White manure revives apple trees in higher reaches

Kuldeep Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, January 23

The season’s first snowfall in the middle and higher hills today brought cheers to apple farmers.

The higher reaches of Khirki-Chharki-Maroag and Shilgrahan in Chopal sub-division, Narkanda-Hattu Peak, Kotgarh, Kharapathar, Baghi-Khadrala-Deorighat-Kupar belt in Jubbal-Kotkhai, Chanshal and Seungri-Moral Danda in Rampur and Rohru recorded 30 to 15-cm snow.

“It is still snowing in most parts of Shimla district,” said farmers Deepka Kumar, Naresh Chauhan and Rajiv Machhan.

“Snow acts as a white manure for apple,” they added.

Scientists termed the snowfall delayed, but a welcome game-changer for drought-hit apple orchards and fire-ravaged forests.

Dr Vijay Thakur, director, research, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture, Nauni, said: “Though late, the snow will ensure a slow percolation of moisture down to the roots of trees,” he added.

Dr Thakur said the apple trees were in hibernation these days. “We expect more snow in February and March. Damage to plants in lower altitudes cannot be ruled out,” he added.

“The snow will revive the plants and supply the much-needed nutrients and moisture,” said Dr KK Kapur, a senior scientist at Himalayan Forest Research Institute, Shimla.

“Aphids had attacked the willowy trees in Lahaul due to warm weather, which had resulted in massive tree mortality there in 2004. It is due to warm winter weather that such aphids attack plants,” Dr Kapur said.