Plant Protection

INTODUCTION

In Punjab Kinnow (Mandarin), Mango, Guava, Sweet Orange, Pear, Ber(Plum), Litchi, Peach and grapes are major fruits, while lines/lemons, Plum, Amla, pomegranate, Phalsa, Banana etc are the minor fruits grown in the region there is good scope for expansion of area under fruits due to their high per unit production.
Fruit crops are labour and capital intensive and require technical knowledge to achieve the production potential, Effort has been made through these package of practices to make available the required knowledge and information for the fruit growers and good nursery.

SUITABLE SOIL FOR AN ORCHARD

Soil for an orchard should be deep, well drained, loamy, fertile and free from hard pan up to death of two meters. Water table should be below three meters and not fluctuating. Water logged marshy and salt affected soils should be avoided for fruit growing. The nutritional status and other conditions of the sub-soil are also important for the growth of fruit trees. Analysis of soil for orchard plantation should be done to the depth of two meters as follows.

1. Collect 500g soil samples separately from each soil layer i.e. for top 15 cm. 15 to 30cm. 30 to 60cm. 60 to 90cm. 90 to 120cm. 120 to 150cm. and 150 to 200cm either by soil auger of by digging a pit.
2. If a hard or concrete layer is present note its depth and thickness and collect its sample separately.
3. Put different soil samples in separate clean cloth bags, avoiding contamination. Label each bag indication the depth of the layer from which sample has been taken. Send to sample to the Soil Testing Laboratory.
4. You should also collect the leaf samples from nursery in polythene bags. Keep bags in ice box and immediately send to Leaf Analysis Laboratory of the Department of Horticulture PAU Ludhiana.

SOME HINTS/PRECAUTIONS IN PLANT PROTECTION
Methods of Preparing Various Fungicides

a) Wound Disinfectant Solution
Mercuric chloride 1g
Methyated spirit 250ml
Water 750ml
The solution should not be placed in metal container .Glass vessels or porcelain jar may be used to hold it. The disinfectant solution should be applied with a large swap of cotton. Allow the disinfectant to evaporate and cover the wounded surface with Bordeaux paste which is applied with a brush.

b) Bordeaux Paste
Dissolve 2kg of copper sulphate in 15 liters of water .Take another 15 liters of water. With a small portion of the second lot of water; slake slowly 3kg of quick lime .Add the remaining portion of water to it. Mix the two concentrated solutions and stir .Apply the paste thus formed, to the cut ends with a brush.

c) Bordeaux Paint
Monohydrated copper sulphate 1kg
Hydrated lime dust 2kg
Boiled linseed oil 3liter

Monohydrated copper sulphate can be made by heating the copper sulphate crystals over fire .Place the crystals on a sheet of iron or a frying pan (tawi) till they crumble into a white amorphous powder. Lime dust and copper sulphate powder are then mixed thoroughly and linseed oil is added. All the three constituents are then homogenized. Bordeaux paint is now ready for application. Apply it with a brush. It may b be stored in a vessel for future use or made fresh, when needed. Bordeaux paint makes the conversed surface impervious to water. It is very useful in places subject to abundant rains and protects rains and protects the wounds from the wood rotted fungi. It lasts for a year or so.

D) Bordeaux Mixture 2:2:250
Copper sulphate 2kg
Quick lime 2kg
Water 250 liter

The raw material should be of good quality .Copper sulphate of guaranteed 98per cent purity should be obtained. Only the freshly burnt limestone should be used .It should be free from earth and sand .Solution of copper sulphate and lime should be made separately.
For preparing 2:2:250 Bordeaux mixture, dissolve 2kg of copper sulphate in cold water .Copper sulphate dissolves very slowly in cold water. Copper sulphate dissolves in 125 liters of water. Hence, in winter use hot water or suspend copper sulphate in gunny sac into a wooden barrel or an earthen pitcher, so that the material remains immersed.

NOTE: DO NOT dissolve copper sulphate in a metallic vessel.
Slake 2kg of quick lime in another vessel and add water slowly, when the lime is completely slaked, add enough water to bring it up to 125 liters.
Then mix the two solutions either by pouring the two solutions together into a third vessel .Pour the lime solution through a strainer to keep back all lumps .Stir and strain the mixture again when pouring into the sprayers.

HOW TO TEST BORDEAUX MIXTURE: 1) Bordeaux mixture as prepared above is alkaline containing excess of lime. It turns the red litmus paper blue .An excess of copper compound in the mixture is a dangerous to the foliage of many plants and is indicated by the solution turning the blue litmus paper red.
2) Another way of determining weather the mixture contains excess of copper is to immerse a bright surface, such as knife blade or a nail in the liquid. A deposit of copper will form on the metal if the mixture is unsafe.
3) A more accurate test can be made with ferrocyanide of potassium. Add a few drops of the Bordeaux mixture to little Ferro cyanide in a small saucer. If no change occurs, the mixture is safe but if it becomes reddish brown, too much copper is present.
More lime solution must be added, if the tests indicate that copper is present in excess.
Bordeaux mixture should not be applied, when is raining or on exceptional hot day when the plants are showing sign of temporary wilting.

E) White Wash Mixture
Lime slaked 25kg
Copper sulphate 500g
Gum Suresh 500g
Water 100litre
NOTE: 1) Dissolve the Suresh in hot water before putting in the mixture.
2)The quantity of water (500 liters) given in various spray schedules is full grown fruit trees for full trees, the quantity of water will vary according to the size of plants.
3) For motorized knapsack sprayer, use the quantity of insecticides as mentioned in the text, but the quantity of water for dilution will be approximately 1/10th.

PLANTING OF ORCHARD

Planting Time
Evergreen fruit plants: there are two planting time for evergreen fruit plants, viz February-March and September-October plating of Citrus, Mango and Litchi should preferable be done during September-October. Kinnow and Plum plants can also be transplanted bare rooted during December to February. After digging the plants from nursery remove the foliage and cover the roots with moist wrapping martial.
Deciduous fruit plants:- These are planted in dormant stage preferable during December-January before the start of new growth. However, grapes can be transplanted up to mid February.
Pit Making: – The orchard site should be properly laid out by keeping roads, water channels and paths within the orchard before planting. The land should be property cleaned and leveled with the help of Razor land Leveler well in advance to save the irrigation water and restrict the soil borne diseases. One meter deep and one meter wide round pits should be dug for each Plant. Refill the pits with mixture of top soil and farmyard manure in equal part. To each pit add 15 ml of Chlorpyriphos 20 EG mixed in about 2 kg soils against white ants. The refilled pits should be watered a few days before planting the trees.
Selection of Nursery Plants.
Healthy fruit plants free from diseases and insect-pests and of known Pedigree should be obtained from reliable nursery and known preferably near to the orchard site. The plants should be of medium height budded of grafted on the recommended root stock. The bud union should be smooth. Evergreen plants should be lifted with well sized earth balls whereas deciduous plants should be taken out with major part of root system intact. Tying material should be removed from the bud/graft union before transplanting.
Bore holes of suitable size in the centre of the filled pits with the help of planting board. The tree should be planted in this marked hole in such a way that bud union remains about 9 inches above the ground level. The soil ground the plants should be pressed firmly with feet follows by light irrigation. After irrigation, if plant is tilted, it should be stalked when the soil become in good condition.

Handing and transportation of Nursery Plants.

Plant should be carefully handled during transportation to ovoid breakage of earth balls, as the plants with broken earth balls are likely to dry up. Before loading the plants with earth ball in the vehicle a layer of cushioning material such as Parali, dried grass or sand should be spread at the bottom. The place/pack the plants carefully in the vehicle. During long transportation sprinkle water on the foliage to keep these plant turgid.
Bare rooted plants may be packed in small bundles. The root portion of these bundle should be mud coating and then wrapped with moist martial such as wet gunny bags, parali or Polythene sheet to avoid dehydration of feeder roots during transit.
Care of Young Plants:-
After planting, provide supports to the plants. Remove dead and diseased portions by careful pruning. Provide adequate protection against vagaries of summer and winter season. Against white ant attack, apply chlorpyriphos @ half liter per acre followed by light irrigation. Keep examining the young plants regularly and remove stock sprouts.

Windbreaks and Hedges.
A good windbreak should be provided on the wind ward side of orchard well before the orchard is established.

After planting, provide supports to the plants. Remove dead and diseased portions by careful pruning. Provide adequate protection against vagaries of summer and winter season. Against white ant attack, apply chlorpyriphos @ half liter per acre followed by light irrigation. Keep examining the young plants regularly and remove stock sprouts.

Windbreaks and Hedges.
A good windbreak should be provided on the wind ward side of orchard well before the orchard is established.

MANAGEMENT OF OTHER HORTICULTURAL PESTS

1) Squirrel
The squirrel (Funambulus pennenti) lives in nest of twigs and leaves on trees. Fruits and seeds are seeds are its major food .In orchard, it causes damage to a variety of fruits such as guava, ber, peach, plum, pomegranate, mulberry, grapes and jamun. For its control, break-back traps (krikis) and multi catch (Wonder) traps should be used. Krikis should be set on activity sites of squirrels during morning and evening as these are more during morning and evening as these are more active during these periods. Methods for the use of wonder traps are the same as given for rats and mice.

2) Rats and Mice
Rats and mice usually live in burrows, acute senses of smell and taste, and are very selective in food choice. They are prolific breeders, extremely adaptable and intelligent Pests as a result their control poses difficulties .Out of 8 species of rodents in fields, Indian mole rat Bandicota bengalensis is most predominant under irrigated conditions and Indian Gerbil, Tatera Indian in dry and sandy soils.
The rats and mice attack seeds and seedlings in nurseries of fruits. Seedlings are also destroyed under heaps of soils made by rats. The Indian mole rat during burrowing loosens the soil resulting in the felling of fruit plants.

3) Methods of Control
The performance of different control methods vary in different situations and different stages of the crop. There fore, best control can only be achieved if these methods are adopted properly at appropriate timings.

A. Mechanical Control
1) During irrigation of vacant harvested fields and orchards, rats coming out of flooded burrows should be killed with sticks.
2) Traps can be used to control rodents. Before use, wash the traps to remove odor from them. Place the traps at runways and activity sites of rodents. To enhance trapping, do pre-bating with plain grains (cracked wheat or bajra) for 2days and then trap the rats for 2 or 3 consecutive days. Kill the trapped rats by drowning.

a) Poison bait preparation: The acceptance of poison baits by rodents depends upon the quality, texture, taste, odour, etc. of the bating materials. Therefore, the recommended bating materials should be used for preparation of poison baits.

1) 2% Zinc phosphide bait: Smear 1kg in of bajra or sorghum or cracked wheat or their mixture with 20 gm of vegetable oil and mix it with 25 grams of zinc phosphide.

CAUSION: Never add water in zinc phosphide bait and always use freshly prepared bait.

2)0.005% Bromadiolone bait:Mix 20 grams of 0.25% bromadiolone powder,20 grams of vegetable oil and 20 grams of powdered sugar in 1kg of any cereal flour.

3)0.0375% Racumin bait: Mix 50 grams of 0.75% racumin powder,20 ml of ground nut or powdered sugar in 1kg of cracked wheat or any other cereal. Since the bandicoot rat os most predominant species in orchards, racumin should be preferred which is relatively effective against this species.

b) Poison placement in orchards adopt burrorw baoting only: Rat burrows can be easily located in the fields, on bunds, water channels and surrounding waste lands. Close all the burrows in the evening and in the re-opening burrows on the next day insert a paper boat containing about10 g of poison bait about 6 inches deep in each burrow. In case of burrows of the Indian mole rat, gently remove the fresh soil from the burrow opening to locate the tunnel and then put the poison bait deep inside it.

Safe Measures
Since the rodenticides are very toxic to humans, domestic animals, pets and birds, the following safety measures must be adopted.
1) Keep the rodenticides and poison baits away from the reach of children, domestic animals, pets and birds.
2) Mixing of rodenticides in the baiting material should be done with a stick, spade or by wearing rubber gloves. Avoid the contact of poison with mouth. Wash exposed skin and hands after mixing.
3) House hold utensils should never be used for preparation of the poison baits.
4) Collect and bury left over poison bait and dead rats from the field.
5) Use polythene bags for storage and carrying the poison bait. Bury them after use.
6) Zinc phosphide is toxic and there is no antidote for it. In case of its accidental ingestion, induce vomiting by inserting fingers in the throat and rush to doctor. Vitamin K is antidote for bromadiolone and racumin it can be given to the patient under medical advice.

C) Environmental Control
Weeds, grasses, and bushes should be removed as these provide shelter and food to rodents. Highly infested bunds, water channels and field pavements should be periodically rebuilt to destroy permanent rat burrows. Waste lands along roads, canals, railway lines, other uncultivated areas and forest strip serve as hiding places for rodents. So, to protect the adjoining crops, rat control operations must be carried out in these areas also.

D) Biological Control
Owls, kites, eagles, falcons, cats, mongoose, jackals, snakes and lizards are the natural predators for rats and mice. These should be protected.

3) BIRDS

Birds, in general, are both useful and harmful to fruit crops. Even the same species may be beneficial or problematic in different situations. Only a few of about 304 species of birds of Punjab cause problems in orchards. The rose-ringed parakeet is the only bird that seems to be exclusively harmful to farmer’s interests.

HARMFUL BIRDS

Several fruits are damaged by birds at the bud stage and ripening stage. Parakeet is the major bird pest causing serious damage to guava, peach, pear, almond, grapes, mango and ber. House crows damage peach, plum and grapes. The major damage to grape is caused by mynas, especially the bank mynas.

MANAGEMENT OF BIRD DAMAGE

A. Mechanical Control:

1) Make false gun-shots at different intervals to scare the birds.

2) Frequent beating of drums and use of Gopia at different points in the orchard is very effective against the birds.

3) Covering the vines of grapes and isolated fruit tree with nylon nets prevents the bird damage.

4) Fixing of scare crows i.e. a discarded earthen pot painted to stimulate human like head supported with wooden sticks and clothed in human like appearance is one of the most effective traditional techniques to keep the birds away. Position, direction and the dress of the scare crow should be changed at 10 days interval. The height of the scare crow should be 1 meter above the plant height.

5) Use automatic bird scare by shifting their position periodically and supplementing their noise with actual gunfire’s. The other simplest method is the use of rope-crackers.
It involves tying of sets of small fire crackers at a distance of 6-8 inches apart on a rope and igniting it from the lower end. The explosion caused by fire crackers on catching fire at different intervals scare the birds feeding on fruits. Fix the rope-crackers in the centre of orchard.

B. Cultural Practices:

1)As far as possible sowing of maize and sunflower crops should be avoided in and around the orchards. Please the nurseries of fruit trees at and recommended time and keep it covered.