Horticulture Department issues Advisory for Hail-Affected Orchards in Bandipora

BANDIPORA: In view of the recent hailstorm reported in some areas of District Bandipora, the Department of Horticulture, Bandipora has issued an advisory for orchardists, recommending various fungicidal and nutritional sprays for affected fruit crops.

According to the advisory, orchardists cultivating apple and pear crops have been advised to spray any one of the recommended fungicides, including Trifloxystrobin + Tubuconazole 75 WG @ 40g/100Lts of water or Zineb (68%)+ Hexaconazole(4%) 72 wp @ 125g/100Lts of water or Carbendazim 12%+ Mancozeb 63% (75%wp) @250g/100L of water or Propineb 70% wp @ 300g/100Lts of water or Mancozeb 75% wp @ 300g/100Lts of water or Zineb 75% wp @ 300g/100Lts of water.

Similarly, for Cherry, Apricot, Plum and Peach orchards, the advisory recommended Carbendazim 50 wp @ 50g/100L of water or Carbendazim 12%+ Mancozeb 63% (75%wp) @ 250g/100L of water or Thiophanate Methyl 70 wp @ 50g/100L of water.

The advisory further stated that a follow-up nutritional spray should be applied three days after fungicide spray. Orchardists have been advised to spray 0.2% urea solution (200g per 100 L water) to promote recovery and stimulate new growth in apple trees, while micronutrient spray may be required after 8-12 days for improvement of tissue repair.

The Department also advised orchardists to collect and remove fallen leaves, fruits and twigs, avoid water stagnation under all circumstances, and carry out spraying during cool and dry periods preferably in the early morning or evening hours. The advisory added that if systemic fungicide was sprayed 2-3 days prior to the hailstorm, fungicide application should be delayed by 4-5 days