Protect crops from heat wave: experts

Intense heat wave conditions which are currently prevailing in northern region may lead to burning of crops, including cotton, farm experts said today while advising farmers to irrigate fields in order to protect crops.
Blistering heat wave conditions have been prevailing in Punjab and Haryana with mercury hovering around 42-46 degrees Celsius in most parts of both states.
"The heat wave conditions can cause severe damage to cotton crop at this stage as it is most sensitive to heat wave. The intense hot weather conditions can lead to burning of plants and damage it which is at germination stage," Punjab Agricultural University, Director (Research) S S Gosal told PTI today.

With cotton being almost sown at this stage, any damage to crop because of heat wave will ultimately impact overall yield of crop, he said.
Punjab Horticulture Department Director L S Brar said heat wave could damage crops such as lemon, pumpkin, melon and baby pumpkin. "Plants get wilted because of hot weather and impacts photosynthesis activity," Brar said.
"Only light irrigation at this stage could save crops from heat wave. Farmers should regularly monitor their crops and apply light irrigation in fields," said Gosal.

He pointed out that the Bt cotton seeds, sometimes, could not withstand the hot weather conditions of Punjab as they have been developed in other climatic conditions.

Punjab and Haryana have set a target to bring 5.30 lakh hectares and 6 lakh hectares, respectively, under cotton during this season.
Similarly, paddy nursery which is almost ready for transplantation can also be hit because of heat wave. "During heat wave, there can be tip burning in paddy nursery which cannot be transplanted during paddy sowing," he said.
Paddy sowing will start from June 10 in Punjab with 26.50 lakh hectares being projected under this crop.
Though there are still no reports of damage because of extremely hot weather conditions, officials in Punjab and Haryana agriculture department said.