With Fall Armyworm causing extensive damage to maize crops in various districts including Trichy, Karur and Perambalur, the agriculture department has evolved an action plan to prevent the pest attack this year. Maize is grown on about 3.5 lakh hectares in Tamil Nadu and Fall Armyworm had caused extensive damage to the crop last year.
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[...] agriculture officials recommended summer ploughing to avert the pest attack. Deputy director of agriculture (state scheme) S Rajeshwaran said that the process would eradicate the pest and the germs under the earth would be removed when the field is being ploughed.
"Summer ploughing improves soil structure due to anternate drying and cooling. Tillage improves soil aeration which helps in multiplication of micro-organisms.
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