Farmer’s Agenda for Essential Agricultural Operations and Decisions in August

The following agenda outlines the key agricultural operations for August, primarily aimed at farmers.

Potatoes:

• Begin land preparation for the Nile-season planting using locally sourced seed potatoes in regions like Minya, Menoufia, Nubaria, and Dakahlia.
• Ensure the seed potatoes are disease-free before planting, as many farmers in these areas typically use tubers from the previous summer harvest without professional inspection. Given last season’s spread of viral leaf roll disease and early and late blight, thorough seed screening is essential.
• The required seed quantity per acre depends on the variety, tuber size, and spacing, typically ranging between 1,300–1,500 kg.
• Remove seed potatoes from cold storage two weeks before planting, placing them in a shaded, well-ventilated area.
• For soil with potential issues, treat the seeds with Rizolex fungicide at a rate of 1.5–2 kg per ton.
• Use biofertilizers before planting, ensuring they are applied right before covering the seeds with soil.

💡 Important Note: Due to the extreme summer heat, planting should not be rushed. The ideal planting period is in the first half of September, with an earliest possible start date of August 25.

Tomatoes:

• For the summer tomato crop (planted from late April to May):
  • Be vigilant against the whitefly, which spreads the yellow leaf curl virus.
  • Avoid clustering tomato fields to reduce whitefly infestations.
  • Educate farmers on disease-resistant hybrids, proper fertilization, and integrated pest management.
• For the Nile-season tomato crop (planted from late June to early July):
  • Fertilization schedule for flood-irrigated fields:
    • 20–30 days after transplanting: Apply 150 kg ammonium sulfate + 50 kg potassium sulfate + 200 kg superphosphate per acre.
    • 50–60 days after transplanting: Apply 200 kg ammonium sulfate + 100 kg potassium sulfate per acre.
    • 80–90 days after transplanting: Apply 150 kg ammonium nitrate + 100 kg potassium sulfate per acre.
    • After the first harvest: Apply 150 kg calcium nitrate per acre.
  • Fertilization schedule for drip-irrigated fields:
    • First 30 days: Apply 4 kg ammonium sulfate, 2 kg urea, 4 kg potassium sulfate, 0.5 kg phosphoric acid per acre.
    • 30–60 days after transplanting: Apply 4 kg ammonium nitrate, 4 kg potassium sulfate, 0.3 kg magnesium sulfate, 1 kg phosphoric acid per acre.
    • 60 days until two weeks before final harvest: Apply 6 kg ammonium nitrate, 8 kg potassium sulfate, 0.5 kg phosphoric acid per acre.
  • Additional Recommendations:
    • Apply micronutrient foliar sprays every 15 days (iron, zinc, manganese, copper sulfate, and urea).
    • Use nitric acid to prevent drip irrigation clogging at 250–300 g per cubic meter of water weekly.
    • Stop all fertilizer applications two weeks before harvest.

Zucchini & Cucumbers:

• Start planting the Nile-season zucchini and cucumbers.
• Continue harvesting summer greenhouse cucumbers, ensuring proper pruning and plant training.
• Prepare greenhouses for autumn cucumber planting.
• Implement strict whitefly control for zucchini and use potassium silicate foliar sprays (5 g/L) to enhance heat stress resistance.

Garlic:

• Best planting period: First half of September, with a minimum start date of August 20.
• Land preparation:
  • Plow three times and incorporate 20 m³ of organic fertilizer per acre before final plowing.
  • Furrow spacing: 12–14 rows per two feddans (one acre).
• Avoid planting in soils infected with white mold, preferring loamy or clay soils with minimal weed pressure.

Strawberries:

• Land preparation for summer planting:
  • Deep plowing and removal of perennial weeds like Bermuda grass and reed grass.
  • Apply 10–20 m³ of organic manure per acre, followed by another round of plowing.
  • Irrigate to germinate weed seeds, then conduct a final plowing before planting.
  • Apply 50–100 kg superphosphate per acre, then furrow the land into 9–10 rows per two feddans (one acre).

Peppers & Eggplants:

• Harvesting the summer crop every 4–5 days.
• Stop pesticide applications to protect harvest workers and consumers, except in necessary cases using safe pesticides.
• Apply 100 kg ammonium nitrate per acre after the third harvest to boost plant vigor.
• Transplanting for the Nile-season eggplant crop in both nurseries and fields.

This agenda ensures successful crop management during August, optimizing productivity while mitigating risks from pests, diseases, and climate conditions. 🚜🌱