TO MANAGE MANGANESE DEFICIENCY IN WHEAT, FARMERS SHOULD START SPRAYING MANGANESE SULPHATE FROM THE FIRST IRRIGATION: PAU-FASC SANGRUR ORGANIZED A CAMP AT VILLAGE SHEIKHUPUR KALAN

An awareness camp was organized at village Sheikhupar Kalan by the PAU-Farm Advisory Service Center, Sangrur, regarding the management of manganese deficiency in wheat. More than 50 progressive farmers of the village participated in the camp with great enthusiasm. While presiding over the camp, Dr. Ashok Kumar Garg, District Extension Scientist (Soil Science) and In-charge, provided detailed information about manganese deficiency in wheat and informed that Mn deficiency is generally seen more in sandy soils with paddy-wheat crop rotation. Its symptoms appear as light yellow-gray to pinkish-brown spots on the interveinal areas of the leaves. Severe deficiency causes the plants to completely dry out. He said that in manganese deficient soils where the soil test report shows the manganese content less than 3.5 kg per acre, one spray of 0.5% manganese sulfate (one kg manganese sulfate in 200 liters of water) should be applied 2-4 days before the first irrigation and 3 sprays should be applied at weekly intervals on sunny days thereafter. Sharing ideas on proper nutrient management in major Rabi crops, Dr. Garg also highlighted the required amount of urea, zinc and sulphur in wheat. Apart from this, mineral mixture, bypass fat, and PAU literature were sold. Finally, various questions asked by farmers such as management of zinc, sulfur and potash deficiency in wheat, need for lime water, interpretation of soil test report, emphasis on not using nano urea, etc. were answered. On this occasion, S. Manpreet Singh of the village provided full support in setting up the camp. Finally, the team also visited the wheat fields.