Fungal attacks can cause devastating losses for farmers, especially in crops like gram. Fungi can infect the crop from the very beginning of the growing season through to post-harvest. Therefore, it is important for farmers to know how to control these fungal attacks to minimize the damage to their crop yields.
The following are some practical tips on how farmers can control fungal attacks in gram crop:
1. Crop Rotation: Crop rotation is a farming technique whereby farmers alternate the crops being grown in a particular field from season to season. This practice helps to break the disease cycle, as some fungi that cause crop diseases can only survive in the soil for a limited time. Therefore, rotating crops can reduce fungal attack by limiting their habitat and preventing their overwhelming presence.
2. Right Irrigation Practices: Fungi thrive in moist environments, and excessive moisture in the field can lead to fungal attacks. Farmers should, therefore, consider appropriate irrigation practices like drip irrigation or using sprinklers, avoiding waterlogging and excessive watering to reduce fungal infections.
3. Plant Resistant Crop Varieties: There are varieties of gram crop that are less susceptible to fungal attack. Farmers can choose to plant these varieties to reduce the incidence of fungal diseases and the cost of applying fungicides.
4. Crop Hygiene: Fungal spores can be present in soil, crop residue, and other crop debris. Keeping the field clean by removing crop residues and other debris helps prevent fungal infections. Crop hygiene also involves good storage practices and proper cleaning of equipment used for handling the crop.
5. Use of Fungicides: Fungicides are chemicals that are used to control fungal attacks. However, they should be used in moderation and with caution. Fungicides can lead to the development of fungal resistance, environmental hazards and can also harm beneficial organisms, leading to an ecological imbalance.
In summary, controlling fungal attacks in gram crops require a combination of preventive measures and judicious use of fungicides. Farmers should consider appropriate crop rotation, irrigation practices, and crop hygiene to prevent fungal infections, while at the same time using fungicides where necessary and as advised by experts to control these attacks. A successful approach to controlling fungal attacks requires farmers to adopt an integrated pest management system that is environmentally sustainable and economically efficient.