ADOPT TWO PRACTICES TO DECREASE GULLI DANDA IN WHEAT: PAU
Author(s): City Air NewsLudhiana, March 12, 2018: The agronomy experts of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) have cautioned the farmers against the problem of gulli danda in wheat. Dr M.S.Bhullar, Senior Agronomist, PAU, said the ear...
Ludhiana, March 12, 2018: The agronomy experts of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) have cautioned the farmers against the problem of gulli danda in wheat. Dr M.S.Bhullar, Senior Agronomist, PAU, said the ear heads (sitte) of the gulli danda plants are now visible above the wheat plants. These weed plants, in general, are those plants which have developed multiple resistance to different herbicides, he observed. If these plants are allowed to produce seeds, it will be difficult to control gulli danda in the next wheat season, he cautioned. Hence, the ear heads of these escaped gulli danda plants should be removed/cut with the sickle or any other method, before they produce viable seeds, he advised. The adoption of this practice will significantly decrease gulli danda in next season wheat crop, he added.
Secondly, the farmers are requested to adopt cultivation of short duration rice varieties like PR 126, PR124, PR 121 and PR 122. These varieties vacate the field around mid-October and farmers will be able to sow the next wheat by October-end, he said. The wheat crop sown during this time escapes the first flush of gulli danda, which is the most problematic, he added.
The adoption of above two practices - cutting of ear heads of gulli danda plants now, and adoption of short duration rice varieties, will significantly decrease the gulli danda problem in the next wheat season, he said.