M.Rizwan ,Dr.Zaid Mustafa
Tunnel farming being one of the most prominent
farming system getting increased popularity
among the farmers in Pakistan. In Punjab
province the temperature of December and January
is very low and the problem of frost is also
present. Due to which it is not possible to grow
early vegetable of summer in these months. For
higher production and early availability of
summer vegetables tunnel farming is being
practiced. Because tunnel is covered with
plastic sheet in severe cold months. So the
temperature of tunnel remains moderate.
Therefore, the growth of plants continuous in
tunnel even in the severe and frost condition.
Not only the availability of early vegetables is
possible but in tunnel the per acre production
is also higher than routine crops. Due to which
not only the availability of vegetable duration
is increased but employment and farmers, income
also increases. There are different types of
tunnel on the basis of height which can be used,
are known as High tunnel with height of 3-4
meters and second one is walk in tunnel with
height of 2 meter and third one is lower tunnel
with height of 1 meter. The types of tunnel on
the basis of structure are bamboo tunnel and
iron tunnel. Bamboo tunnel is cheaper but cannot
be long lasting. Bamboo tunnels can be used
maximum for three years. Iron tunnel is made
with the help of T iron or angel iron. Iron
tunnel is costly and its age is roundabout to
15-20 year. Third type of tunnel on structure
basis is lower tunnel which can be made from
slim bamboo or mulberry branches in the form of
bow. Farmers also gain advantage by the use of
black plastic sheet as a mulch. For the
protection of roots of vegetables, the use of
black plastic is beneficial. For this purpose,
one side of the furrow or both of the sides
cover with black plastic sheet and a whole is
made with the help of hot pipe on a place where
nursery had to be grown. Black plastic sheet is
used when the weather is cold. Otherwise the
shifted nursery would start to die if the sheet
would become warm. By the use of plastic sheet,
we get rid of weeds, we can conserve soil
moisture and increasing the quality of food. It
gives warmth to the roots and shoots of
vegetables in cold weather days. particular
variety of tomato and cucumber are cultivated in
the tunnel. The nursery of tomatoes and chilies
should not be cultivated before 15th October
because some kind of virus diseases particularly
on vegetables attack the crop if possible then
these crops should be cultivated under tunnel
made of net. To stop the attack of aphid and
white fly nursery should be spray with a certain
type of chemicals because these insects helps in
spreading the virus in crops. For tunnel farming
the land should be fertile and 4-5 months before
cultivation the FYM should be spread in the
land. The quantity of FYM should be 3-5
tons/canal. After applying FYM Gunter should be
cultivated and incorporated in field as green
manure. Now before the cultivation of major
tunnel crop the field should be thoroughly
ploughed and leveled with the help of planked
and then the crop should be planted in the field
as particular distance. After first irrigation
the nursery and chili is transferred from out of
field to the tunnel while the other crops
directly grown by sowing. In winter after 2-3
weeks’ furrow irrigation should be applied after
3-4 days. Drip irrigation is efficient method of
tunnel farming. In tunnel farming favorable
environment for cultivated vegetable is ranges
from 15-30 cent grade. At day time tunnel doors
should be kept opened so that the tunnel
moisture remained suitable for vegetables and
therefore reduces the chances of disease attack
in tunnel. At day time from 9 am to 4 pm the
tunnels door should be opened from both sides
because higher humidity results in more disease
attack. It should be kept in mind that the
tunnel should be covered with plastic sheet so
that the cold air should not pass into the
tunnel and the temperature should be constant.
In tunnel farming cultivated vegetable
production is higher than vegetable cultivated
in outfield so the reasons are followed The
plants should be planted more in per canals and
at the time of production we gain more profit in
market. Availability of suitable environment in
tunnel and to cultivate the high yielding
varieties. Applying FYM and irrigation at
suitable conditions and intensive care of
cultivated vegetables.