Raghbir Singh Brar
Faridkot
The unusual higher temperatures this February may lead to the shrivelling of the grains and the Punjab Agricultural University and district agriculture department has issued an advisory to the farmers to save their crop from the rising temperatures.
“In February 2026, the temperature has been recorded higher that the previous year, which is about 2 to 4 Degree celsius higher than normal.The higher temperature may lead to the shrivelling of grains, ie, leading to the less weight of the grains.So we advise the farmers to continuously inspect the fields and give them light irrigation to avoid the shock of the heat to the plants, ’ said Dr Makhan Singh Bhullar, Director extension education PAU Ludhiana.
Dr Hari Ram of crop science department has advised the farmers to spray 13:0:45 (Potassium Nitrate) so that the crop can tolerate the heat. “The temperature is still, running about 4 degree celsius higher than normal. It affects at the grain filling stage.The higher temperature may lead to the shrivelling of the grains and finally the crop gives less yield, said Dr Kulwant Singh, Chief agriculture officer Faridkot.
“So we recommend the farmers to ensure that the fields are not completely dry.As we see that poor quality soils do not retain moisture for long and the farmers must give them light watering.When the fields are moistened, the crop tolerates the impact of heat.Secondly, the farmers are advised to spray 13:0:45 fertiliser at the rate of 2 Kg per acre mixing with 100 litres of water at two stages of wheat.The first spray can be done when the crop has grown about 5 per cent ears and next spray can be applied when the crop is at pollination stage.It is just like a tonic which supplies required nutrients to the grains through the leaves, said Kulwant Singh,CAO Faridkot.
As per the press note, about 95 per cent wheat crop in the state has been sown between October 25 and November 15, which is an ideal period of sowing of wheat., Faridkot has about 290000 acres of wheat on its cultivable area.
But now the farmers, who have not applied the recommend chemical spray of nitrate , can apply it only one time as the most of the crop is at pollination stage.