Browsing by Author "Chinnamma, N P"

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Assessment of 2, 4- D residues in the major rice soils of Kerala
(Department of soil science and agricultural chemistry, College of horticulture,Vellanikara, 2002) Durga Devi, K M; Chinnamma, N P
Carbofuran residues in banana
(Department Of Soil Science And Agricultural Chemistry,College Of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2000) Vijayan, A P; Chinnamma, N P
Effect of long term application of manures and fertilisers on soil properties, utilization efficiency of nutrients and quality of rice
(Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry,College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1992) Padmam, M K; Chinnamma, N P
A study was conducted during the first crop season of 1990to assess the effect of long term application of manures and fertilizers on soil properties, utilization efficiency of nutrients and quality of rice making use of the soil and plant samples taken from the existing permanent manurial trial (dwarf indica) at the Regional Agricultural Research Station, Pattambi. This experiment was started at Pattambi during the first crop season of 1973. The soil of the experimental site is laterite. The experiment is laid out in randomised block design with four replications and eight treatments. The treatments consisted of application of entire quantity of N - 90 kg ha 1, as organic alone (cattle manure alone, .green manure alone and cattle manure + green manure) , inorganic alone (ammonium sulphate alone and NPK fertilizers) and a combination of organics with inorganics (cattle manure + NPK fertilizers, green manure + NPK fertilizers and cattle manure + green leaves + NPK fertilizers). Soil samples were collected from all the replications of the various treatments before planting, at different stages of crop growth viz., tillering, panicle initiation, 50 per cent flowering and harvest. Plant samples were also collected at the above growth stages. Data on yield of grain and straw were collected from the Regional Agricultural Research Station, Pattambi. Soil and plant samples were analysed in the laboratory to find out the effect of long term application of manures and fertilizers on physical and chemical properties of soil, uptake of nutrients and utilization efficiency of nutrients and quality of grain and straw. Results of analysis of soil samples collected before planting revealed the beneficial effect of organic matter addition on bulk density, water holding capacity and aggregate stability of soil. Long term application of manures and fertilizers singly and in combination had no significant influence on the soil reaction and CEC of the soil. The application of ammonium sulphate alone to supply 90 kg N ha continuously for the last 17 years has not changed the soil reaction considerably. Addition of organic manures at a high dose of 18 t ha for a long period of 17 years failed to increase the CEC of the soil. Results clearly indicated the favourable influence of cattle manure addition in increasing the content of organic carbon.
Effect of pre-treatment of lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus, staffs on the yield and citral content of oil
(Kerala Agricultural University, 1973) Chinnamma, N P; Menon, P K Q
Evaluation of methods to improve the nitrogen use efficiency of urea in rice
(Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1993) Sapheena, K S; Chinnamma, N P
An investigation was carried out to evaluate the various methods recommended by different agencies to increase the N use efficiency of urea in rice. The study consisted of an incubation study and a field experiment during two crop seasons, first and second crop seasons in 1991 using rice variety jyothi. The incubation study was conducted at College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, Trichur. There were five treatments for the incubation study which were control and recommended dose of N as prilled urea, meemcake – coated urea, neemcake-mixed urea and Nimin – coated urea. The experiment was laid out in Completely Randomised Design. The 13 treatments for field experiments consisted of control, recommended dose of N in two types of splits (50 :50 and 75:25) as prilled urea, neemcake – coated urea, neemcake – mixed urea and Nimin – coated urea and 75 per cent of the recommended dose of N in 50:50 split as prilled urea, neemcake – coated urea, neemcake – mixed urea and Nimin – coated urea. The field experiment was conducted at Agricultural Research Station, Mannuthy under Kerala Agricultural University. The soil for the incubation study was collected from the location where field experiment was carried out. The soil was sandy clay loam in texture, acidic and non saline. Ammoniacal nitrogen content of the soil in incubation study, increased upto a period of 20 days in all the treatments. The treatments showed significant difference in the NH4 –N content at most of the later intervals. In the initial period no definite trend due to treatments was observed but from 15th day onwards Nimin – coated urea recorded highest value at all the intervals. Neemcake – coated urea and neemcake – mixed urea have also recorded higher content of NH4-N than prilled urea but the difference was statistically not significant. At all the intervals control recorded lowest value. The proportion of NO3-N formed compared to total nitrogen was quite low. Significant difference in the NO3-N content of soil due to treatment application was noticed from 8th day of incubation. Significant difference due to different treatment application was not obtained for total N content of the soil and pH of soil and soil solution at different periods of incubation. Ammoniacal nitrogen content of the soil solution was high during the initial periods of incubation both for control and treatments, and gradually decreased and reached minimum value by the end of the period of incubation. The control recorded lowest value throughout the period of incubation and there was not much variation between the other treatments. The NO3-N content of the soil solution was found to be high than that of the soil. The control recorded lowest value at most of the intervals and among the four treatments with N application, the lowest value was recorded by Nimin – coated urea at most of the intervals. In the field experiment significant difference was noticed in the NH4-N content of the soil throughout the period of study in first crop season. At all the intervals control recorded lowest value. Nimin – coated urea recorded highest value at most of the intervals for both full and 75 per cent of the recommended dose of N. Neemcake – coated and neemcake – mixed urea were also found to be better than prilled when full dose of N was applied. But such difference was not noticed when 75 per cent of the recommended dose of N was applied. In the second crop season, variation due to treatments was not significant in the initial periods. Nimin – coated urea recorded higher NH4 – N content than prilled urea at most of the intervals from 15th day after transplanting both for full and 75 per cent of the recommended dose of N. Neemcake – coated urea and neemcake-mixed urea were alsostages this treatment recorded comparatively higher values, both for treatments with full and 75 per cent of recommended dose of N. As in the case of Incubation study proportion of NO3-N formed was quite low. Similar trend was obtained during second crop season also. No uniform trend was obtained in the total N content of soil at different intervals due to treatments in both the seasons. Significant difference in soil pH was also not noticed. The difference due to treatment application was not high enough to attain the level of statistical significance for the major biometric characters of the plant during both the crop seasons. Though the difference due to treatments was not significant on grain yield, Nimin – coated urea recorded maximum grain yield both for full and 75 per cent of the recommended dose of N during both the crop seasons. Nitrogen content in plant was increased by N application. Nimin – coated urea showed a favourable influence in increasing the N content of grain during both the crop seasons. In general application of Nimin enhanced the uptake of N by grain and straw during both the seasons. Significant variation was obtained in the content and uptake of P, K, Ca and Mg at various stages of crop growth during both the seasons.
Fertility investigations and taxonomy of the soils of regional agricultural research station, Pattambi
(Department of soil science and agricultural chemistry, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1995) Deepa, K P; Chinnamma, N P
The Regional Agricultural Research Station, Pattambi has entered it seventh decade of activities. The total area of the station is 63.64 ha and it includes both upland and low land. A detailed survey of the soil in the area of the station has not been made by the Soil Survey Department and hence a taxonomic classification of the soil and fixing of the soil serious as per the soil taxonomy has not been done so far. Therefore the present study was formulated to find out of the morphological and Physico-chemical characteristics of soil profiles of selected blocks, to analyse the surface soil samples from all the blocks for fertility parameters, to classify the soils under taxonomy and to prepare the soil fertility map of the station. The soils had predominantly red hues. Good structural development was noticed in all soils except in ill drained areas. Coarse fragments formed a predominant part in the soil samples collected. In general the soils were acidic in nature. Organic carbon content was low irrespective of crops grown. The nitrogen content of all soils were also low. No regular pattern of distribution with depth was obtained for total reserves of N, P2 O5, K2 O, CaO, MgO and Na2O which were low. Total Fe2 O3 content was fairly high. The cation exchange capacity calculated by NH4 OAC method was low for all the soils. Among the exchangeable bases, Ca formed the predominant cation. With regard to the available nutrient content of soils, nitrogen status of the soul worked out based on the organic carbon content showed that it was high in C block, low in blocks I and IX and medium in the remaining 19 blocks. Nutrient index worked out for available P content showed that it was medium in 12 blocks i.e., E, M, K, I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, IX, X and high in the remaining 10 blocks. For available K, the nutrient index values indicated that it was low in 10 blocks and medium in 12 blocks. Based on the nutrient indices, the fertility map of the station was prepared. Based on the profile soil sample analysis, classification of the soils under soil Taxonomy was attempted upto the subgroup level. Among the nine profiles, only 3 i.e., F, I and V fell under Inceptisols and the remaining 6 i.e., F, I and V fell under Inceptisols and the remaining 6 i.e., B, C, I, VIII, IX and X were under Entisols.
Influence of applied nutrients and stage of harvest on the yield and physicochemical properties of essential oil of palmarosa (Cymbopogon martini Stapf var. motia)
(Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry , College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Trivandrum, 1985) Chinnamma, N P; Aiyer, R S
Quality of oil of clocimum (Ocimum gratissimum Linn.) as influenced by stages of harvest and shade
(Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry,College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1990) Rekha R Pillai; Chinnamma, N P
Clocimum (Ocimum gratissimum Linn.), an essential oil crop introduced in Kerala from Oammu, nearly a decade ago, is slowly replacing the other eugenol yielding sources viz., clove and cinnamon oils.. Several agro-techniques have yet to be standardised for the commercial cultivation of this crop in the State. The present studies were undertaken at the Aromatic and Medicinal Plants Research Station, Odakkali during 1988-90. Two field experiments were laid out separately one to obtain information on the optimum time of harvest for getting maximum yield of quality oil and the other to study the effect of shade on the production and quality of oil. The average removal of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn and Zn from the soil by clocimum has also been worked out. The treatments in one experiment consisted of five intervals of harvest (60, 75, 90, 105 and 120 days) and four levels of shade (0, 25, 50 and 75 per cent) were tried in the second experiment. Both experiments were laid out in randomised block design. The required intensity of shade was provided by erecting 'artificial pandals. A Aplab luxmeter was used for adjusting the shade intensities. The investigations revealed that herbage yield, oil yield and oil content were maximum at 60 days harvest interval (early flowering stage) and it was on par with 75 days harvest interval. With further increase in the harvest intervals these parameters were found to decrease. Sixty days harvest interval also recorded the maximum eugenol content and it was significantly superior to all other treatments. The concentration and uptake of macro and micronutrients were also maximum at this interval. Among the shade levels tried the herbage yield was maxiomum under open condition as the plants flowered early and so two harvests could be taken under this treatment while only one harvest could be obtained for the other treatments. The oil yield, oil content, eugenol content were also maximum under open conditions. The content of almost all nutrients studied did not show any particular trend except in the case of K which showed a tendency to increase with shading. The uptake of all nutrients was maximum under full illumination which decreased with increasing shade intensity. The results thus indicated that the optimum interval of harvest is between 60 and 75 days i.e ., harvesting the crop between early and maximum flowering stages. The results also revealed that maximum yield and quality of oil in clocimum can be obtained only if there is ample light infiltration. But if only a single harvest is considered the crop under 25 per cent shade can be seen to give equally good quality oil but for a lesser number of harvest that those grown under full illumination. A high eugenol content of eighty per cent obtained for clocimum in the present study also indicates that it can definitely be used as an alternative and cheap substitute to clove and cinnamon oils.
Seasonal variations in the nutrient transformation in the lateritic alluvial rice soils of permanent manuurial trials
(Department of Soil science and Agricultural chemistry, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1996) Dineskumar, K K; Chinnamma, N P
A study was conducted during the first and second crop season of 1992 to find out the seasonal variations in nutrient transformations in the existing two permanent manorial trials (one with tall indica varieties and the other with dwarf indica varieties) at the Regional Agricultural Research Station, Pattambi. The experiment with tall indica variety was started in 1961 and the experiment with dwarf indica variety was started in 1973. The experiments were laid out in randomised block design with four replications and eight treatments. The treatments consisted of application of entire quantity of N as organic manure (cattle manure alone, green leaves alone and cattle manure + green leaves), inorganic fertilizers alone (ammonium sulphate alone and NPK fertilizers) and a combination of organics with inorganics (cattle manure + NPK fertilizers, green manure + NPK fertilizers and cattle manure + green leaves + NPK fertilizers). In both the experiments, the treatments are the same, but the dose of manures and fertilizers varied based on the nutrient requirements of all indica and dwarf indica varieties. For all indica the dose of NPK applied is 40:20:20 kg/ha whereas in the dwarf indica varieties the dose applied is 90:45:45 kg/ha. Soil samples were collected from all the replications of the various treatments at 11 stages from harvesting of second crop of 1991 to harvest of second crop of 1992. Plant samples were also collected at different stages of crop growth viz., tillering, 50 per cent flowering and harvest. Data on yield of grain and straw were collected from the Regional Agricultural Research Station, Pattambi. Soil and plant samples were analysed in the laboratory to find out the seasonal variations in the availability of nutrients in the soil and in the content and uptake of nutrients by the crop. Results of analysis of soil samples showed that significantly higher values of organic carbon, available N,P,K and Ca were recorded in the initial stages of crop growth namely transplanting, tillering and 50 per cent flowering in the first crop season but at harvest the trend reversed in both the experiments. In the case of magnesium significant difference between the seasons was noticed only at 50 per cent flowering and at this stage higher values were recorded in the first crop season in both the experiments. At the initial stages of crop growth, namely at tillering and 50 per cent flowering higher content of available nutrients namely N, P, K and Ca were recorded in the soil in the first crop season but higher contents of N, P and K in the plant were recorded in the second crop season for both tall and dwarf indica varieties. For magnesium content in plant comparatively higher values were recorded in the first crop season compared to second crop season for both tall and dwarf indica varieties at tillering and 50 per cent flowering. With regard to calcium higher contents were recorded in the first crop season at tillering but at 50 per cent flowering the trend reversed in the case of tall indica varieties. At both the stage higher contents were recorded in the first crop season in the dwarf indica varieties. In the grain significantly higher content of N, K and Mg were recorded in the second season. There was not much difference in the P content between the seasons. Similar trend was noticed in the nutrient content for both tall and dwarf indica varieties except for Ca. In the case of calcium no uniform trend was shown in both the experiments. Higher contents of P, K and Ca were noticed in the second crop season in the straw. Significantly higher values were recorded in the first crop season for nitrogen. No significant difference in magnesium content was noticed between the seasons. Similar trend was noticed in both the experiments for all the elements. Significantly higher uptake of N, P and K was noticed at all the growth stages in the second crop season in both the experiments. In the case of Ca and Mg though higher uptake was recorded in the initial growth periods, at the time of harvest the trend reversed and for these elements also higher values were recorded in the second crop season.
Studies on a manure supplement containing secondary and trace elements prepared from sea water (Sagar) on the growth, yield, quality and absorption of nutrients by rice
(Division of Agricultural Chemistry, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1975) Chinnamma, N P; Money, N S
A field experiment was conducted to assess the effect of application of Sagar, a manure supplement prepared from the sea water on the growth, yield and quality of rice and absorption of nutrients from soil. The result obtained are summarised below. 1) Application of NPK increased significantly all the growth characters and these characters were increased steadily with increase in the levels of NPK. Sagar application increased considerably the number of tillers and the number of productive tillers per plant.
Suitability of sul-po-mag as a potassium cum magnesium fertilizer for banana in Kerala
(Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1997) Anila Mathew; Chinnamma, N P
The present investigation was carried out in the Department of Soil Science and Agriculture Chemistry, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during the period of September 1994 to August 1995. The study was aimed to bring to light the suitability of Sul-Po-Mag as a potassium cum magnesium fertilizer for banana in Kerala. The treatments included Sul-Po-Mag substitutes of potassium to the extend of -25, 50 and 100 per cent in the normal recommended dose of NPK as urea, diammonium phosphate and muriate of potash at the rate of 190 g N, 115 g P205 and 300 g K20 per plant per year. Treatments of muriate of potash supplemented with magnesium and sulphur separately and with magnesium and sulphur together were also included and they were compared with the recommended practice. The experiment was laid out in randomised block design with three replication. During the early stages of growth, the treatments failed to influence the morphological characters such as height, girth and number of leaves of the plant. But at the later stages, the girth and the number of leaves differed significantly and the application of Sul-Po-Mag showed a favourable influence on these characters. No significant difference was observed in characters like total number of suckers, days to flower, days to mature and total duration of the crop among the treatments. Among the bunch characters, numbers of hands, length and girth of fingers and bunch weight were influenced by the difference in treatments while the number of fingers per bunch and weight of fingers remained unaffected. The maximum yield was given by the treatment where potassium was supplied by Sul-Po-Mag and muriate of potash in half doses. Though the treatments differed significantly in yield from the control, where no fertilizer was applied, the treat- ments of muriate of potash and Sul-Po-Mag are on par indicating that Sul-Po-Mag is as good as MOP for its capacity to meet potassium requirement of the crop. The treatments did not differ significantly in quality parameters such as reducing sugars, total sugars, sugar acid ratio, weight of pulp and peel and pulp peel ratio. But significant difference was observed with total soluble solids, ascorbic acid content, non reducing sugars and acidity. High value of these characters were recorded with Sul-Po-Mag except for the reducing sugars and total sugars. Treat- ments with magnesium and sulphur were found to decrease the sugar content of fruits. High pulp peel ratio of Sul-Po-Mag treatments showed increased storage quality. The nitrogen, phosphorus and sulphur contents of leaves remained unaffected both at vegetative and harvest phases, while potassium, calcium and magnesium differed significantly between the treatments. The contents in leaf of N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S were decisively influenced by the treatments at the time of shooting. Nutrient contents of leaves were found to increase till shooting and a drastic reduction was observed thereafter. Calcium, magnesium and sulphur contents in the fertilizer increased their availability in soil and the plant content. Treatments with Sul-Po-Mag and magnesium showed high content of potassium in leaves. The contents of potassium, calcium, magnesium and sulphur were found to be the highest in the pseudostem followed by leaves. Rhizome and fruit also showed appreciable amount of these nutrients. The total uptake of potassium, calcium, magnesium and sulphur ranged between 365.26-221.06, 73.57-57.97, 4.45-14.5 and 3.71-4.94 g plant-1 respectively. Only the total uptake of magnesium was decisively influenced by the treatments. The maximum values of uptake of magnesium found in treatment which was supplied with Mg equivalent to that present in half dose of Sul-Po-Mag. Available P, available K and available S contents of the soil were found to be nonsignificant both at vegetative and harvest stages. The sulphate containing treatments were found to decrease the pH of the soil. Maximum electrical conductance was found with Mg supplied treatments. Organic carbon content was found to be significant only at harvest stage. Calcium, magnesium and sulphur contents in the fertilizer were found to increase the soil content of these elements.