Browsing by Author "Gopinathan, R"

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Agrotechniques for soil conservation in taungya systems
(Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1986) Gopinathan, R; Sreedharan, C
An experiment on 'Agrotechniques for soil conservation in taungya systems' was conducted at the Instructional Farm, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara for a period of two years from May 1984 to April 1986. The objectives of the experiment were to asses the run-off, soil and nutrient losses as influenced by the important taungya practices and to evolve economically and ecologically viable agroforestry measures for soil conservation. Eucalyptus , the main tree component , was intercropped with the usually cultivated taungya crops of cassava and rice . The efficiency of cassava planting on ridges, grass farming and grass stripping was also investigated. There were seven treatments replicated thrice in RBD. Daily run-off and soil loss were quantified by installing multi-slot device consisting of 47 slots and brick masonry settling tank specifically designed for the project.
Effect of shade and moisture regimes on the growth of cocoa seedlings
(Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1981) Gopinathan, R; Vikraman Nair, R
Enrichment of coirpith compost through organic amendments
(Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture, Vellenikkara, 1997) Naija Nair; Gopinathan, R
The study on enrichment of coirpith compost through organic amendments was conducted at College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during the period 1995-97, to investigate into the methodologies and standardisation of enrichment of coirpith compost through organic amendments and to determine the effect on plant and soil of the best enriched coirpith compost. The standardisation of enrichment of coirpith compost was in accordance with the principle of aerobic composting. Three adjuctants were utilised name y KCPL slurry, cowdung and municipal solid waste in various proportions with the coirpith. These treatments were compared with the control where fungal inoculum (Pleurotus sajor-caju) was used as the ameliorant. The study involved aerobic composting in pits of size 2x1x1m3. Temperature, pH and bacterial population at weekly interval were monitored throughout the composting period. The end phase of the bioprocessing was arrived at through indications on stabilisation of temperature, pH and the quality of material. Nutrient quality of composted coirpith was arrived at by analysing major nutrients (N, P, K, Ca and Mg), organic carbon, lignin and moisture content. C:N ratio was also calculated to find out the acceptability of the manure. The best selected ECC was used to study the effect on plant and soil. At first it was used in pot culture studies to know whether the newly selected ECC was safer at higher levels. The selected ECC was also field tested in bhindi crop in rabi season. The ECC at 6 and 12 t ha-1 with and without 4 levels of recommended NPK were tried besides at higher levels of 24 and 36 t ha-1. Growth parameters, yield and soil characters were observed. Economics of the best selected treatment in comparison with the recommended fertiliser dose was worked out. The study revealed that ECC was superior in nutrient contents compared to ordinary coirpith compost. The best ECC contained 1.56, 3.07, 0.90, 3.43, 0.19, 24.59, 3.55 and 46.23 per cent N, P, K, Ca, Mg, organic carbon, lignin and moisture content. C:N was 15.76. External source of inoculum was not found necessary for composting coirpith especially with the enriching materials. Both the inoculated and non-inoculated treatments matured within around 90 days. Further the microbial population build up between treatments was higher in thermophilic stage increasing the rate of decompostion. . From the pot culture study it was inferred that ECC, even at higher levels of 36 t ha' was not harmful to the crop. Field results were also almost in confirmation with that of the pot culture experiment. With higher doses of ECC, there corresponding increase in growth and yield was observed. However, ECC 12 t ha-1 with half NPK emerged as the best treatment for economic yield return. This treatment could bring down the cost of nutrient input and thus expenditure for raising the crop to about 45 per cent without affecting the yield. The ECC application also resulted in increased nutrient availability and water holding capacity of the soil.
Formulation and evaluation of organic meals from Kcpl effluent slurry
(Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2001) Lency Thomas; Gopinathan, R
Preplanting treatment of paddy seedling
(Kerala Agricultural University, 1983) Gopinathan, R; Sasidharan, N K; Pillai, P B