties like –

Luna Sankhi, Luna Suvarna and Lunishree.   

4. Farmers interested to grow hybrids in irrigated medium and shallow lowland are advised to arrange hybrid seeds like 

Ajay, Rajalaxmi, CR Dhan 701, KRH-2 and PHB 71.   

5. Farmers interested for aromatic rice are advised to arrange good quality seeds varieties like –  

Geetanjali, CR Sugandh Dhan 907, CR Sugandh Dhan 908 and CR Sugandh Dhan 910.   

6. Sowing of dhaincha seeds @ 12 kg per acre may be completed at the onset of pre monsoon rainfall in shallow lowland areas. 

Conclusion

Proper agro-advisory forms a very important component of good crop production. As monsoon is approaching and most of our agricultural activities depends on it either directly or indirectly. Thus, it becomes very important to provide advisory to farmers, so that they can attain maximum benefit from the suitable weather conditions.  

Image source – Google