ICAR Rabi season Agro Advisory for Karnataka

Generic Advisory

• Deep plough of land after receipt of sufficient rains helps in retention of rainwater and better percolation in the fields.
• Compartment bunding may be practiced for better soil and water conservation during NE monsoon.
• Land levelling can be taken for improved efficiency of water and other resources utilization besides uniform distribution of water in the root zone.
• Fertilizers are to be applied based on soil test results. For reclamation of problematic soils like saline, soil apply Gypsum (3-7 t/ha) and acid soil (lime 2.5-5 t/ha) can be used (otherwise decided based on soil test report)
• Immediately after the harvest of Kharif crops, incorporate crop residues into the soil. Composting of agricultural residues using suitable waste decomposer gives nutrient rich good quality compost.
• In deep black soils, farmers are advised to grow either sole crops of Rabi Sorghum, Safflower and Chickpea or intercrops of Rabi Sorghum + Chickpea / Chickpea + Safflower (4:2).
• Farmers must adhere COVID guidelines while doing agricultural operations. Use of mask and sanitizer during all operations is essential.
• Daily intake of fresh vegetables, leafy vegetables, egg, milk and milk products, Vitamin C rich foods like amla, orange, lemon guava, sprouted pulses and fermented foods with emphasis on homemade foods will boost immunity among children to protect from Covid 3^rd wave.
• In the backyard of house, farmers can grow the winter vegetables viz., cabbage, cauliflower, carrot, beetroot, peas, sweet potato, pumpkin and fruits like muskmelon and watermelon. Daily consumption of fruits and vegetables provide nutrition security to the families.

Paddy

• After harvesting of kharif paddy crop, keep it for 2-3 days in open field for sun drying.
• Maintain grain moisture content of 12-14% for storage purpose.
• Rabi paddy nursery can be initiated using recommended varieties of paddy for each agro climatic zone in the state.
• Paddy Neck Blast Disease: Lesions on the neck are greyish brown and cause girdling, making the neck and panicle fall. Spray Tebuconazole 50% and Trifloxystrobin 25% (Nativo 75 WP) @ 4 g/ 10 litres of water.
• Leaf roller in Paddy: On the damaged leaves observe for transparent and longitudinal white streaks and tubular folded leaves. Spray Flubendiamide 20 % WG@ 20 g / 100 Litre of water or Flubendiamide 48 SC @ 8g/ 100 litre of water (While spraying water should drain off from the field).

Ragi

• Suitable varieties for rabi season are Indaf-7 & 9, KMR-301 and GPU-48. Use of Indaf-9 or KMR-301 variety for irrigated condition.
• Seed treatment with Azospirillum @ 150 g.
• Application of 3-4t of FYM, 20kg of nitrogen, 10kg of phosphorous and 10kg potash per acre will increase yield in finger millet. Split application of nitrogen, that is half of the dose during sowing and another half of the quantity 6-7 weeks after sowing is recommended.

Maize

• Grow improved hybrid maize varieties viz., MAH-14-5, Hema and Nithyashree
• Spacing for maize may be maintained at 60 x 30 cm so that optimum plant population can be maintained
• Fertilizer application, NPK 60:30:15 kg/acre (Full dose P & K and 20 kg of N and 4 kg of ZnSo₄ apply to the soil before sowing and remaining 20 kg N at 3-4 weeks after sowing.
• For weed control in maize, spray pre-emergent herbicide Atrazine @ 1 kg ai/ac for sole crop 3 days after sowing.
• For the management of fall army worm in maize, spray 0.4g Emamectin benzoate 5 SG per liter of water should be done.

Red gram

• Spray Pulse magic (10 gm/lit) at fifty per cent flowering stage of the crop and second spray after fifteen days of the first spray.
• Leaf spot and flower dropping may be managed by spraying carbendazim 1 gram + Pulse magic 10 gram per one litre water
• Follow IPM practices to manage the pests.

Black gram /Green gram

• After harvest of paddy, based on availability of residual soil moisture content go for sowing of black gram.
• Black gram varieties: T-9, Rashmi, or any local varieties @ 8-10 kg per acre. Green gram varieties: KKM-3 or any local varieties @ 6-8 kg per acre may be sown.
• Sprinkler irrigation may be given as protective irrigation wherever irrigation water facility is available.
• Spray Pulse magic or pulse special (10 gm/lit) at fifty per cent flowering stage of the crop and second spray at after fifteen days of the first spray.

Chickpea

• Early sowing and seed priming with CaCl2 (2%) to be practiced for inducing drought tolerance. Use of wilt resistant variety Jaki-9218 (25 kg / acre) in wilt endemic areas.
• To avoid dry root rot and wilt disease treat the seeds with Trichiderma 8 gram per kg seeds. Use of bio-fertilizers (Rhizobium seed treatment and PSB 500 g / ha).
• Pre-emergence herbicide application of Pendimethalin 30 EC (3.25 lit/ha).
• Grow sunflower seeds as live bird perches
• Spray 2% urea during initial stage of flowering. After the crop attains 35 to 40 days, nipping practice is recommended to increase the yield.
• Spraying of pulse magic (5gm/L of water) for more pods and pod weight at flowering stage.
• Use of traps & lures (10 Nos./acre) for the management of pod borer menace. Growing of coriander (6:1) as trap crop for the management of pod borer is recommended. Use chemical spinosad 0.25 ml/L of water for control pod borer.

Sorghum

• Seeds to be treated with Calcium Chloride to get uniform emergence of seedlings and to induce drought tolerance.
• Soil application of Trichoderma enriched FYM @ 1kg/ 100 kg FYM before sowing
• Spray Potassium Nitrate (KNO₃) at 5 gm per lit of water after 30 and 60 days after sowing for increase the drought resistant for higher yield.

Wheat

• Pre-emergence herbicide application of Pendimethalin 30 EC (3.25 lit/ha). After 30 days after sowing post emergence application of 20 gm Metsulfuron methyl 20 WDG.
• At the time of sowing, soil application of Zinc Sulphate and Ferrous Sulphate (8 kg/ac) mixed with 16 kg vermicompost after 10 days shade dry and spray Zinc Sulphate @ 5 gm/lit at tasseling stage of the crops.

Sunflower

• Sowing of border crop with jowar/bajra (5-7 rows), use of new hybrids RSFH -1887, KBSH-42, KBSH-44 seeds @ 5 kg / ha, Seed priming with CaCl₂ (2%) for 6 hours.
• Apply 36:36:25 kg NPK/ac @ ZnSo₄ 4 kg, Borax 6 kg + FYM 3 tonnes/ac.
• Spray of Boron @ 0.5% at the time of flowering and follow hand pollination, honeybee keeping and sprinkling of sesamum seeds for better seed set.
• Powdery disease can be controlled by spraying myclobutanil 0.5 gram or difenconzole 1 ml or hexaconoazole 1 ml per one litre water spray.

Groundnut

• Seed treatment with bio-fertilizers (Rhizobium and PSB 500 g / ha).
• Application of Gypsum (200 kg/ac) at the time of sowing and seed is treated with SAAF at 2 gm/kg of the seed to prevent any infestation from soil borne diseases. Chlorpyriphos is used @ 10 ml/kg of seed to prevent the seed damage from soil insects at initial stages.
• Pre-emergence herbicide application of Pendimethalin 30 EC (3.25 lit/ha) for initial weed management.

Cotton

• Bt. Cotton seeds@450gms per acre, seed treatment with Zinc Sulphate, Ferrous Sulphate, Magnesium sulphate and Manganese sulphate (4 gm/kg of seed) may be followed.
• Yellow sticky traps @10 per acre, Spray of systemic insecticides (need based)
• For management of leaf reddening, spray Magnesium sulphate (1%) with 1 per cent 19:19:19 (water soluble) fertilizer at 100-110 days after sowing.
• Alternative furrow irrigation in drought condition may be adopted.
• For cotton alternaria leaf spot and leaf blight spray Mancozeb 2 g/lit.

Sugarcane

• Use variety CO-86032 & intercrop with onion.
• Soil application of Azospirillum @ 10 kg / ha, PSB @ 10 kg /ha, Sett treatment (Carbendazim @ 100gm + Chloropyriphis @ 100ml + Urea @ 100 gm/100 litr).
• Use of pre-emergent weedicide Atrazine @ 1.6 kg/ha and postemergent weedicide 2-4-D @ 2.5 kg/ha for weed management.
• Incorporation of straw.
• Tying & staking.

Mulberry

• White powdery patches appear on the lower surface of the leaves. The corresponding portions on the upper surface develop Chlorotic lesions, the leaves become yellow, coarse and loss their nutritive value. Spray wettable sulphur 50WP 2g/liter of water or Carbendazim @ 2g/liter of water. Safety period is 15 days.
• To manage Leaf Roller in mulberry, release Trichoderma chilonis egg parasitoids from 5th day after chemical spray @ 5 Trichocard per acre.
• Foliar spray of a multi mineral mixture Seriboost @ 2.5ml/liter of water.
• Dusting of lime every alternative day on silkworm @ 5g/square feet to manage Muscardine disease in silkworm.
• Tying of yellow sticky trap along with pheromone lure on every window inside and outside the rearing house to mitigate the Uzi fly infestation in Silkworm rearing.

Onion

• Bhima Dark Red, Bhima Shakti, Bhima Kiran, Bhima Light Red, Arka Nikitha, Arka Pragati, Arka Kirthiman, Arka Lalima and Arka Bheem are the red onions and Bhima Shubra, Bhima Shweta and Bhima Safed are the white onions varieties recommended for cultivation in rabi season.
• About 5-7 kg seeds are required to raise seedlings for one hectare. Application of pre-emergence herbicide pendimethalin @ 0.2% is recommended to control weeds in nursery.
• Seed treatment with thiram @ 2 g/kg of seed to avoid damage from damping off disease. Foliar spray of benomyl @ 0.2% is recommended to control soil borne diseases in the nursery. When the severity of thrips infestation is high, foliar application of Fipronil, or profenopos @ 0.1% is recommended. Seedlings are available for transplanting in 40-45 days after sowing (DAS) for Rabi season.
• For drip irrigation, the distance between two inbuilt emitters should be around 30-50 cm and the discharge flow rate should be 4 l/hr. For sprinkler, the distance between two laterals (20 mm) of micro sprinkler should be 6 m and with a discharge rate of 135 l/hr.
• Application of fertilizers @ NPK 40:40:60 kg /ha as basal and the remaining 70 kg N in seven splits through drip irrigation is recommended for achieving higher marketable bulb yield. Split doses should be applied at weekly interval from transplanting to 60 DAT Application of 0.2% Oxyflurofen 23.5 % EC before planting + one hand weeding at 40-60 days after transplanting is recommended for marketable bulb yield and weed control efficiency (65-80%).
• Combined application of 110:40:60:20 kg NPKS along with organic manures equivalent to 15 t FYM and Azospirillum and Phosphorus solubilizing bacteria @ 5 kg each/ha.
• Spray fungicides and pesticide in combination for effective management of thrips and purple blotch incidence. Spray Schedule includes Mancozeb   @ 0.25% with Methomyl @ 0.8 g/l at 30 days after transplanting,  Tricyclazole @ 0.1% with Carbosulphan @ 2 ml/l at 45 days after transplanting, Hexaconazole @ 0.1% with profenofos @ 1 ml/l at 60 days after transplanting. 
• While taking onion seed production, farmers are advised to follow isolation distance of 500 to 1000 meters from different onion varietal plots to maintain seed purity. Bulbs should be treated with Carbendazim 50 WP @ 1gm./lit before planting. It is recommended to install 2 honeybee colonies for higher seed yield

Chilli

• After the harvest of red chilli, dry the harvested produce on concrete platforms or tarpaulin or polythene sheets for 8 to 10 days to avoid aflotaxin and get dirt free good quality produce.
• Seedling root dipping in Trichoderma harzianum (1kg in 7 litr water) and drenching of carbendazim 2g/lit is recommended.
• Application of FYM enriched with Trichoderma or Arka Microbial Consortium, Seed treatment with seedpro @ 4g/kg and raising of seedlings under 40 mesh nylon net cover.
• Application of RDF: Rainfed NPK 100-50-50 Kg/ha and Irrigated NPK 150-75-75 kg/ha. For both irrigated and rainfed, spray vegetable special (5g/lit) at 30, 60 and 90 DAP
• Spray 1gm/lit carbendazim or 3g/lit wettable sulphur at 2 sprays @ 15 days interval
• Growing 1 row of marigold for every 8 rows of chilli as trap crop.
• Growing of 2 rows of maize as border crop, use aluminium surfaced reflective agri-mulch for repelling insect vectors and errect yellow sticky traps for pest management.
• Spray insecticide in rotation of Acephate 75WP @ 1.5g/lit, Fipronil 5% SC @ 1ml/lit, Imidachloprid 70 WG @ 2g/15lit in combination with neem oil 2ml/lit & sagarika 2.5 ml/lit at 7 to 10 days interval until flowering and fruit formation

Watermelon

• Following modern methods of cultivation like use of seedlings against direct sowing, mulching, drip, and fertigation and use of vegetable special (1g/lit) during fruit development stage
• Vector control by planting maize/sorghum as barrier crop. Spray acephate 1g/lit or imidachloprid 17.8 SL @ 0.25ml/lit
• Retention of only 2 shoots per vine and retention of 2 fruits per vine only after 11th node
• Use yellow sticky traps (25 traps/ ha), spray neem oil 4ml/litr and imidachloprid 17.8 SL @ 0.25ml/lit as per the need.

Vegetable crops

• Go for sowing of Cruciferae Family vegetables like Cauliflower, Cabbage, Knol-Khol, etc. and vegetable crops like Bhendi, Brinjal, Ridgeguard, Leafy vegetables, Guards, and other vegetables suitable for Rabi season.
• Spray Ginger Rich for ginger crop 5g/lit of water @ 45 days interval, starting from 5th month to 8th month old crop.

Brinjal

• Seedling root dip in Azospirrillum and PSB solution (1kg in 7 litr water) and Applications of VAM to nursery seedlings.
• Application of 25 t/ha FYM and RDF, NPK 125-100-50 kg/ha, Spray Vegetable special (5g/lit) at 30, 60 and 90 DAP.
• Crop rotation with non solanaceous crops like Maize and Jowar and Drench Bleaching powder 15kg/ha before transplanting.
• Spray NAA (Planofix) 50 ppm
• Use of yellow & blue sticky traps @ 25-30/ha, Spray of Imidachloprid 0.5 ml/litr or Fipronil 1ml/litr at 6, 9 and 11 weeks after sowing.
• Before fruiting take up 2-3 spray of Melathion 50 EC @ 2 ml/lit.,

Tomato

• Use disease resistant hybrid Arka Rakshak & Arka Samrat, Crop rotation with non solanaceous crops, Drench the plants with streptocyclin (1g) +COC (3g) per lit.
• Grow marigold as a trap crop for nematode, Apply neem cake during planting in the main field.
• Seedling root dip in Rhizobium and PSB solution (1kg in 7 litr water) and Applications of VAM to nursery seedlings.
• Application of RDF NPK 250-250-250 Kg/ha for hybrids and 115- 100-60 Kg/ha for others.
• Foliar application of Arka Vegetable special (@ 5 gm / litre) (1st-25 to 30 DAT, subsequent sprays interval of 20-25 days after 1st spray) is directly contributing in yield increase by 20-30 %.
• Control sucking pest by use of yellow sticky traps @ 25-30/ha, Spray of Neem oil 4ml/lit or Imidachloprid 0.5 ml/litr or Fipronil 1ml/litr at 6,9 and 11 weeks after sowing
• Spray 1gm/lit carbendazim or 3g/lit wettable sulphur at 2 sprays @ 15 days interval.
• Marigold or cucumber is commonly used as trap crop for every 15 rows of the main crop to attract tomato fruit borer.
• To control fruit borer, and leaf miner are major pest observed in the tomato crop. To control these pests, spray HaNPV 100 LE/acre and Neem insecticide 3-5 ml/ltr. of water respectively.
• Wilting, to control drench with copper oxycloride @ 3 g + Streptocyclin @ 0.5 g/litre of water.

Marigold

• Introduction of compact flower hybrids Arka Bangara and Arka Agni
• Use cuttings for planting
• Application RDF 125-60-60 KG/ha and during pinching apply 100 kg/ha nitrogen
• Spray Hexaconazole @ 1 ml/lit or Mancozeb @ 2g/lit

Tuberose

• Introduction of single floret flower hybrids Sringar and Prajwal
• Application RDF 100-50-50 KG/ha
• Spray Thiurea @ 1000 ppm
• Spray Hexaconazole @ 1 ml/lit or Mancozeb @ 2g/lit

Mango

• In the month of October and November during pre-flowering stage of Mango, the growers are advised to take 2 sprays of Mango Special @ 5 gm/lit along with adjuvants and lime juice to get quality fruits in terms of fruit appearance, keeping quality and taste.
• Pruning of densely grown and disease infected branches along with 1or 2 branches at the top of canopy in the month of July-August will increase penetration of light in turn yield in mango.
• For regulating flowering in mango trees apply paclobutrazol (4-5 ml/tree) in trenches.
• To manage die back disease, prune the dead woods and spray CoC at 3 g/l twice at 15 days interval.

Cashew

• During new flush emergence in Cashew crop, farmers are advised to take up prophylactic spray of Lambda Cyhalothrin 2.5 EC @ 0.5 ml/lit for management of T-Mosquito bug.
• For more than 5 years Cashew plantation, make small trenches 4 feet away from the trunk of Cashew plant & apply 1kg Urea, 600- gram Rock Phosphate, 200 gram of Muriate of Potash per tree. 20kg of FYM should be given along with inorganic fertilizer.
• Coconut and Arecanut plantations:
• Based on age of crop and soil type, provide 15-20 liter of water per plant through drip irrigation.
• Practice mulching of farm wastes to retain soil moisture content, to avoid evaporation loss and also to control weed growth.
• Drill a small hole where redpalm weevil is observed and apply Chloropyrifos @ 2ml/litre of water and close the hole with clay soil.
• For control of inflorescence die back spray with Mancozeb @ 3gram / litre of water and Chloropyriphos @ 2ml per litre of water.

Black pepper

• Spraying of KNO₃ to maintain quality of pepper berries. Protective irrigation may be given during moisture stress, mulch with crop residues to maintain moisture.
• Drench Arka Microbial Consortium (AMC) (drench 3-5 litre/ vine) after mixing 4kg AMC with 1kg of Jaggery in 200 litres of water for healthy crop.
• Remove and destroy disease infected vines to stop further spread of the disease.
• Spray and drench Potassium Phosphonate 3ml/litre against quick wilt disease during rain break.
• Spray Black Pepper special (micronutrient mixture) @ 5 gm per lit during September - October month to increase the yield. Spray Potassium Nitrate 5.0 gm in one lit of water to increase the berry size during Sept-Oct month.
• Provide adequate shade and mulch to the vines in the post monsoon season.
• Spray lime or kaolin @ 2 kg and 1 kg in 100 litres of water, respectively to avoid direct sunlight and moisture stress (in the month of February)

Coffee

• Mulch with crop residues to conserve moisture & give protective irrigation during moisture stress.
• Cleaning/weeding can be carried out in the coffee plantation before harvesting.
• For management of stem borer and berry borer infestation, spot spray with Chlorpyrifos @ 2ml/liter and erect Broca traps 25 no. per acre and yellow sticky traps
• For management of root rot disease, remove infected plants and drench surrounding plants with Propiconazole 2.0 ml per lit.

Ginger

• Remove rhizome rot infected plants and apply lime and bleaching powder
• Spray and drench rhizome rot infected bed with Metalaxyl + Mancozeb @ 2gm/litre
• Drench Copper Oxychloride (COC) 3gm/litre for healthy bed to avoid spread of the disease
• Spray Ginger special 5 gm per lit during September-October to get better and quality

Banana

• For natural (chemical free) ripening in banana adopt the technology developed by IIHR-Bangaluru.
• For banana plants planted in November and December 2021, start spraying of IIHR Banana Special @ 5 g/lt. with 1 shampoo sachet at monthly interval upto September.
• Remove unwanted suckers from the rhizome to maintain normal bunch weight and quality.
• For management of sigatoka leaf spot spray Propiconazole 1 ml/L

Livestock Advisories during Rabi season

• Maximum cattle and buffaloes show oestrus symptoms in winter season. Farmers should identify oestrus signs viz., bellowing, mounting on other animals, cervical discharge, anorexia, reduction in milk yield and do Artificial insemination / Natural mounting accordingly.
• Too cold climate causes pneumonia to all livestock especially young ones. So, provide proper ventilation, more floor space/animal and avoid overcrowding in dairy/sheep/goat/poultry sheds.
• To prevent the outbreak of Lumpy Skin Viral Disease (LSD) in cattle (Oct-Nov month), mass vaccination with Goat Pox vaccine against LSD in endemic areas should be carried out.
• Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) is a vector borne disease. So, all farmers should protect their livestock against vectors viz., mosquito, house fly and ticks by using mosquito nets, mosquito fly repellents and washing of animals with ectoparasiticidal drugs. Also, famers should practice burning of dry neem leaves especially in morning and evening hours to reduce mosquito bite to livestock.
• All cattle & buffaloes should be vaccinated against Foot & Mouth Viral disease (FMD) in all villages. Vaccination should be 100% to eradicate FMD viral disease from our country.
• Livestock farmers should take up cultivation of improved varieties of lucerne and fodder oats during the month of October and November
• All sheep and goats especially young ones from 3 months to 1 year of age should be vaccinated against PPR viral disease.
• Sanitize the cattle shed with sodium hypochlorite solution before milking.
• Wash the milch animals’ udder and teats with potassium permanganate solution before milking.
• All livestock should be treated with appropriate deworming medicines by consulting KVK animal scientist /local veterinary doctor.
• Poultry birds should be given clean and cold water for drinking throughout the day.
• All back yard poultry birds compulsorily should be vaccinated against Ranikhet Disease. 

Source : ICAR RabiI agro-advisory for farmers