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Potato crop care in winter: Excessive cold and frost are dangerous for potato farmers. This increases the risk of blight disease in the potato crop. Blight is a fungal disease. Due to its impact, the edges of potato leaves get burnt. Due to this the plant withers. Because of this the crop starts rotting. Often it hurts farmers deeply.
Rae Bareli. The temperature has started falling rapidly in UP. The situation is such that in many areas the mercury has reached 5 degrees Celsius. Crops are being damaged due to the increasing cold wave. Many crops including mustard, potato etc. can be affected due to cold. The increasing cold has increased the worries of the farmers cultivating potato crop because the digging of early sown potatoes is being done under Rabi season. There is a danger of potato blight due to frost and fog. Farmers are worried. But farmers need not worry. Agricultural experts are suggesting some special measures for the farmers cultivating potatoes, by adopting which they can protect their crops.
how to protect from frost
Vivek Kumar Yadav, technical assistant at Government Agriculture Center Shivgarh in Rae Bareli district, says that Uttar Pradesh is the largest producer of potatoes in the country. Here alone more than 35% of the potato production of the entire country is produced. In such increasing cold, it is very important to protect the potato crop from fog and frost.
Talking to Local 18, Vivek Kumar Yadav says that farmers can adopt these measures to protect the potato crop from frost and fog during winter season –
1. Irrigation: It is very important to maintain moisture in the soil during cold and frost. Light irrigation in the evening increases the temperature of the field and reduces the effect of frost.
2. Cover crop: Cover the crop using tarpaulin, plastic sheet or straw to protect it from frost. This prevents direct contact with frost.
3. To smoke: Burn cow dung, dry wood or stubble on the side of the field and create smoke. The smoke forms a layer in the field, which prevents the temperature from decreasing.
4. Spraying of anti-frost chemicals: To protect from frost, use sulfuric acid or other frost-resistant chemicals. Spray them as per expert advice.
5. Balance of nutrients: Use potash to increase the tolerance of plants during frost. Potash helps plants to tolerate cold.
