The Agriculture Department has alerted sugarcane growers in the district about iron deficiency that affects sugarcane crops.
Sugarcane iron chlorosis is a condition in which pale stripes with scanty chlorophyll content occur between parallel lines in young leaves. The leaves turn completely white including the veins and midribs, R. Jayasundar, Joint Director of Agriculture, Vellore, said in a press release,
This results in restricted root growth and stunted appearance. Officials said failure to take up corrective measures at the earliest could result in drastic reduction in yield.
Common in the district
“This is an iron deficiency that occurs in sugarcane crops. It is now commonly seen in some fields in the district. Its symptoms arise during the early stages, that is, when the crop is three to four months. As the crops grow, the symptoms do not show on the outside but the deficiency remains,” an officer explained.
The sugarcane growers have been advised about the corrective measures to be adopted through the field level agriculture staff. As a corrective measure, the department has advised farmers to take up foliar spraying of ferrous sulphate dissolved in water or soil application.
They can also apply ferrous sulphate mixed with farmyard manure. The foliar spraying could be repeated at an interval of 7 to 10 days depending on the severity of the condition, the release said.
Officials said around 6,000 hectares of sugarcane have been cultivated this year. So far, there has been no scheme to provide remedy for iron chlorosis.
However, the department is now distributing 100 kg of ferrous sulphate per hectare with 50 per cent subsidy under the National Agriculture Development Programme. This scheme is being implemented in Katpadi, Thimiri, Sholinghur, Arcot, Arakkonam, Kaveripakkam, Madhanur and Tirupattur blocks alone.
Farmers have been requested to contact the respective block Assistant Director of Agriculture for utilising the scheme.
