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FAISALABAD, Jan 13 (APP):The agriculture experts have warned the farmers against increase in cold wave and urged them to devise an urgent frost survival plant for their vegetable crops and orchards.
A spokesman for agriculture department said that extreme cold can cause serious damage to vegetables and orchards, sharply reducing yields. In severe cases, the frost wipes out entire crops if timely protective measures are not adopted, he added.
He said that intense cold can cause water inside plant stems, branches and leaves to freeze, disrupting growth and weakening plants while prolonged exposure can prove fatal.
He advised the farmers to immediately implement precautionary steps recommended by agricultural experts to minimize potential losses during the ongoing cold spell.
He said that orchard owners should whitewash tree trunks with a lime and copper sulphate solution to reduce cold stress while wrapping trunks with old sacks or straw can further protect plants from freezing temperatures.
He also highlighted the importance of timely control of pests and diseases and said that already weakened plants are far more vulnerable to frost damage.
He urged the farmers to carry out light irrigation on nights when fog or frost is expected as soil moisture helps regulate ground temperature and shields crops from severe cold.
Generating protective smoke by burning dry leaves, grass, straw or crop residues at selected points in orchards can further reduce frost intensity while spreading well-decomposed farmyard manure around plants helps stabilize soil temperature, he added.
He said that for nurseries and early-stage crops, special precautions should be adopted including covering fruit plants with tree branches in a way that allows daytime sunlight.
He also advised to protect delicate nursery plants through additional arrangements including covering small vegetables with plastic sheets at night and installing reed screens on the northern side of fields to block cold winds and prevent frost injury.