SKUAST-K Issues Advisory as Dry Spell Persists Across Kashmir  | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: Amid a prolonged dry spell and rising temperatures across the Kashmir Valley, experts from Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) have issued an urgent advisory urging farmers to adopt immediate measures to conserve soil moisture and protect standing crops.

The advisory calls on farmers and orchardists across the Valley to prioritise crop protection during the ongoing dry conditions, stressing that the primary objective at this stage should be safeguarding crops from heat stress and soil desiccation.

For fruit growers, the university has recommended the application of 4–6 inches of organic mulch, including paddy straw or grass clippings, around tree basins to help retain soil moisture. Experts from SKUAST-K’s Division of Agrometeorology have cautioned growers against using inorganic mulches such as polythene sheets, noting that such materials can increase soil temperature and damage root systems.

In orchards lacking irrigation facilities, the university has advised farmers to delay fertiliser application until adequate soil moisture becomes available. Growers have also been warned against excessive hoeing or heavy tractor movement in orchards, which could further dry out already stressed soils.

The advisory also addresses field crops, asking growers of wheat, mustard and peas to regularly monitor their fields and remove weeds through intercultural operations so that crops do not compete for the limited available moisture. The university has recommended that urea application should be restricted to 2.5 kilograms per kanal and carried out only when sufficient soil moisture is present.

For vegetable growers and the floriculture sector, particularly tulip cultivation, experts have suggested light and frequent irrigation during early morning or late evening hours to minimise water loss through evaporation. Nursery beds for crops such as tomato, chilli, capsicum and cabbage should be protected using shade nets or straw coverings to reduce heat stress.

In orchards, raking the soil has also been recommended to expose dormant pupae and grubs to sunlight, helping control pests naturally. Farmers have further been advised to install 8–10 pheromone traps per hectare to monitor pests such as apple leaf blotch and fruit borer.

The advisory also includes guidelines for the fisheries sector. Fish farmers have been asked to maintain dissolved oxygen levels above 6 milligrams per litre through aeration systems and ensure pond water depths remain between 1.5 and 2 metres. Feeding rates should be reduced to 1–1.5 per cent of body weight during low oxygen conditions, while high-protein floating pellets supplemented with Vitamin C and probiotics have been recommended to maintain fish health.

SKUAST-K experts emphasised that timely adoption of these measures will help farmers minimise crop stress and sustain agricultural productivity during the ongoing dry weather conditions in the Valley.