Field day organised by HAU to control weed

Hisar, Mar 21 : To educate farmers about management of a parasitic weed, Orobanche that has become a serious problem in mustard crop particularly in south western Haryana, Haryana Agricultural University hosted a field day at village Chirod in Hisar district.

Nearly 60 farmers participated in the programme that was jointly organised by Agronomy Department and Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Sadalpur of the university.

Addressing the farmers, Dr A S Dhindwal, Head of the host department said this weed which is commonly known as Margoaja, Rukhri and Gulli had become a menace for mustard cultivation in south western Haryana. He said depending on the

level of infestation, management practices and soil and climatic

conditions, the weed could cause a yield loss of 30 to 60 per cent of mustard crop. Dr Sunil Dhanda, Co-ordinator, KVK, Sadalpur presided over the function.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr S S Punia, Senior Scientist-cum-Principal Investigator of AICRP project on weed

control highlighted the role of herbicide based management technology through Glyphosate application in the control of Orobanche weed in mustard crop. Dr Samunder Singh, Senior Scientist (weed control) emphasized on the right time and dose of

Glyphosate herbicide as well as precautionary measures to be taken during herbicide application.

Dr Parvender Sheoran, Assistant Agronomist told the farmers about newly released varieties RH 0749 and RH 0406 of mustard developed at the university. The farmers who attended the programme, were taken to visit fields of a farmer, Mr Sunil Kumar where the scientists had conducted the demonstrations of management technology for the weed. The farmers saw themselves the real time impact of this technology.