25 Jan Monthly schedule of disease management in Capsicum for vegetable growers of Kullu valley
कुल्लू घाटी के सब्जी उत्पादकों के लिए शिमला मिर्च या कैप्सिकम में रोग प्रबंधन का मासिक कार्यक्रम Kullu valley in Himachal Pradesh is known for off season cultivation of vegetables. Capsicum (commonly known as Shimla Mirch) cultivation has gained popularity in the valley as an off-season vegetable crop fetching remunerative price in markets. Its cultivation is being taken up by farmers in summer-rainy season as poly house and open field crop. Depending upon an area, its nursery sowing begins in the months of March (Kullu) to April (Katrain) and transplanting in April to May that extend its cropping period up to September in open field conditions and February in polyhouse conditions of the valley. It is readily available in the local market almost from June to Feb and also transported to distant markets as well in the neighboring states. For past few years, diseases like Phytophthora leaf blight , fruit rot, wilt and bacterial blight have attained alarming proportions causing severe yield loss in the region. Besides, dieback, anthracnose, sun scald and blossom end rot are also affecting quality capsicum production in the valley. The symptoms and critical period of occurrence of economically important capsicum diseases along with their monthly management schedule from sowing to harvest are described and discussed in the article. This information may be...