Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 16

Decline in underground water table and management of paddy residue are the major issues associated with paddy cultivation in the state. The increased incidence of biotic and abiotic stresses under changing climate necessitates utmost attention. Besides this, declining agricultural labour availability is also becoming an important issue.

Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has modified its breeding strategies towards development of short-duration varieties with higher per day productivity, low paddy residue load, good milling quality characteristics and tolerance to diseases.

“The adoption of paddy varieties along with their matching production and protection technologies recommended by the PAU, Ludhiana, allows the staggered sowing/transplanting of paddy, thereby providing an emergent relief in the light of labour availability,” said Dr Buta Singh Dhillon, agronomist, PAU.

Transplant paddy seedlings at optimum age as increasing seedling age affects the yield and quality of crop negatively. Seedling age is particularly important in short-duration parmal varieties and all basmati varieties. For higher yield of PR 126, sow its nursery during June 5-10 and transplant it around July 5. However, under the multiple cropping system involving potato and pea cultivation, its sowing can be commenced from May 25 and transplanting around June 25.

“Avoid the cultivation of PR 127 in areas having poor quality irrigation water. To get better net returns from basmati, restrict its area to about 20 per cent of total paddy area as is evident from the price fluctuations vis-a-vis area under basmati cultivation during last many years,” added GS Mangat, Head, Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, PAU.

Different varieties of paddy are transplanted from June 20 to end of July. Beside this, to further stagger the sowing schedule in view of labour availability direct seeding of rice can be done from June 1 onwards. The method ensures saving of labour and water. Level the field with laser leveler and apply heavy pre-sowing irrigation for sowing the seed.

For direct seeding of rice, prefer ‘Lucky seed drill’ as it perform sowing and herbicide spraying operation simultaneously, said experts.

Some important tips

• Sow new varieties on smaller area in the first year.
• During the past some years, it was observed that paddy nursery sown on light textured fields experience nematode attack. The nematode infested nursery is patchy with hook like node on roots. The attack is significantly lesser in nurseries sown in puddle bed. If you come across such problems in the previous year, apply mustard cake @ 40 gm per square metre (1 kg per marla) 10 days before sowing paddy nursery. The 10-day waiting period between mustard cake application and nursery sowing is must to ensure proper germination.
• Use chemical fertilisers judiciously as it increases cultivation cost and insect pest incidence.
• Inspect the crop regularly and follow expert advice as per situation.
• Withhold irrigation 15 days before harvesting of crop.