CROP WEATHER SITUATION
METEOROLOGICAL DATA OF
ICAR-INDIAN INSTITUTE OF HORTICULTURAL RESEARCH
HESSARAGHATTA LAKE P.O., BANGALORE – 560 089
Period: 1st to 15th March, 2024
Latitude : 13071 N Longitude : 720291E Altitude : 890 M
Fortnight |
Temperature (0C) |
Relative Humidity (%) |
Evaporation (mm) |
Wind speed (km/h) |
Total Rainfall (mm) Mean Max. |
||
Mean Max. |
Mean Min. |
Mean At 7.30AM |
Mean at 1.30 PM |
||||
March (1 - 15) 2024 |
34.01 |
18.73 |
68.53 |
30.07 |
7.62 |
3.46 |
0.00 |
(32.7) |
(14.4) |
(64.0) |
(31.1) |
(7.1) |
(4.5) |
(0.8) |
* Figures in the parentheses indicate the mean values during the corresponding period for the previous 5 years
Fortnight from 1st to 15th March, 2024
During the first fortnight of the month i.e., 1st to 15th March, 2024, the mean maximum and mean minimum temperature increased by 1.87ºC and 2.62ºC respectively as compared to the previous fortnight. The mean maximum and mean minimum temperature increased by 0.6ºC and 1.1ºC respectively as compared to the mean values of the corresponding period for the previous five years. The percent relative humidity in the morning and in the afternoon decreased by 2.4% and 1.5% respectively as compared to the previous fortnight. There was no rainfall reported during this fortnight.
Crop weather situation
In fruit crops, wherever possible the basins should be covered with mulch to minimize evaporation and adequate irrigation has to be provided to minimize fruit drop. 0.1% Boric acid spray can be given in mango and papaya to reduce fruit drop.
Incidence of insect pests
Under the prevailing weather situation, following pests are expected under Bangaluru conditions on different horticultural crops. Various management options for their management are mentioned below.
Hoppers on mango:
- Incidence of hoppers is observed on mango. Spray Azadirachtin 3000 ppm @ 2 ml/l, if the hopper population is low to moderate. If the number exceeds 4 per panicle spray with *imidacloprid 17.8 SL @ 0.5 ml/l or *oxydemeton – methyl 25% EC @ 2 ml/l or *dimethoate 30% EC @ 2ml/litre at early panicle emergence.
- Addition of sticker is essential. Avoid spraying on full bloom to protect pollinators.
- For organic orchards, application of entomopathogen Metarhizium anisopliae formulation @ 5ml/L is recommended.
Flower webbers/inflorescence caterpillars on mango
- Besides hoppers, inflorescence caterpillars which web the flowers and feed inside are potential pests on mango during January. Application of lambda cyhalothrin 5EC @ 0.5ml/L or cypermethrin 25 EC @1ml/L is useful to control the pest.
Mango stone weevil management: Wherever fruits have reached lemon size (2-4 cm diameter), a spray of deltamethrin 2.5 SC @ 1ml/L will be effective.
Fruit fly Management: In orchards where fruit set has occurred early and they attained full size, erect methyl eugenol based fruit fly traps @ 6/acre. Collect and destroy fallen fruits.
Mango Fruit Borer
- Collect the fallen fruits at regular intervals and destroy or bury them in a pit
- First spray has to be given when fruits are at lemon size with any one of the insecticides viz., Lambda cyhalothrin 5EC @1ml/l or indoxacarb 14.5SC@ 0.75ml/l or spinetoram 11.7SC @ 1.25ml/l. This has to be followed by second spray after 12-15 days with a botanical pesticide, azadirachtin 10000ppm @2ml/l or IIHR neem soap @10g/l.
- In case of orchards following organic /non chemical farming, first spray can be taken up with either Bt@1ml /L or Azadirachtin 1% @2ml/l.
Banana skipper
- Skipper butterfly is becoming is serious pest on banana. The larva rolls the leaves and feed by remaining inside. Affected leaves to be mechanically removed and destroyed. In case of severe infestation, spraying of quinolphos 25EC @ 2ml/L or chlorpyrifos 20EC @ 2.5ml/L is advised.
Mealy bugs on grapes:
- Incidence of mealybugs may increase during this period.
- Encourage natural enemies such as lady bird beetle. If incidence is high than spray difenthiuron 50 WP 1g/litre and repeat the spray after 2 weeks.
Leaf miner on tomato
- Incidence of leaf miner is observed on tomato. For its management spray neem seed kernel extract 4% from nursery till flowering @ 7-10 days intervals.
Mites on tomato:
- Incidence of mites is observed and may increase on tomato. For their management spray spiromesfin 22.9 SC @ 1 ml/l or fenazaquin 10 EC@ 3 g/L.
Whiteflies on tomato:
- Incidence of whiteflies is noticed on tomato. For their management spray difenthiuron 50 WP 1g/litre.
Tomato moth
- Install tuta pheromone traps for monitoring of the adults @ 4-6 traps/acre
- Spray indoxacarb 14.5 SC @ 0.75 ml/litre or spinosad 45 SC @ 0.3ml/l
Brinjal shoot and fruit borer
- For the management of brinjal shoot and fruit borer, spray rynaxypyr 18.5 SC @ 0.3 ml/l rotate with emamectin benzoate 5 SG 0.3g/liter followed by indoxacarb 14.5 SC @ 0.5 ml/litre.
Midge on chillies:
- Severe incidence of midges is observed on chilli which causes maximum damage at flowering stage. Spray thiamethoxam 25 WG @ 0.3 g/l for their management.
Black thrips on chilli (tentative management only):
- Black thrips incidence is increasing on chilli and capsicum; it is advised to farmers to raise seedlings under nylon mesh thrips proof conditions, use thrips free seedlings
- Barrier crop: sow maize all along the border 30 days before chilli transplantation
- Root dipping of the seedlings in imidacloprid 17.8 SL solution @ 0.5 ml per litre of water for one hour during transplanting
- After planting: regular alternate weekly spraying of imidacloprid 17.8 SL 0.5ml/litre+ neem oil 2.5ml/litre, fipronil80WG@40g/acre, fipronil 40%+ imidacloprid 40%@40g/acre, Cyantraniliprole10 OD@240ml/acre, acetamiprid20SP@40g/acre, spirotetramat150 OD@160ml/acre, pongamia oil 2.5ml/litre
Or
- Spray twice @ minimum 15 days interval in a crop cycle, isocycloseram 9.2% (w/w DC) +Iisocycloseram10% (w/v DC) * @ 1.2ml/liter
- At 15 days interval (depending upon the outbreak) chlropyrifos 50EC (2.5ml/l) soil drenching is required to kill pupa that are in soil.
- Note: none of these chemicals are approved by CIBRC except isocyloseram
*CIBRC label claim available
Mites on Chilli
- For their management spray spiromesfin 22.9 SC @ 1 ml/l or fenazaquin 10 EC@ 3 g/L.
Thrips on rose
- Aphids For the management of thrips on rose, spray fipronil 5 SC @ 1.5 ml/litre or imidacloprid 200 SL @ 0.5 ml/l.
- Disease scenario
Disease scenario in relation to the weather data during first fortnight of March, 2024.
Fruit crops:
Mango
- To manage anthracnose gives a foliar spray of carbendazim (1g/L) / thiophanate methyl (1g/L). Give Protective irrigation to reduce trees vulnerability to die back and gummosis infection.
Papaya
- Papaya ring spot severity increases under prevailing conditions. To manage this disease give foliar spray of neem oil @2.0 ml/l followed by application of sea weed extract (Sagarika) @ 2.0ml/L .
Vegetable crops:
Tomato
- Powdery mildew severity increases. To manage this diseases give foliar spray of wettable Sulphur (3g/l) or hexaconazole 25 EC (1ml/l) .
Chilli
- Powdery mildew severity increases under prevailing weather condition. To manage this diseases give foliar spray of azoxystrobin 18.2% w/w + Difenoconazole 11.4% w/w SC @1ml/L or tebuconazole 50% + trifloxystrobin 25% WG (0.5g/l)