DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.22468#0466
December 13, 1MB
PLANT PROTECTION
BY DR. K. B. LAL
The damage cavsed to crops and plantations tn India by pests and disemses hat been
estimated at Hs. 1,000 crores annually. In this article Dr. K. B. Lai, M.Sc,, Ph.D. {Edin.),
F.S.I , Plant Protection Adviser to the Government of India, discusses this scourge affecting
th* nation's agricultural production and outlines the tteps taken to minimise the great loss.
Ever since mm took diBeagea in the field and cultivated plants for
to farming, crops in the in storage godowns. space and sunshine
field and orop produce pest and Diseases above ground and for
in storage have suffered There are about 250 moisture, soil nutrient
damage from pests and insect and other pests, »nd root growth under
diseases. In the olden about 150 disease?, 30 to ground. The ftur para-
days, the resulting losses 40 weeds and 4 parasitic ,'t'° plants, namely,
ware stoinally endured as flowering plants in India, Sltiau, Lcrai.tl.vi, Oro-
natural, calamities which which, by their activities bnnche and Lunula, act
cou d be averted only by or ev«ti by their mere a* parasitica on such
the propitiation of the pretence lower ci( pyields cultivated p ants as
god*. Subsequently, soma and d>-teiioiate the-qua- juu>ar\ sugarcane, tobacoo
remedies began to be Ijty -of the crop produce, •«>d mango and reduce
applied, suoh as, the whether in the field or tneir vitality and some-
sprinkling of ash on the in storage Insects cons- limes' »ven kill them,
plants aud the keeping titute by far the largest Crop Losses
of ne.em or iHher leaves and most formidable Various estimates of
in stored grains. With group of pests but consi- the dsnn f.e lamed to
the development of the durable damage is also cri pa aid plant at IGI s in
scienoes, pests and di- caused by such animals ludiu Ly pests and
seases btgan to be stu- as elephants, wild and diseases I sve been made
dUd in various oonntriea stray cattle, blue bulla, and these have varii d ti om
during the list century. wild boars, jaokals, about 10 to 10 peroent
In many oases, the nature porcupines, monkeys,. of the total crop produce,
of the organisms causing flying foxes, squirrels, the cash valus of whieh
diieases was eluoidated rats, Bparrows, crows, may be upto Rt. 1,000
and the life and habits . parrots, peacocks and crores annually. Food
of inseot pasts were other birds. ■ tortoises, grains stocked by farmers,
studied with a view to crabs, snails, slugs, red traders and others have
devising measures of con- spiders, miles arid eel- been considered to suffer
tml against them. The worms. Diseases are'eau- and over all damage of
process of the investipa sed by fungi. bacteiia about H per cent of the
tions has oontinued ever and viruses, as well as produce stored, though,
sinoe and it is possible by deficiencies of such of late, the losses have
now to substantially trace elements in the soil been reduced to. about
reduoe losses caused on as boron, zino & mangane- 0.1 per cent or jess in
aooount of pests and se. Weeds compete with thi< the stocks owned and
PLANT PROTECTION
BY DR. K. B. LAL
The damage cavsed to crops and plantations tn India by pests and disemses hat been
estimated at Hs. 1,000 crores annually. In this article Dr. K. B. Lai, M.Sc,, Ph.D. {Edin.),
F.S.I , Plant Protection Adviser to the Government of India, discusses this scourge affecting
th* nation's agricultural production and outlines the tteps taken to minimise the great loss.
Ever since mm took diBeagea in the field and cultivated plants for
to farming, crops in the in storage godowns. space and sunshine
field and orop produce pest and Diseases above ground and for
in storage have suffered There are about 250 moisture, soil nutrient
damage from pests and insect and other pests, »nd root growth under
diseases. In the olden about 150 disease?, 30 to ground. The ftur para-
days, the resulting losses 40 weeds and 4 parasitic ,'t'° plants, namely,
ware stoinally endured as flowering plants in India, Sltiau, Lcrai.tl.vi, Oro-
natural, calamities which which, by their activities bnnche and Lunula, act
cou d be averted only by or ev«ti by their mere a* parasitica on such
the propitiation of the pretence lower ci( pyields cultivated p ants as
god*. Subsequently, soma and d>-teiioiate the-qua- juu>ar\ sugarcane, tobacoo
remedies began to be Ijty -of the crop produce, •«>d mango and reduce
applied, suoh as, the whether in the field or tneir vitality and some-
sprinkling of ash on the in storage Insects cons- limes' »ven kill them,
plants aud the keeping titute by far the largest Crop Losses
of ne.em or iHher leaves and most formidable Various estimates of
in stored grains. With group of pests but consi- the dsnn f.e lamed to
the development of the durable damage is also cri pa aid plant at IGI s in
scienoes, pests and di- caused by such animals ludiu Ly pests and
seases btgan to be stu- as elephants, wild and diseases I sve been made
dUd in various oonntriea stray cattle, blue bulla, and these have varii d ti om
during the list century. wild boars, jaokals, about 10 to 10 peroent
In many oases, the nature porcupines, monkeys,. of the total crop produce,
of the organisms causing flying foxes, squirrels, the cash valus of whieh
diieases was eluoidated rats, Bparrows, crows, may be upto Rt. 1,000
and the life and habits . parrots, peacocks and crores annually. Food
of inseot pasts were other birds. ■ tortoises, grains stocked by farmers,
studied with a view to crabs, snails, slugs, red traders and others have
devising measures of con- spiders, miles arid eel- been considered to suffer
tml against them. The worms. Diseases are'eau- and over all damage of
process of the investipa sed by fungi. bacteiia about H per cent of the
tions has oontinued ever and viruses, as well as produce stored, though,
sinoe and it is possible by deficiencies of such of late, the losses have
now to substantially trace elements in the soil been reduced to. about
reduoe losses caused on as boron, zino & mangane- 0.1 per cent or jess in
aooount of pests and se. Weeds compete with thi< the stocks owned and