Browsing by Author "Muraleedharan Nair, V"

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Biomass productivity and nutrient accumulation in sesbania rostrata inoculated with rhizobium
(Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1989) Murali, S; Muraleedharan Nair, V
With a view to study the biomass productivity and nutrient accumulation of Sesbania rostrata, a field experiment was initiated at college of Agriculture, Vellayani during summer of 1988-’89. The investigation was carried out as two separate experiments. The objective of Experiment I was to assess the biomass productivity and nutrient accumulation of Sesbania rostrata in relation to other green manures, viz. Sesbania aculeata and Crotolaria juncea. The second experiment was intended to determine the effect of Rhizobium inoculation, Liming and phosphorus application on the biomass productivity of Sesbania rostrata. The experiment (s) were laid out in randomized block design with three replications. The soil of the experimental site(s) was sandy clay loam, low in available nitrogen and phosphorus and medium in available potassium. An abstract of the results is given below. Optimum time of harvest of the green manures during the third crop season in rice fallows was at flowering stage(50 DAS), since all the parameters investigated showed a maximum value at this period. Among the green manures tried, Crotolaria juncea proved to be superior in terms of green matter yield, dry matter yield and nutrient up take followed by Sesbania aculeata. At final harvest (50DAS) Crotolaria juncea plant, yielded 14.98 t/ha of biomass, 5.36t/ha of dry matter and yielded 103.78kg/ha, nitrogen. The performance of Sesbania rostrata was not at all satisfactory under the agro-climatic conditions of Trivandrum during the summer season. The present study indicated the superiority of Crotolaria juncea as a green manure under Trivandrum conditions during the summer, as compared with the other two green manures tried. Highest level of lime application (500kg/ha) tried in the experiment together with inoculation positively influenced the growth parameters, nutrient uptaken , soil content of nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium and Rhizobium population . Net returns and cost-benefit ratio also showed higher values for the said treatments. Though phosphorus application at 30kg/ha positively influenced the said parameters, its effect was negligible and greatly nullified by the cost of fertilizer which resulted in a lower net profit and cost-benefit ration. Thus, it is revealed from the present study that phosphorus application is not absolutely necessary for growth of Sesbania rostrata under the agro-climatic conditions of Trivandrum district.
Effect of different phosphatic fertilizers and efficiency of their methods of application on the growth and yield of cowpea
(Kerala Agricultural University, 1981) Pillai, M R C; Muraleedharan Nair, V; Sukumari, P; Mohandas, T C
Effect of foliar spray of urea and diammonium phosphate on the growth and yield of cowpea
(Kerala Agricultural University, 1980) Pillai, M R C; Muraleedharan Nair, V; Sukumar, P; Mohandas, T C
Fertilizer management trail for the rice variety Mashuri during Mundakan season
(Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1984) Ajith Kumar, R; Muraleedharan Nair, V
Integrated nutrient management for rice based cropping systems of Onattukara tract
(Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1998) Shalini Pillai, P; Muraleedharan Nair, V
An investigation was carried out at the Rice Research Station, Kayamkulam to identify the most suitable rice based cropping system for the Onattukkara tract and to evolve a suitable ecologically and economically viable integrated nutrient management practice for the system. The experiment was laid out in a 4x6 factorial strip plot design and was carried for two consecutive years extending from April, 1994 to May 1996. The treatments consisted of four cropping systems (rice-rice-sesamum, rice-rice-groundnut, rice-rice-cowpea and rice-rice-bhindi) and six nutrient management levels (N1 farmers' practice, N2 - Package of practices recommendations, N3 three-fourth recommended N as chemical + one-fourth as FYM, N4 - three-fourth recommended N as chemical + one-fourth as FYM + Azospirillum, N5 - three-fourth recommended N as chemical + one-eighth as FYM + one-eighth as vermicompost and N6 - three fourth recommended N as chemical + one - eighth as FYM + one - eighth as vermicompost + Azospirillum). During the third crop season the treatments N2 to N6 was package of practices recommendations (for the respective crops) while N1 was farmers' practice itself. Among the different nutrient management levels tested, the treatment wherein one-fourth recommended N was substituted with FYM and vermicompost along with Azospirillum recorded the maximum grain yield for first crop rice and second crop rice (irrespective of cropping system). The same treatment also supported a better straw yield by maintaining a favourable grain:straw ratio. In ricc-rice-'sesamum, the production efficiency was highp.st when one-fourth recommended nitrogen was supplied through farmyard manure and vermicompost along with Azospirillum. The BCR was maximum when the same treatment was applied without Azospirillum. In rice-rice-groundnut, rice- rice cowpea and rice-rice-bhindi, the same trend followed. Rice-rice-bhindi cropping system recorded the maximum production efficiency followed by rice-rice-groundnut during both the years, and rice-rice-sesamum recorded the minimum value. The overall mean returns was maximum with the cropping system,rice- rice-groundnut. It was followed closely by the rice-rice-bhindi cropping system. While rice-rice-cowpea recorded the meaning of economic returns during the first year, rice- rice sesamum recorded the same during the second year. Studies on the physico-chemical properties of the soil showed that the cropping system, rice-rice-sesamum resulted in a slight increase in bulk density, water holding capacity and water stable aggregates. The organic carbon, total nitrogen and available phosphorus content of the soil increased, while the soil pH, available nitrogen and available potassium contents decreased. The cropping system, rice-rice- groundnut resulted in an increase in bulk density, water holding capacity, water stable aggregates, organic carbon, soil pH, total nitrogen and available phosphorus and a decrease in the available nitrogen and available potassium contents. While there was an increase in the water holding capacity, water stable aggregates, organic carbon, total nitrogen, available nitrogen and available phosphorus there was a slight decrease in bulk density and soil pH in the cropping system, rice-rice- cowpea. The rice-rice-bhindi cropping system resulted in a decrease in the bulk density and soil pH and available potassium and an increase in the water holding capacity, water stable aggregates, organic carbon, total nitrogen, available nitrogen and available phosphorus. The balance sheet of nitrogen showed•a positive balance in the cropping systems rice-rice-groundnut and rice- rice-cowpea and a negative balance in the other two systems. All the cropping systems tested resulted in a negative balance for available phosphorus and a positive balance for available potassium. The cropping system, rice-rice-groundnut was observed to be the most efficient one. followed by rice-rice-bhindi based on the productive efficiency, benefit cost ratio and soil sustainability. The marginal benefit cost ratio for the different nutrient management practices showed that the treatment comprising three fourth recommended dose of N as chemical + one-eighth as FYM + one-eighth as vermicompost (for first and second crop rice) and package of practices 1ecommendations for groundnut (third crop) was the most economic. However, for the rice-rice-bhindi cropping system, the package of practices recommendations was observed to be more economical.
Integrated weed management for rice based cropping system of Onattukara tract
(Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2000) Rajan, S; Muraleedharan Nair, V
Field experiments were conducted at Rice Research Station, Kayamkulam from April 1996 to May 1998 to study the effect of integrated weed management practices for rice-rice-sesamum cropping system of Onattukara tract. The experiment was laid out in randomised block design with twelve treatments during the first crop season and in split plot randomised block design with twelve treatments and twelve residual effects during second crop season and with twenty four residual effects during the third crop season. Rice varieties Bhagya and Dhanya and sesamum variety Thilak were used for the study during the first, second and third crop seasons respectively. Results of the study revealed that grasses, broad leaved weeds and sedges competed with the crop plants in the rice-rice-sesamum cropping system. The herbicide treatments significantly reduced the monocot, dicot and total weed population in the cropping system. Pendimethalin pre-emergence application alone or integrated with hand weeding/2,4-D post emergence significantly reduced the weed growth during the first crop season whereas thiobencarb pre-emergence + hand weeding reduced the weed growth in the second crop of rice. The weed count and dry matter accumulation by weeds in the sesamum crop during the third crop season was significantly reduced by the carry over effect of herbicide 2 treatments applied both to first and second crop rice compared to the carry over effect of herbicide treatments applied to first crop rice alone. The herbicide treatments significantly influenced the growth and yield attributing characters .of the first and second crop of rice. The residual effects of previous weed control treatments on the growth and yield of sesamum was not significant. Pendimethalin pre-emergence + hand weeding or its integration with 2,4-D post emergence influenced the growth characters of first crop of rice, thiobencarb pre-emergence + hand weeding found to exert considerable influence on the growth and yield of second crop of rice. Weedy check recorded the lowest yield and under weed free situation the crop plants had registered maximum growth and yield. The yield loss due to weed indicated by the weed indices was maximum under weedy check and minimum for pendimethalin pre- emergence + hand weeding and thiobencarb pre-emergence + hand weeding applied to first and second crop of rice in rice-rice-sesamum cropping system. The weed management practices and their carry over effects had significant influence on the uptake of nutrients by the crop and weeds during the first, second and third crop seasons. Unweeded check exploited the available nutrients and water resulting in better weed growth and dry matter accumulation through out the cropping system. The soil nutrient status was also affected by the weed management practices studied. The N, P, K status of soil was high for weedy check 3 compared to herbicide treatments and weed free treatments owing to poor crop utilization of the nutrients. The herbicide treatments applied both to the first and second crop of rice and their carry over• effects on third crop of sesamum had no significant effect on the population of soil organisms. Economic analysis revealed that herbicide treatments were remunerative compared to weedy check and farmers practice in the first and second crop seasons. The residual effects of weed management practices had not influenced the economics of sesamum crop during third crop season. Bioassay studies revealed no phytotoxic concentration of herbicide residues in the soil after the rice-rice-sesamurn cropping sequence.
Nitrogen management for grain cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) in summer rice fallows
(Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1985) Sheela, P; Muraleedharan Nair, V
A field experiment was conducted at the College of Agriculture, Vellayani during the summer season of 1983-84 to study the response of two varieties of cowpea to different nitrogen management conditions. Various combinations of 5,10,20 or 30 kg N/ha basal, 0,5 or 10 kg N/ha top dressing as foliar spray at flowering, immediately after fertilization of early flowers and mid pod-fill stage as major treatments and two varieties (Kanakamony and Krishnamony) as minor treatments were tried in a split plot design with three replications. The study revealed the favourable influence of higher amounts of nitrogen on growth characters lika plant height, leaf number, number of branches per plant and number of nodules at flowering. Yield components such as number of pods per penduncle, pods per plant, seeds per plant and percentage of podset increased significantly by foliar application of nitrogen at different stages of the reproductive phase. The highest grain yield of 476 kg/ha was obtained from plants receiving 20 kg N/ha basal plus 10 kg N/ha applied to foliage at mid pod-fill stage. The number of seeds per pod and 100 seed weight were not influenced by the Various nitrogen levels tried. Harvest index and protein content of grain were enhanced by application of nitrogen as basal plus foliar sprays. The nitrogen content in plant parts were increased with increasing amounts of nitrogen. Foliar application of nitrogen at flowering or mid pod-fill stage increased the leaf nitrogen concentration The total nitrogen content available P2O5 and available K2O contents of soil influenced by the treatments. The higher level of nitrogen invariably led to higher values of total nitrogen in soil, available and available K2O after the crop harvest. The greatest profit of Rs 1661.85 was obtained from plants receiving 20 kg N/ha basal plus 10 kg N/ha as foliar spray at mid pod-fill stage (T12) The study indicated that application of 20 kg N/ha basal when supplemented v/ith 10 kg N/ha as foliar spray at mid pod-fill stage of the crop could give higher grain yields and profits.
Nutrient removal by rice crop and weeds
(Kerala Agricultural University, 1987) Lakshmi, S; Nair, K P M; Raghavan Pillai, G; Muraleedharan Nair, V
Nutritional studies in sweet potato
(Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1987) Bhuvanandran, D; Muraleedharan Nair, V
An investigation was conducted in the upland soils of Banana nursery, Peringammala to study the comparative performance of four sweet potato varieties under different levels and times of nitrogen and potassium application. The treatments consisted of three levels of nitrogen (50, 75 and 100 kg N/ha) and three levels of potassium (50,75 and 100kg K2O/ha) at two times of application. Four varieties (Cross-5, H-2743, H-4021 and H-4126) were studied in the experiment. The experiment was laid out in a split plot cum confounded design with two replications
Potash nutrition of tapioca (Manihot esculenta Crantz.)
(Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1982) Muraleedharan Nair, V; Sadanandan, N
An investigation was undertaken at the College of Agriculture, Vellayani and Rice Research Station, Kayamkulam for two years during 1977-79 to study the performance of tapioca (Var. Sree Sahya) under two different agroclimatic conditions. The treatments consisted of three levels of nitrogen (50, 125 and 200 kg N/ha) and three levels of potassium (50,125 and 200 kg K2O/ha) at three times of application. The experiment was laid out in a 3 partially confounded factorial design with two replications.
Resource management for intercropping white yam (diocorea rotundata poir) in coconut garden
(Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture,vellayani, 2001) Suja, G; Muraleedharan Nair, V
Sesbania rostrata, a partial substitute for chemical nitrogen
(Kerala Agricultural University, 1995) Shalini Pillai, P; Muraleedharan Nair, V
Studies on the comparative performance of three short duration rice varieties (vellayani-1, ADT. 27 and PTB. 10) at varying levels of nitrogen under semi-dry conditions in Vellayani
(Kerala Agricultural University, 1973) Muraleedharan Nair, V; George, C M