As per India Meteorological Department, district rainfall departure of our region for the month of April 2022, was deficient for Peren, Kohima, Phek, Longleng and Tuensang normal for Dimapur, Zunheboto and Mokokchung, excess for Wokha and large excess for Mon and Kiphire.
Total monthly rainfall received in Dimapur district during April month was 175.7mm, 67% above normal. The number of rainy days for the month of April was 10. From January to April 2022, rainfall received was 50% more than the normal.
Soil Science: Christy BK Sangma
1. During rainy season, growing of crops should be accompanied with proper drainage channels to remove the excess rain. Improper drainage can damage the roots of the crop.
2. Growing of crops should also be accompanied with mulching (either straw or plastic film), in order to prevent the soil erosion.
3. Fertilizers should be applied in split doses (minimum 3 splits) during rainy season to prevent excess leaching. Foliar application of fertilizers might be the good option during rainy days.
4. Cereals should be accompanied with suitable legumes as cover crops to prevent excess removal of soil and nutrients with rain.
Agroforestry: Pempa Lamu Bhutia
Seed collection and storage of important agroforestry tree species:
Sesbania grandiflora: Seeds ripen during April-May and can be collected by lopping and thrashing. Seeds should be dried well before storage and remain viable for more than a year under ordinary conditions of storage. Seeds germinate within three days of sowing and give more than 90% germination and more than 80% plant percent.
Moringa oleifera (Sajna): Fruit ripen from April-June. Fruits are lopped, seeds are separated out, dried in shade and kept in sealed containers. Seed loses viability considerably during the first year’s storage.
Melia azedarach (Naga Neem): Ripe fruits attaining yellow colour can be collected by shaking the trees or collected from the floor shortly after the wind blows during March-May. Seeds are soaked, rubbed and washed to remove the outer pulp. Stones are dried for a few days and stored in sealed tins, where it can be stored for several years, but they lose their germinative capacity if kept for more than one year in gunny bags.
Plant protection (Pathology): Lireni Kikon
Management of Red rust of Litchi caused by algal parasite -
• Provide good drainage.
• Reduce humidity by promoting good air circulation.
• Timely pruning and removing of infected leaves to reduce disease incidence.
• Spray with lime sulphur six times (3 each in autumn and spring)at 15 days interval.
• Spray with copper oxychloride @ 3g/litre of water during July and September.
Seed treatment of paddy in nursery will give protection up to 40 days from seedling diseases -
• Treat the seeds with Pseudomonas fluorescens @10gm/kg and soak in 1 lit of water overnight. Decant the excess water and allow seeds to sprout for 24 hrs before sowing.
• Treat the seeds in Pyroquilon or Tricyclazole solution at 2 gm/lit of water for 1 kg of seeds for 10 hrs and drain excess water.
Plant protection (Entomology): Moanaro Lemtur
1. In maize , dust the plants with ash to protect from Fall Army worm and if some white patches or holes with faecal pellets are observed in the leaves spray Neem oil @ 2ml/ L or Spinosad 45 SC @ 0.75ml/L of water during evening hours.
2. Install yellow sticky traps in the vegetable field to monitor pest population.
3. In cowpea, sponge gourd, ridge gourd and okra if scrapping, holes or caterpillars are observed in leaves, spray neem oil @ 2ml/L or Spinosad 45 SC @ 0.75ml/L or Indoxacarb 14.5 sc @ 0.5 ml/L of water.
4. Hang Cue lure Fruit fly trap @ 10 traps/ha in cucumber, sponge gourd, bitter gourd, bottle gourd and pointed gourd field.
5. Hang Methyl Eugenol Fruit fly trap @ 10 traps/ha at 3-5 feet above ground level in mango orchard to trap the emerging male fly.
Poultry: Mahak Singh and Talimoa
1. With increasing temperature and humidity, heat stress minimization should be attempted.
2. Add liquid vitamins and electrolytes (ORS) in drinking water during very hot days to mitigate heat stress.
3. If weather is too hot, gunny bag/straw screens may be put around the ventilators and soaked with water. Similarly, roof may be covered with straw and soaked with water. Meanwhile fan should be kept running in the poultry shed.
4. Follow deworming and vaccination schedule.
5. For broilers keep square feet area/bird and for layers/dual purpose birds, atleast 2.0-2.5 square feet /bird.
6. Feeders as well as drinkers should be cleaned and disinfected daily.
7. Different feed types/ categories should be introduced in gradual increasing manner to avoid digestive disorders.
Piggery: Mahak Singh and Talimoa
1. Deworm and vaccinate on time. Piglets should be given iron supplementation from 3rd day of age.
2. Piglet needle teeth should be cut to prevent injury to mother’s teats.
3. Serve pigs on heat 2 hours after standing heat. Reserve 12 hours after first service.
4. It is good to castrate piglets within 2 day to 2 week period post farrowing.
5. Fans may be run to help cool the animals and ORS and vitamins may be given on very hot days.
6. Maintain hygiene and regular disinfection.
7. Do not allow random people, pets or birds to enter the farm/ shed premises.
Fishery: Jyotish Barman
For ponds where fingerlings stocking has been completed
- Feeding should be continued @ 5 kg/day/ha. A mixture of mustard/groundnut oil cake and rice bran at 1:1 by weight can be used as supplementary feed. Alternatively, commercially available fish feed can also be supplemented.
- Periodic liming (agricultural lime) depending on the pH should be done @ 20-25kg/ha. This shall help in maintaining desired pH level of the water. Lime should be mixed with water in a container and allowed to cool. Then it should be uniformly sprayed over the pond surface.
- Lime should be applied only on sunny day in the morning hours preferably during noon hours. Lime application should not be done on rainy or cloudy days.
- After 10 days of lime application, a mixture of cow dung @ 200 kg /ha, Urea @ 25 kg/ha and SSP @ 20 kg/ha should be applied. Time of application and dosage can be deferred depending on the water quality and plankton content of the pond. Poultry litter, pig dung, duck droppings, etc. depending on their availability; can be used as alternative source of organic manure.
- If the temperature is too high, put some floating aquatic plant in one corner of the pond to provide shelter for the stocked fish. Covered area should not exceed one-fourth of the total water surface area.
- As far as possible, embankment of the pond should be strengthened and raised to prevent entry of surface runoff water into the pond.
For ponds where fingerlings stocking has not been done
- Pre-stocking pond preparation such as desilting, strengthening of embankment, liming, manuring etc. should be completed prior to stocking fingerlings.
- Optimum pond water depth should be 2.5-3.0m depth with capacity of holding at least 1.5 m water depth throughout the year. A provision of outlet can be made to check overflow of water during heavy rainfall.
- Application of powdered lime over dry surface of the pond bottom @100-130 kg/ha is recommended. In case of water filled pond, lime should be first dissolved and then sprayed over the water surface. Application of cowdung, urea and SSP should be done only after the pond is filled with water.
- Once pond water starts turning greenish, healthy and disease-free fingerlings or yearlings should be stocked as per the recommended combination and stocking density.
