Browsing by Author "Nishan, M A"

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    Agronomic effectiveness of rice husk and coconut shell biochar -based fertilizers in aerobic rice (Oryza Sativa L.)
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture ,Vellayani, 2024-02-19) Parvathy Sasikumar; Nishan, M A
    The present study entitled “Agronomic effectiveness of rice husk and coconut shell biochar-based fertilizers in aerobic rice (Oryza sativa L.)” was undertaken at the Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 2021-2023. The objectives of the study were to assess the nutrient release pattern of rice husk and coconut shell biochar-based fertilizers and to evaluate its effects on growth, yield and nutrient use efficiency of aerobic rice. The study was undertaken in three parts. The first part of the study was conducted at the Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani during October 2022 to March 2023. Rice husk biochar based fertilizer (BCF 1) was prepared by mixing rice husk biochar (40 per cent), vermicompost (17 per cent), urea (17 per cent), NPK (12-32-16) mix (16 per cent), MOP (3 per cent), ayar (1 per cent), bentonite clay (2 per cent) and humic acid (4 per cent) and coconut shell biochar-based fertilizer (BCF 2) was prepared by mixing coconut shell biochar (40 per cent), vermicompost (18 per cent), urea (16 per cent), NPK (12 32-16) mix (16 per cent), MOP (3 per cent), ayar (1 per cent), bentonite clay (2 per cent) and humic acid (4 per cent) on percentage weight basis followed by pelletization. The initial N, P, and K content of BCF varied from 8.63 per cent to 8.82 per cent, 4.49 per cent to 4.51 per cent and 4.60 per cent to 4.72 per cent, respectively. The storage studies revealed that the N, P and K content of BCF was reduced by 6.83 per cent to 8.04 per cent, 0.89 per cent to 1.33 per cent and 0.65 per cent to 1.05 per cent, respectively at six months after storage. Pelleted BCF retained its shape and no fungal growth was observed during six months of storage. In second part, incubation studies were conducted at the Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani during October 2022 to January 2023 to study the nutrient release pattern of BCF. The experiment was laid out in completely randomized design with four treatments and four replications. The treatments were T1: 100 per cent recommended dose of nutrients (RDN) as BCF 1, T2: 100 per cent RDN as BCF 2, T3: 100 per cent RDN as KAU POP, T4: Control (No application). BCF 1 and BCF 2 were applied on N equivalent basis for supplying recommended dose of 70:35:35 kg NPK ha-1 for aerobic rice. The results of the study showed that conventional fertilizer treatment (T3) exhibited significantly higher nutrient release, with 96.99 per cent of applied nitrogen, 98 per cent of phosphorus, and 92.65 per cent of potassium released at 20 days after incubation, in contrast to the biochar-based fertilizer treatments (T1 and T2) which showed slower release rates, ranging from 58.27-58.39 per cent for nitrogen, 67.92-69.81 per cent for phosphorus, and 44.99-45.19 per cent for potassium. At 40 DAI, 60 DAI, 80 DAI and 100 DAI, the NPK release rate was higher in biochar-based fertilizers compared to conventional fertilizers. The crop response study (part III) was conducted at farmer’s field located at Kakkamoola, Thiruvananthapuram during January 2023 to May 2023 to evaluate the effect of BCF on growth, yield and nutrient use efficiency of aerobic rice. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with eight treatments and three replications with the rice variety Prathyasa. The treatments were T1: 100 per cent RDN as BCF 1 (basal); T2: 100 per cent RDN as BCF 2 (basal); T3: 75 per cent RDN as BCF 1 (basal); T4: 75 per cent RDN as BCF 2 (basal); T5: 50 per cent RDN as BCF 1 (basal); T6: 50 per cent RDN as BCF 2 (basal); T7: 100 per cent RDN as KAU POP; T8: control (no fertilizers). BCFs were applied on N equivalent basis for supplying recommended dose of 70:35:35 kg NPK ha-1 for aerobic rice. Basal dose of FYM @ 5 t ha-1 was applied to all plots except T8. Lime was applied to T7 @ 600 kg ha-1. Basal application of 100 per cent RDN as BCF 1 (T1) resulted in taller plants at active tillering (62.01 cm) and panicle initiation stages (89.70 cm) and were comparable with T2. The treatment, T1 also recorded significantly taller plants at flowering (108.72 cm) and harvest stages (109.34 cm). The highest number of tillers per square metre, leaf area and leaf area index were observed in T1 at active tillering (753.33, 691.63 cm2, 4.61 respectively), panicle initiation (763.33, 1014.50 cm2, 6.76 respectively) and flowering stages (710.66, 1179.27 cm2, 7.86 respectively) followed by T2. The treatment, T1 also resulted in higher flag leaf area per hill (143.62 cm2) and dry matter production (10311 kg ha-1) and was comparable with T2. All the growth attributes recorded in T3, T4 and T7 were statistically comparable. The number of productive tillers per square metre was higher in T1 (545.33) and was comparable with T2. The treatment, T1 produced longer panicle (24.38 cm), more number of grains per panicle (161.27), higher panicle weight (3.48 g), grain yield (5859 kg ha-1), straw yield (7083 kg ha-1) and harvest index (0.453) and was statistically similar to T2, T3, T4 and T7. Basal application of 100 per cent RDN as BCF 1 (T1) resulted in higher total chlorophyll content at active tillering (1.89 mg g-1 of fresh weight) and flowering stages (2.11 mg g-1 of fresh weight) and was comparable with T2. The treatment, T1 showed higher nitrogen uptake (153.59 kg ha-1) and was comparable with T2 and T3. The phosphorus uptake was higher in T1 (26.92 kg ha-1) and was comparable with T2. The treatment, T2 exhibited higher potassium uptake (130.23 kg ha-1) and was on par with T1. Basal application of 75 per cent RDN as BCF 1 (T3) showed higher agronomic efficiency and partial factor productivity for N (58.41 kg kg-1, 105.68 kg kg-1 respectively), P (116.81 kg kg-1, 211.37 kg kg-1 respectively) and K (116.81 kg kg-1, 211.37 kg kg-1 respectively) and was comparable with T4. The treatment, T7 showed higher physiological efficiency for N (40.45 kg kg-1) and was comparable with T1, T2, T3 and T4. The physiological efficiency of P (231.07 kg kg-1) and K (49.35 kg kg-1) were higher in T3 and were on par with T1, T2, T4 and T7. The treatment, T3 exhibited higher apparent recovery efficiency for N (1.55 kg kg-1) and was comparable with T1, T2 and T4. The apparent recovery efficiency for P (0.50 kg kg-1) and K (2.36 kg kg-1) was higher in T3 and was comparable with T4. The soil available N was higher in T1 (338.69 kg ha-1) and was on par with T2, T3 and T4. The soil available P was higher in T1 (72.91 kg ha-1) and was on par with T2. The soil available K was higher in T2 (291.24 kg ha-1) and was comparable with T1, T3 and T4. The treatment, T2 exhibited higher dehydrogenase activity at 30 DAS (25.97 g TPF g-1 soil d-1), 50 DAS (23.16 g TPF g-1 soil d-1) and 80 DAS (18.55 g TPF g-1 soil d-1) and was comparable with T1. The highest actual gain of N (75.27 kg ha-1) and P (31.30 kg ha-1) was observed in T1 and the highest actual balance of K was observed in T2 (30.10 kg ha-1). Basal application of 100 per cent RDN as BCF 1 (T1) resulted in higher gross income (₹ 192394 ha-1), net income (₹ 51669 ha-1) and BC ratio (1.37) and was statistically comparable with T2, T3 and T4. Thus from the study, it could be concluded that conventional fertilizers demonstrated higher nutrient release, releasing 96.99 per cent of applied nitrogen, 98 per cent of phosphorus, and 92.65 per cent of potassium at 20 days after incubation, while biochar-based fertilizer treatments displayed slower release rates, ranging from 58.27-58.39 per cent for nitrogen, 67.92-69.81 per cent for phosphorus, and 44.99-45.19 per cent for potassium. Basal application of 100 per cent and 75 per cent RDN as BCF resulted in comparable yield and profit. Thus, basal application of FYM @ 5 t ha-1 + either rice husk or coconut shell BCF @ 600 kg ha-1 (equivalent to 75 per cent recommended dose of NPK of aerobic rice (i.e. 52.5: 26.25: 26.25 kg NPK ha-1) could be recommended as the productive, profitable and more efficient nutrient schedule for cultivating aerobic rice.
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    Development and evaluation of organo-mineral fertilizer for enhancing the growth and yield of sesamum (Sesamum indicum L.)
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2025-02-11) Ganesh, S; Nishan, M A
    The study, entitled "Development and evaluation of organo-mineral fertilizer for enhancing the growth and yield of sesamum (Sesamum indicum L.)," was conducted at the Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, from 2022 to 2024. The main objectives were to standardize the nutrient sources for formulation of organo-mineral fertilizer and to assess its impact on growth, yield, and nutrient use efficiency of sesamum. The first part of the study, conducted at the Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani from October 2023 to March 2024, involved formulating two organo-mineral fertilizers (OMFs). OMF 1 composed primarily of cow dung powder, neem cake, groundnut cake, urea, rock phosphate, MOP, polyhalite, zinc sulphate, borax, humic acid, and seaweed powder, while OMF 2 was formulated with rice husk biochar as a base along with the same components as OMF 1 in varying ratios such that the final product had a NPK content of 6:3:6. The initial NPK content of OMF 1 was 6.58 per cent, 3.31 per cent and 6.55 per cent and for OMF 2 was 6.6 per cent, 3.27 per cent and 6.62 per cent respectively. A six-month storage study showed a reduction in nitrogen by 14.13 per cent, phosphorus by 2.14 per cent and potassium by 1.20 per cent in case of OMF 1 and 8.93 per cent nitrogen, 4.53 per cent phosphorus and 1.52 per cent potassium in case of OMF 2. The second part of the study was conducted at the Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani from October 2023 to January 2024 for analyzing the nutrient release patterns of OMFs using completely randomized block design with four treatments (T1-100% RDN as OMF 1, T2-100% RDN as OMF 2, T3-100% RDN as KAU POP, and T4-Control) and four replications each. At 15 days after incubation (DAI), T3 (conventional fertilizer) recorded higher nutrient release (90 per cent N, 80 per cent P, 90 per cent K), while OMF 1 released 53.18 per cent N, , 45.65 per cent P, and 40.40 per cent K and OMF 2 released 53.22 per cent N, 50 per cent P and 43.23 per cent K respectively. Though, T3 initially showed greater release, OMF 1 and OMF 2 had higher NPK release rates at 45, 60, 75, and 90 DAI. A crop response study was conducted in farmer’s field at Kakkamoola, Thiruvananthapuram, from January 2024 to April 2024, to evaluate the effect of OMFs on growth, yield, and nutrient use efficiency of sesamum. The field experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with eight treatments and three replications, using the sesamum variety Thilak. The treatments were T1: 100 per cent RDN as OMF 1, T2: 100 per cent RDN as OMF 2, T3: 75 per cent RDN as OMF 1, T4: 75 per cent RDN as OMF 1, T5: 50 per cent RDN as OMF 1, T6: 50 per cent RDN as OMF 2, T7: 100 per cent RDN as KAU POP (FYM @ 5 t ha-1, 30:15:30 kg NPK ha-1 as urea, rock phosphate and MOP), T8: control (no fertilizer application). All the treatments, except control, received FYM @ 5 t ha⁻¹, while lime @ 350 kg ha-1 was applied only in T7. Application of 100 per cent RDN as KAU POP resulted in taller plants at 30 DAS (65.71 cm), 45 DAS (111.43 cm), 60 DAS (152.03 cm) and 90 DAS (157.37 cm) and was comparable with T2 at 30 DAS and 45 DAS. At 60 DAS and 90 DAS, plant height in both T1 and T2 was comparable with T7. Application of 100 per cent RDN as KAU POP (T7) resulted in higher leaf area at 30 DAS (740.49 cm²) and 45 DAS (1414.5 cm²), which was comparable to T2 and T1. At 60 DAS, T7 resulted in higher leaf area (2170.66 cm²) which was statistically on a par with T2 . The treatment, T7 also recorded higher dry matter production (3232.63 kg ha⁻¹), capsules per plant (77.93 nos.), seed yield (606.93 kg ha⁻¹) and haulm yield (2456.27 kg ha⁻¹), and was comparable with T2 (100% RDN as OMF 2). The harvest index was statistically similar for T2, T4, and T7 (0.198). Oil content in T1 and T2 were similar (44.63 %), which was significantly different from other treatments. At 30 DAS, T2 recorded higher chlorophyll content (2.02 mg g⁻¹ of fresh weight) and was comparable with T1 and T7. At 60 DAS, T7 recorded higher chlorophyll content (1.68 mg g⁻¹ of fresh weight) and was comparable with T1, T2, and T4. The treatment, T2 recorded higher nitrogen (85.04 kg ha⁻¹), phosphorus (16.08 kg ha⁻¹), and potassium (43.80 kg ha⁻¹) uptake and was on a par with T7. The treatment, T6 resulted in higher partial factor productivity (PFPNPK) which was comparable with T5. Agronomic efficiency (AENPK) was higher in T7 and was comparable with T2 and T4. The treatment, T4 achieved higher apparent recovery efficiency of nitrogen (AREN) and was comparable with T2 and T7. The treatment T2 recorded higher AREP and AREK, which was comparable with T4 and T7. Soil organic carbon was higher in T2 (1.14 per cent) and was comparable with T1 and T7. Available N and P were also higher in T2 (328.11 and 72.05 kg ha⁻¹) and was comparable with T1. Available K was significantly higher in T2 (287.63 kg ha⁻¹). The treatment, T2 resulted in higher actual gain of N (52.15 kg ha⁻¹), P (22.55 kg ha⁻¹), and K (35.43 kg ha⁻¹). The treatment, T7 recorded higher gross income (₹ 106213 ha-1) which was comparable with T2. The net income was higher in T2 (₹ 45123 ha-1) which was comparable with T1, T4 and T7. The treatment, T1 recorded higher BC ratio (1.85) which was on a par with T2 and T4. From the present study, it could be concluded that basal application of Rice husk biochar-based OMF prepared by mixing rice husk biochar (15 %), neem cake (6 %), groundnut cake (6 %), urea (16 %), rock phosphate (23 %), MOP (11 %), polyhalite (15%), zinc sulphate (2 %), borax (2 %), humic acid (2 %) and seaweed powder (2 %) on percentage weight basis increased oil yield, enhanced soil health and provided higher profitability compared to KAU POP. Hence, basal application of FYM @ 5 t ha-1 + Rice husk biochar-based OMF @ 500 kg ha-1 could be recommended as the productive, profitable and nutrient use efficient organo-mineral fertilizer option for sesamum.
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    Management of water cabbage (Limnochairs flava (L.) buchenau) in wetland rice ecosystem
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2012) Nishan, M A; Sansamma George
    An investigaton entitled ‘Management of water cabbage (Limnocharis flava (L.) Buchenau) in wetland rice ecosystem’ was carried out in the wetland of the Instructional farm attached to the College of Agriculture, Vellayani from February 2011 to January 2012. The major objectives of the experiment were, to study the biology of water cabbage (Limnocharis flava (L.) Buchenau), to evaluate certain new generation herbicides for managing it and to assess the potential of the weed biomass as an organic source. For the study of weed biology (Part I), a part of the weed infested field was selected for the experiment and prepared thoroughly as in the case of rice cultivation and the sample plants were observed from their emergence onwards. The ontogeny of the weed, its vegetative, and reproductive characters and also their allelopathic influence on germination and early growth of rice were studied. The field experiment on weed management (Part II) was laid out in Randomised Block design with eight treatments replicated thrice. The treatments included azimsulfuron @20 and 30 g a.i. ha-1, bispyribac sodium @20 and 30 g a.i. ha-1), (metsulfuron methyl+ chlorimuron ethyl) @ 4 and 6 g a.i. ha-1 and 2, 4-D @ 1 kg a.i. ha-1 along with a weedy check as control. The potential for utilization of the weed biomass through vermicomposting (Part III) was also assessed during the investigation. The data on weed biology indicated that water cabbage had very efficient reproductive mechanism which explains the invasive nature of the weed. A single plant was found capable of producing more than one lakh seeds and about 90 per cent of them germinated under favourable conditions. The plants exhibited pseudovivipary, through production of ramets which gave an additional advantage for the plant to spread. Germination studies revealed that maximum weed seed germination occurred under direct sunlight in crowded condition in the wetland soil condition. Direct sunlight was found necessary for the seed germination. Allelopathic studies showed that the fresh leachate of water cabbage was found to exert a positive effect on the vigour index of rice seedlings while substantial reductions in seedling growth were observed when treated with decayed plant leachate. The results of the field study on weed control efficiency of the different herbicides indicated that 2, 4-D @1 kg a.i. ha-1 was most effective for controlling water cabbage. Among the new generation herbicides (metsulfuron methyl + chlorimuron ethyl) @ 6 g a.i. ha-1 and bispyribac sodium @ 30 g a.i. ha-1 were equally effective for controlling water cabbage. The results of soil microbial studies indicated that the soil treated with the herbicides had much higher microbial population than the untreated plots except in the case of bispyribac sodium. The cost of managing the weed by using new generation herbicide was found considerably lower than that by manual weeding. The chemical analysis of the vermicompost prepared from the weed biomass recorded favourable nutrient composition. The micronutrients and heavy metals were within the safe limits except for the copper content. More over, the luxuriantly growing weed biomass was promising for bioremediation, to remove pollutants from aquatic ecosystems.
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    Nutrient management for organic rice based cropping system
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2016) Nishan, M A; Girijadevi, L