Browsing by Author "Atul Jayapal"

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    Characterisation and standardisation of biochar as a soil conditioner for okra[Abelmoschus esculentus(L.) Moench] in onattukara sandy plain
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture,Vellayani, 2024-03-06) Krishna vikram.; Atul Jayapal
    The study entitled ‘Characterization and standardization of biochar as a soil conditioner for okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench] in Onattukara sandy plain’ was conducted during 2020-2023 at the Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. The objectives of the experiment were characterization of biochar produced from different agro-wastes; standardization of rate of biochar as a soil conditioner and assessment of its effect on the growth and yield of okra in the sandy loam soils of Onattukara (AEU 3). The experiment was done in two parts. The part I of the experiment, characterization of biochar produced from different agro-wastes, was laid out in CRD, with five treatments and were replicated thrice. The treatments were t1 (biochar produced from rice stubbles), t2 (biochar produced from rice husk), t3 (biochar produced from tender coconut husk), t4 (biochar t produced from coir waste) and t5 (biochar produced from banana waste). Part II of the study was the field experiment for standardization of biochar as soil conditioner in okra and was laid out in RBD with nine treatments which were replicated thrice. The treatments were t1 (biochar @ 5 t ha-1 + 100% RDF), t2 (biochar @ 10 t ha-1 + 100% RDF), t3 (biochar @ 5 t ha-1 + 5 t ha-1 FYM + 100% RDF), t4 (biochar @ 10 t ha-1 + 5 ha-1 FYM + 100% RDF), t5 (biochar @ 5 t ha-1 + 75% RDF), t6 (biochar @ 10 t ha-1 + 75% RDF), t7 (biochar @ 5 t ha-1 + 5 t ha-1 FYM + 75% RDF), t8 (biochar @ 10 t ha-1 + 5 t ha-1 FYM + 75% RDF) and t9 (20 t ha-1 FYM + 100% RDF). Okra was raised in beds in lowlands at a spacing of 60 cm x 30 cm and managed as per Package of Practices recommendation (KAU, 2016). Among the biochar produced from different sources, recovery percentage (23.52%), pH (9.89), EC (0.013 dS m-1), total N content (0.95%) and total Cu (0.32 mg ha-1) were significantly higher in t3. Water holding capacity was significantly higher in t4 (235.74%) and was found to be on a par with t3 (232.34%). The CEC was significantly higher in t1 (16.60 (cmol (+) kg-1) and was on a par with t3 and t5. The total K (1.54%) and total Ca (0.67%) content was found to be significantly higher in t5. The total iron content was significantly higher in t4 (108.83 mg kg-1) and was found to be on a par with t3, t1 and t2. The total Mn was superior in t1 (10.42 mg kg-1). The recovery percentage, water holding capacity, pH, EC, CEC and N were found to be significantly higher for t3 (biochar produced from tender coconut husk). The treatment t3 (biochar produced from tender coconut husk) was identified as superior to the other biochars and was selected as the best and it was taken for evaluation in the field experiment. The results of the field experiment revealed that t4 (biochar @ 10 t ha-1 + 5 t ha-1 FYM + 100% RDF) produced superior growth characters viz., plant height (60 DAS and 90 DAS), number of leaves per plant (90 DAS) and root volume. The fruit yield per plant (544.93 g) was found significantly higher for t4 and was on a par with t3 (537.74 g). The fruit yield per hectare was found significantly higher for t4 (15.71 t ha 1 ). The treatment t3 recorded significantly higher harvest index (0.81). The highest crude fibre was recorded for t1 (21. 12 %). The N uptake by okra was significantly higher for t4 (101.35 kg ha-1) and was found to be on a par with t3 (95.93 kg ha-1), t2 (92.90 kg ha-1), t6 (92.70 kg ha-1) and t5 (91.93 kg ha-1). Higher P uptake was observed in t7 (24.76 kg ha-1) and was found to be on par with t8 (23.73 kg ha-1), t6 (22.57 kg ha-1), t5 (19.98 kg ha-1) and t3 (19.60 kg ha-1). Higher Ca uptake was noted in t6 (64.94 kg ha-1) and was found to be on a par with t3 (59.72 kg ha-1), t7 (59.38 kg ha-1) and t4 (58.61 kg ha-1). Higher Mg uptake in t4 (20.47 kg ha-1) was comparable with t3 (19.84 kg ha-1), t6 (19.61 kg ha-1) and t8 (19.60 kg ha-1). Higher Cu uptake was recorded by the t1 (1.82 kg ha-1) and was found to be on a par with t3 (1.73 kg ha-1). Higher Fe uptake was observed in t6 (0.96 kg ha-1) and remained at par with t1 (0.88 kg ha-1) and t3 (0.82 kg ha-1). Higher Mn uptake was recorded by t8 (1.69 kg ha-1) and was found to be on a par with t7 (1.68 kg ha-1), t4 (1.67 kg ha-1), t6 (1.61 kg ha-1) and t2 (1.46 kg ha-1). Among the soil parameters, the water holding capacity of soil was significantly higher for t4 (33.87%) and was on a par with t8 (33.02%), t3 (32.73%), t2 (32.65%) and t7 (32.61%). The bulk density of soil was found to be significantly lower for t8 (1.21 Mg m-3). Soil organic carbon was significantly higher for t4 (1.29 %) and remained at par with t8 (1.26%) and t3 (1.25%), t2 (1.23%), t7 (1.23%), t1 (1.19%) and t6 (1.17%). Available N was significantly higher for t4 (209.07 kg ha-1). Higher net income was observed in t3 (₹ 154292 ha-1) and was on a par with t5 (₹ 110728 ha-1) and t7 (₹ 108876 ha-1). Higher benefit-cost ratio was observed for t3 (1.78) and was on a par with t5 (1.65), t1 (1.59) and t7 (1.55) for okra. It could be concluded that, after characterization of biochar produced from different agro wastes, the biochar produced from tender coconut husk was the best by virtue of its higher recovery percentage, water holding capacity, pH, EC, CEC and total N. The rate of biochar as a soil conditioner for okra in Onattukara was standardized as 10 t ha-1. The soil application of biochar at the rate of 10 t ha-1 along with 5 t ha-1 FYM and 100 per cent recommended dose of fertilizer could be recommended for yield enhancement of okra while, the cost effective combination was biochar at the rate of 5 t ha-1 along with 5 t ha-1 FYM and 100 per cent recommended dose of fertilizer in the sandy loam soils of Onattukara.
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    Production technology for organic coleus
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2012) Atul Jayapal; Kumari Swadija, O
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    Tillage and nutrition for productivity enhancement in tannia (Xanthosoma sagittifolium"(L.) schott)
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2017) Atul Jayapal; Kumari Swadija, O