Browsing by Author "Ramesh, V"

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Effect of housing systems on the reproductive performance of sows and gilts
(Department of Livestock Production Management, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1998) Ramesh, V; Saseendran, P C
An experiment was conducted to findout the affect of housing systems on the reproductive performance of sows and gilts. Three types of housing systems namely, conventional house with wallowing tank (control T1), conventional house with sprinklers (T2) and range system (T3) were put to test. Eighteen sows and eighteen gilts were reared under each system. A significantly lower (P<0.01) temperature was observed in sprinkler system (33.00C) when compared to conventional (35.00C) and range (34.35°C). There was no significant difference in relative humidity between the groups. Significant difference (P<0.01) between treatment groups Tl with T2 and T3 in age at puberty and mating in gilts which were 305.47 ± 9.51, 270.36 ± 8.75 and 276.22 ± 5.65 respectively. The gilts under the treatment group T2 and T3 had reached puberty and were mated earlier than Tl group. The weight of gilts at the time of breeding was significantly (P<0.05) lower in treatment group T3 (75.39 ± 3.19) when compared to T2(97.63 ± 3.09) and Tl (93.11 ± 3.73). But T3 group gilts had compensatory weight gain during pregnancy and difference between treatment groups in weight of gilts at one week after farrowing and at weaning were non significant. The weight of sows at the time of breeding, one week after farrowing and at weaning were significantly lower (P<0.05) in treatment group T2 when compared to T3 and Tl Significantly higher (P<0.0l) percentage of oestrus occurrence, breeding success and intensity of oestrus were observed in T2 and T3 group than Tl group. The gestation length and post weaning oestrus period were found to be non-significantly different between the groups. The litter size at birth and weaning were 9.06 ± 0.26 and 6.87 ± 0.22 respectively in gilts and 9.38 ± 0.33 and 6.92 ± 0.05 respectively in sows reared under range system (Tl) which were highly significant (P<0.0l) than the litter size at birth and weaning obtained for gilts (5.8S ± 0.40 and 4.00 ± 0.69 respectively) and sows (7.09 ± 0.68 and 4.63 ± 0.70 respectively) reared under conventional system (T1). Between T2 .and T3 there was no significant difference. The litter weight at birth and weaning in T3 groups of 13.89 ± 0.43 kg and 62.72 ± 1.99 kg respectively in gilts and 14.35 ± 0.52 kg and 63.84 ± 4.04 kg respectively in sows were found to be highly significant than Tl group and non significantly higher than T2 group. The cost of installing sprinkler in conventional pen and providing range in place of conventional pen were estimated to be Rs.29/m2 and Rs.125/m2 respectively. In the present study the reproductive performance of pigs maintained under sprinkler and range system was found to be better than the pigs maintained under conventional system. But the range system may not be practical and economically feasible always when compared to sprinkler system.
Foliar diagnosis and yield prediction in sugarcane in relation to N,P and K
(Department of Soil science and Agricultural chemistry, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1994) Ramesh, V; Sumam Susan Varghese
A field trial to study the relationship of sugarcane yield and nutrient status through foliar diagnosis was carried out at Sugarcane Research Station, Tiruvalla during 1992, with the hybrid variety COTI 88322 (Madhuri). The experiment was laid out in a 33 factorial randomised block design consisting of three levels each of nitrogen (0, 165.0 and 330.0 kg N/ha), phosphorus (0, 82.5 and 165.0 kg P2o5/ha) and potassium (0, 82.5 and 165.0 kg K2o/ha). In order to standardise the leaf position, the leaf that just began to unroll (spindle like) was taken as the first leaf and the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth leaves were counted from first leaf below. At the end of germination phase only third, fourth and fifth leaves were collected as no sixth leaf was found at this stage and from the second stage onwards the sixth leaf was included in the study. For standardising the best season suited for the collection of leaf and to predict yield, samples were collected at six different stages of plant growth. The stages of sampling were : (1) germination phase (2) Tillering phase (3) At the beginning of grand growth phase (4) After grand growth phase but before flower formation (5) After flower formation but before maturity phase and (6) At the time of harvest. Attempts were made to find out the direct and indirect contributions of N, P and K in different leaves with and without sheath on yield and to predict yield based on the step-wise regression analysis. Attempt was also made to fine out the influence of leaf nutrient content at different leaf position collected at various stage of sampling on the nutrient uptake of sugarcane. Studies were also made to find out the influence of different levels of N, P and K on cane juice quality and nutrient uptake of sugarcane at harvest stage. Observations revealed that the N content in the leaf with sheath varied from 0.35 to 1.41 per cent, while it was from 0.53 to 1.58 per cent for leaf without sheath. The N content of leaf with sheath showed a gradual decline with age of crop while the N content in the leaf without sheath increased from first to third stage and there after decreased. The differences in the levels of N applied reflected in N content of leaves at the second and third stage of sampling. The P content in the leaf with sheath varied from 0.056 to 0.166 per cent and the leaf without sheath varied from 0.088 to 0.161 per cent. Phosphorus distribution at different leaves in all the stages were rather inconsistent in both the cases. The response to the different levels of P applied was more pronounced in the second stage of sampling. Potassium per cent in leaf with sheath varies from 0.33 to 1.16 per cent while it was from 0.39 to 1.04 per cent for leaves without sheath. The content of potassium in the leaves without sheath was low in all the stages compared to leaves with sheath. The decrease in K content with age was not conspicuous. The effect of different levels of K was clearly reflected in the fourth stage of sampling. Results also showed that the extent of role played by the NPK content of leaves with sheath on yield at the first, third and fifth stages of sampling was low while the NPK content of leaves without sheath at the first and fifth stage of sampling had a little influence on final yield of sugarcane. The nitrogen content in the fourth leaf with sheath and third and fourth leaves without sheath collected at the second stage of sampling established a significant influence on the yield of sugarcane. The P and K contents of the fifth leaf with sheath collected at the second stage of sampling established a significant effect on yield of sugarcane. Observations revealed that among the stages of sampling, the second stage is recommended for N, P and K, Regarding the leaf positions, the third, fourth and fifth leaves without sheath is ideal for diagnostic purpose in relation to N, while the above leaves with sheath is ideal for diagnostic purpose in relation to K. For P, the fifth leaf with sheath is found to be the best. Stepwise regression model fitted with yield and percentage of nutrients in different leaf positions at various stages of sampling gave a maximum prediction of 73 per cent (R2 = 0.7297) when the nutrient content of the third, fourth and fifth leaves collected at the second stage of sampling was considered. The nitrogen content at the third and sixth leaves without sheath collected at the second and fifth stages of sampling had a significant correlation with the nutrient uptake of sugarcane at harvest stage. The different treatments of NPK failed to play a significant influence on the brix, pol and CCS per cent of cane juice.