Rain to have positive impact on crops: expert

Central Cotton Research Institute (CCRI) Director Dr Zahid Mahmood said that the current spell of rain would have a positive impact on cotton crops.

In a statement on Sunday, Dr Mahmood stated that the rain would help end the blackening of cotton crops and would improve the process of photosynthesis.

Similarly, rain will also reduce the infestation of insects, he said, adding that the plants also get natural nitrogen from the atmosphere following rain.

Dr Mahmood called for necessary measures to save the cotton crop from losses in case of heavier rains in the coming days.

“Due to prolonged stagnant water in cotton fields, the colour of cotton leaves will start turning yellow.

In case of yellow colour, the farmers should spray them after an interval of 10 days.

If the crop did not grow after rain, then the farmers should use urea fertiliser through flooding in the soil,” Dr Mahmood recommended. He added that water should not stand for 48 hours in the fields, adding that the farmers should drain it out or dig trenches to collect it.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 20^th, 2022.