Protect your Coriander, Fenugreek, and Garlic crops from frost, know the symptoms and correct treatment for diseases

Protect crop

Krishi Dunia

• 06 Jan, 2025 11:30 AM IST ,
• Updated Mon, 06 Jan 2025 12:30 PM

Frost can be deadly for crops, especially those like coriander, fenugreek, and garlic, during the winter season. It halts crop growth and negatively impacts production. Therefore, it is essential for farmers to adopt timely measures to protect crops from frost and diseases. Let’s explore these measures and how they can prove effective in your fields.

Measures to Prevent Frost Damage:

1. Irrigation in Fields
   If frost is expected, irrigating the fields is an effective measure. Irrigation keeps the soil moist, preventing the rapid drop in temperature. According to scientists, irrigation can increase the temperature around the crop by 0.5°C to 2°C.
2. Creating Smoke
   Between midnight and 2 AM, create smoke by burning waste or dry grass on the field ridges in the north-west direction. This can help raise the temperature by up to 4°C.
3. Sulfur Spraying
   To prevent frost damage, spray a 0.2% soluble sulfur solution or a 0.1% sulfuric acid solution on the crops. This treatment not only reduces frost impact but also enhances the plants' disease resistance.
4. Covering Plants
   In small gardens and nurseries, covering plants with burlap, plastic, or straw can help maintain the temperature. Windbreaks made of airtight canvases in the north-west direction can also be beneficial.
5. Long-term Measures
   To protect crops from cold winds, plant windbreak trees such as mulberry, shisham, acacia, and jamun along the field boundaries.

Symptoms and Treatment for Crop Diseases:

1. Coriander Stem Gall (Longia) Disease
   • Symptoms: Small galls on the stem, resembling the shape of cloves.
   • Treatment: Spray Hexaconazole or Propiconazole at a rate of 2 ml/liter of water on the 45th, 60th, and 75-90th days of sowing.
2. Tulasita Disease in Fenugreek and Garlic
   • Symptoms: Brown fungal webs and yellowing on fenugreek leaves; purple spots and drying on garlic leaves.
   • Treatment: Spray a 0.2% Mancozeb solution.
3. Tomato Blight Disease
   • Symptoms: Blight-like symptoms on tomato leaves and fruits.
   • Treatment: Spray a solution of Mancozeb 63% and Carbendazim 12% WP (2 grams/liter) or Mancozeb 64% and Metalaxyl 8% WP (2 grams/liter) in the early stages of the disease and repeat after a 15-day interval.

For the protection of crops from frost and diseases during the cold season, it is crucial to adopt timely and appropriate measures. Techniques such as irrigation, sulfur spraying, and covering plants not only protect crops but also promote better yields. By focusing on long-term strategies, farmers can safeguard their crops from cold winds and diseases effectively.