How to take care of potato crop in winter: As soon as the winter season starts, the temperature starts falling rapidly. During this period, a large amount of dew falls in the fields during night and morning. This dew becomes the biggest threat to the potato crop. When there is excessive moisture in the fields, fungus starts growing quickly on the potato crop. For this reason the risk of burn disease increases manifold. If farmers do not pay attention to this disease in time, then there is a possibility of the entire crop getting damaged.
Why does blight disease spread through dew and moisture?
Due to continuous dew in winter, the soil of the fields and crop leaves remain wet for a long time. This situation is considered most favorable for fungus. As soon as the fungus grows, blight disease starts spreading rapidly. Due to this, not only the yield of potatoes decreases, but the quality of potatoes also deteriorates. In many cases the farmer has to suffer huge financial loss.
How to recognize early symptoms of blight disease
If blight starts appearing in the potato crop, its signs first appear on the leaves. Brown or black spots start forming on the edges of the leaves. A white fungal layer starts appearing under the leaves. Gradually the leaves start drying and falling. If not treated in time, the stem and tubers of potatoes also start rotting, due to which the entire crop can be ruined.
Correct method of irrigation in potato crop
To prevent blight disease, it is very important for farmers to maintain moisture balance in the fields. If the field remains too dry or too wet, both the conditions are harmful. Therefore, farmers should do light irrigation at an interval of 10 days. This keeps the temperature of the field balanced and reduces the possibility of fungus growth.
Ways to save potato crop
Smoke method is also an easy and natural way to prevent blight. Farmers should lightly smoke all around the ridges of their fields at an interval of 2 to 3 days. Due to this, the temperature of the field remains normal and the effect of dew is reduced. By doing this process at least twice a week, the possibility of blight disease is eliminated to a great extent and the crop remains safe.
Important advice from agriculture officer
Agriculture officer Bhagwati Prasad Maurya said that in the cold season, the risk of early and late blight disease is highest in the potato crop. Due to excess dew, fungus spreads rapidly in the fields and this disease can damage the entire crop in two to four days. He advised the farmers to spray fungicides from time to time, do light irrigation at regular intervals and if necessary, adopt smoke method on the ridges of the fields, so that the potato crop can be kept safe.
