Browsing by Author "Marykutty, K C"

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Chlorophyll development pattern of rice in iron rich soils
(Kerala Agricultural University, 1999) Musthafa, K; Potty, N N; Marykutty, K C
Comparative study of certain fruit qualities of twenty pineapple varieties
(Kerala Agricultural University, 1978) Gopimony, R; Balakrishnan, S; Marykutty, K C
A study was undertaken to evaluate the fruit quality of twenty pineapple varieties during the fruiting season of 1975-76 at the Pineapple Research Centre, Vellanikkara, Trichur. In fruit weight, Kew was found to be far superior to all other varieties except Smooth Cayenne. But in certain other dessert qualities like colour and texture of flesh, flavour, sweetness and T. S. S. varieties like Mauritius, McGregor, Ripley Queen, Queen and Valerabalanga were found to be superior to Kew. The variety Valerabanga was found to show a superior sugar-acid blend as compared to Kew. This suggests its use as a parent material in breeding works for further improvement of Kew.
Effect of application of graded doses of lime on the growth and yield of banana variety zanzibar
(Kerala Agricultural University, 1978) Sreedharan Nambiar, I P; Balakrishnan, S; Pillai, M R C; Marykutty, K C
Effect of nitrogen nutrition on quality and storage behaviour of pineapple
(Kerala Agricultural University, 1980) Balakrishnan, S; Aravindakshan, M; Marykutty, K C; Valsamma Mathew
In studies on the effect of different levels of nitrogen nutrition on fruit quality and storage behaviour of pineapple, it was found that at harvest, the maximum reducing sugars, brix to acid ratio and sugar to acid ratio were registered at lowest level of nitrogen at 8g/plant As the level of nitrogen was increased to 12g/plant, total sugars increased, but there was a decrease as the level was further increased to 16g/plant. Acidity and TSS showed an increasing trend with increasing levels of nitrogen. During cold storage, higher levels of nitrogen recorded a decrease in reducing sugars. Maximum increase in acidity was recorded by the lowest level of nitrogen under both storage conditions. Increase in nitrogen level upto 12g per plant was found to have a favourable influence on total sugars in both open and cold storage conditions. Better retention of brix to acid ratio in cold storage and to reducing sugars in open storage was observed when the nitrogen dose was increased to 16g/plant.
Effect of potassium and irrigation on yield and water use efficiency in ashgourd
(Kerala Agricultural University, 1993) Muralidhara Menon, G; Marykutty, K C
Effect of potassium on chlorophyll and proline content of the leaves in ashgourd under different moisture levels
(Kerala Agricultural University, 1993) Muralidhara Menon, G; Marykutty, K C
Effect of split application of N and K on banana var nendran
(Kerala Agricultural University, 1979) Nambiar, I P S; Marykutty, K C; Balakrishnan, S; Pillai, M R C; Nayar, M N C
Effect of top dressing with urea at flower initiation time in 'zanzibar' variety of banana
(Kerala Agricultural University, 1979) Gopimony, R; Marykutty, K C; Kannan, K
Efficiency of K and irrigation on nutrient availability and uptake of nutrients in ash gourd
(Kerala Agricultural University, 1993) Muralidhara Menon, G; Marykutty, K C
A field experiment was designed to assess the effect of K on available nutrient status of the soil and uptake of nutrients by plants at different irrigation levels. The available nutrient contents of N, K and exchangeable Ca were found to be increased by the application of K while available P and exchangeable Mg content remained unaffected. Available P was more when IW/CPE ratio was 0.50. The uptake of N was significantly influenced by the application of K only at the full vegetative phase. Pand K uptakes were significant both at the full vegetative phase and harvesting stage. The uptake of Ca and Mg decreased as the level of K increased except at the full vegetative phase.
Etiology and control of seedling blight of cocoa
(Department of Plant Pathology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1995) Edwin Prem, E; Marykutty, K C
The seedling blight is a serious nursery disease of cocoa. The fungus causing seedling blight of cocoa was isolated and Koch’s postulates were established. On carrot agar medium, the fungus produced sparse, striate growth. The mature sporangia were near spherical to ovoid with round base, papillate, caduceus with an average L/B ratio of 1.74. Sporangia were borne terminally in a sympodial fashion. It had a short and thick stalk with an average length of 4.1µm. Based on these characters, the pathogen causing seedling blight of cocoa was identified as Phytophthora palmivora (Butler) Butler. For maximum growth of the fungus, oat meal and corn agar were the best. But, for maximum sporangial production, carrot agar and oat meal agar were good. Among the liquid media, oat meal and corn meal broth supported good growth of the fungus. The disease produced various type of symptoms on leaves and stem of seedlings and budded plants like water soaking, leaf blight, defoliation, black discolouration, cotyledonary infection, wilting and die back. Stem of budded plants were more prone to infection than that of seedlings. The seedlings blight pathogen infected plants such as Piper nigrum L., Cocos nucifera L., Hevea brasiliensis L., Bougainvillea sp. And Colocasia esculenta L. but did not infect Areca catechu L., Piper betle L. and Piper longum L. on artificial inoculation. The youngest seedlings of age group less than 18 days after germination were more vulnerable to infection. Similarly, the youngest budded plants of age group 45 days after budding showed maximum infection. Among the 62 cocoa types screened for host resistance the cocoa types GIV-36.6 (local), GVI-23 (P9 x P4), GIV-4.6 (local) and S-45.5 (local) showed minimum percentage of mortality. Among the different fungicides/antibiotics screened in in vitro, Fytolan, Captaf, Bordeaux mixture, Akomin and Ridomil at all concentrations and 0.3 per cent Foltaf and, Chloramphenicol and Terramycin each at 400 and 500 ppm completely inhibited the growth of the fungus. Indofil-M.45, Aureofungin and Amoxycillin exhibited less inhibitory effect. Foltaf, Fytolan and Akomin each at 0.3 per cent concentration showed better effect in cheching the lesion development on detached cocoa leaves. Result of the different in vivo control experiment indicated that, the fungicides like Akomin, Foltaf, Fytolan and Bordeaux mixture had promising effect in checking the incidence and severity of the disease.
Exchangeable aluminium as an index of the lime requirement of the laterite soils of Kerala
(Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Horticulture, 1997) Muhamed Sakeer, N M; Marykutty, K C
An investigation was taken up to assess the lime requirement in terms of exchangeable aluminium, to correlate pH and lime requirement values with exchangeable aluminium content of the soil and to study the effect of liming on crop performance with special reference of exchangeable aluminium content of the soil. The study was carried out at College of Horticulture, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, Thrissur during the period from 1993-95. The investigation consisted of three phases. A laboratory study with fifty surface soil samples from the rice growing tracts representing the laterite zone of Kerala viz., Malappuram, Palakkad and Thrissur districts revealed considerable amount of reserve acidity because of the positive difference between pH(H2O) and pH(KC1). pH showed significant positive correlation with base saturation while it showed negative correlation with the acidity contributing factors. The exchangeable aluminium content of the soils ranged from 0.25 to 2.54 cmol( +) kg -1. The soils in the pH range of 4.8 to 5.8 were predominant with exchangeable aluminium. Exchangeable aluminium obtained a higher r value of 0.897** with exchange acidity than exchangeable hydrogen (r = 0.57**). Moreover exchangeable aluminium contributed 69 to 86 per cent towards the exchangeable acidity. This high contribution should be taken into account in timing and nutrient management of the soils. The pH dependent acidity contribution towards total acidity was 23-63 per cent, 34-76 per cent and 20-76 per cent respectively for Malappuram, Palakkad and Thrissur soils. Among the cations studied exchangeable calcium dominated in all soils followed by K, Mg and Na. Maximum base saturation value and organic carbon contents were observed in Malappuram soils. Lime requirement based on exchangeable aluminium recorded the lowest quantity of CaCO3 when compared to LR's based on Shoemaker et al. and total acidity. The soils had higher concentra- tions of total iron and aluminium contents. A pot culture experiment was conducted to study the effect of graded levels of lime application using the rice variety Triveni in three soils. Lime application increased the pH, exchangeable calcium, magnesium and sodium, available phosphorus, CEC, ECEC and base saturation of the soils while decreased exchangeable aluminium, hydrogen and potassium content of the soils. Different forms of acidities were maximum at the pre-planting stage but decreased as the crop matured. Lime application significantly increased the straw and yield characters of rice over control in all the three soils. Maximum yield was obtained with calcium at the rate of 0.5 and 1.0 times of exchangeable aluminium equivalent in soil (S1) having low exchangeable aluminium and those having medium (S2) and high (S3) contents respectively. The per cent composition of N, P, Ca and Mg increased significantly in the straw while that of iron and aluminium decreased with lime application. N, P, K and Ca content were observed maximum at tillering stage. The N, K, Ca and Mg content in the grain increased while that of P, Fe and Al decreased with graded levels of lime application. The total uptake of N, P, K, Ca and Mg by both straw and grain was found to increase while that of Fe and Al were found to decrease with increased levels of lime. Incubation study exhibited similar results and trend as in the pot culture experiment. The soil characters such as pH, available phosphorus, exchangeable Ca, Mg, Na, CEC, ECEC and base saturation were increased whereas exchangeable aluminium, iron, hydrogen and potassium, and different forms of acidities were decreased by the application of graded levels of lime. The soils kept under the submerged conditions exhibited good results than those kept at field capacity level. The lime requirement of soils calculated based on various methods revealed that the LR based on exchangeable aluminium content of soils required very less quantity of CaCO3. The exchangeable aluminium contributed 69 to 86 per cent towards exchangeable acidity. This high contribution of exchangeable aluminium should be taken into account in liming and nutrient management of the laterite soils. If we adopt this method for lime requirement determination it will be more efficient and economical. Thus the results of the present study point out the advantages in adopting the exchangeable aluminium as an index of the lime requirement of the laterite soils of Kerala.
Fertility investigation and taxonomy of the soils of banana research station Kannara
(Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1995) Sreerekha, L; Marykutty, K C
Taxonomy and fertility investigation of the soils of Banana Research Station, Kannara, was the main intension of the present investigation. Representative surface soil samples were collected from each block of this research station, namely A, B, C, D, E and F for investigating the fertility status of soil. Profiles considered for the study were P1 and P2 in A block, P3, P4 and P5 in B block, P6 and P7 in C block, P8 in D block, P9 in E block, and P10 in F block. Profiles were excavated to study the characteristics of each of the horizons in the soil profile and classify the soils of each block. After the collection and preparation of soil samples, laboratory analyses were carried out as per the standard methods. With an increase in depth, profile samples showed an increasing intensity of colour of the horizons and increase in clay content whereas a decreasing trend was noticed for apparent density, absolute density, water holding capacity and pore space. Soils were acidic and low electrical conductivity values were observed. Organic carbon and total nitrogen decreased with depth. Total P2o5 content was lower than total K2o. Low reserves of total nutrients were observed for other elements also. Sesquioxide content was very high and intermediate layers showed maximum accumulation. In surface as well as profile samples the predominant cation was calcium followed by magnesium. A general increase of CEC and ECEC with depth was observed. Oxalate extractable iron content was lower than the dithionite extractable iron. Distribution of total iron was irregular. Surface soil showed wide variation in texture. Clay content showed significant positive correlation with water holding capacity whereas silt and organic carbon failed to impart any influence upon the same. Phosphorus fixing capacity was high for all the samples. DTPA extractable micronutrients were more than the adequate amount. Based on the soil test values fertilizers were recommended for various blocks. Nitrogeneous fertilizers can be reduced by 5 to 10 per cent. Applications of phosphatic fertilizers can be reduced by 75 per cent in most of the blocks. Potassium fertilizers can also be reduced considerably. Nutrient indices were calculated and a soil fertility map was drawn. Classification of pedons of various blocks according to soil taxonomy has been attempted and found that P1 of A block belongs to the order Entisol. P2 (A block), P3, P4 and P5 (B block), P6 and P7 (C block), P9 (E block) and P10 (F block) belong to the order Alfisol. P8 of D block belongs to the order Inceptisol. By this investigation, the classification of soil profiles were done and the fertility status of each block was found out. In accordance with the soil test values, fertilizer recommendations were made. Thus, by reducing the inputs, cost of cultivation could be reduced considerably.
Influence of desuckering and retention of varying number of suckers on plant growth and yield of robusta banana
(Kerala Agricultural University, 1979) Nambiar, P S; Balakrishnan, S; Marykutty, K C
Intra group correlations in three genomic groups of bananas
(Kerala Agricultural University, 1980) Gopimony, R; Marykutty, K C
Residual effect of liming on soil characters
(Kerala Agricultural University, 1987) Marykutty, K C; Aiyer, R S
A pot culture experiment was conducted to study the residual effect of liming under continuous cropping to rice for 4 seasons with four different soils on soil characters. Soil reacidification rate was found to increase with the increasing levels of lime showing thereby that high rate of liming could cause reacidification problems defeating the very purpose of liming.
Screening of rice varieties for tolerance to acidity
(Kerala Agricultural University, 1986) Marykutty, K C; Aiyer, R S
A pot culture experiment wss conducted to screen out the most tolerant variety that could be grown in a highly acid soil from among 39 varieties cultivated in Kerala. The varieties were screened for tolerance to acidity using the method of D2 statistics, selecting the important characters and thus three clusters were formed. They were characterised as tolerant, medium tolerant and least tolerant varieties to acidity. Among the tolerant varieties, Jyothi variety ranked first.
Yield response to lime and residual effect of liming - A statistical evaluation
(Kerala Agricultural University, 1992) Marykutty, K C; Aiyer, R S
A pot culture experiment was conducted to study the residual effect of liming under continuous cropping with different soils on crop yield especially in terms of residual response patterns. The residual effect of liming is very much in evidence in the second succeeding crop for kole and kari soils and up to third crop for pokkali soils. In case of lateritic alluvium, application of lime at 0.25 LR has resulted in maximum yield. Response function for the first crop and residual response function for the second crop could not be worked out. This indicates that maximum yield might have been attained at a level of liming below 0.25 LR dose.