Browsing by Author "Saifudeen, N"

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Behaviour of potassium in selected soil series of Thiruvananthapuram district
(Department of soil science and agricultural chemistry, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1993) George Joseph; Saifudeen, N
An experiment was conducted at the Department of Soil Science and agricultural Chemistry, College of Agriculture, Vellayani with 50 surface soil samples each from Trivandrum, Kazhakuttom and Kottor series to assess the behaviour of soil potassium. Water soluble, available, exchangeable, nitric acid soluble and non – exchangeable potassium in these soils were determined. Sample observations on total potassium from soils with low, medium and high available potassium were also undertaken. In addition, the physical and chemical properties of all the samples were studied through observations on soil separates, pH, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, cation exchange capacity, base saturation and exchangeable forms of calcium, magnesium and sodium. Neutral ammonium acetate (1.0 N) extractable potassium (available form) was found to be positively influenced by water soluble, exchangeable and nitric acid extractable forms of potassium. The organic carbon content positively influenced the available potassium where the soil organic carbon was low viz., Trivandrum and Kazhakuttom series. Cation exchange capacity also had a positive influence on available potassium. Percentage base saturation influenced available potassium positively, except in forest soils. In Trivandrum series 71 percent of nitric acid potassium was available to crops; while the corresponding values were 46 and 51 percent in Kazhakuttom and Kotoor series respectively. The total potassium content was also relatively high in Trivandrum series. The relationship between various forms of soil potassium and also between potassium fractions and other soil components expressed varying trends in soils falling under different fertility classes. This aspect needs further investigation. Quantification of the contribution of different fractions of soil potassium towards crop uptake is suggested as a future line of work. Basic studies on the ionic equilibria in soil solutions which affect potassium exchange and availability in these soils also warrants attention.
Foliar diagnosis, yield and quality of turmeric(Curcuma longa L.) in relation to nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium
(Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry,College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1981) Saifudeen, N; Jose, A I
A field experiment was carried out at the Instructional Farm of the College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during 1979-80 to study the effect of graded doses of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium on the growth, nutrient uptake, yield and quality of turmeric and also to develop suitable foliar diagnosis techniques in relation to these nutrient elements. The treatments comprised of three levels each of nitrogen (0, 20 and 40 kg N/ha), phosphorus (0, 20 and 40 kg P2O5/ha) and potassium (0, 40 and 80 kg K2O/ha). The experiment was laid out in a 33 factorial experiment in randomized block design, confounding the effect of interaction NP2K2 totally. Results revealed that among the morphological characters studied, the number of tillers per clump responded to the increasing levels of nitrogen whereas number of leaves per tiller decreased with increasing levels of nitrogen. The height of tiller was not influenced by any of the fertilizer treatment. The fresh and dry weights of rhizome and total dry matter yield remained unaffected by the levels of nitrogen and phosphorus. The total dry matter production was influenced by the levels of potassium and NK interaction. Maximum production of dry matter took place at K1 level which was superior to those at K0 and K2 levels. Levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium and their interaction failed to influence the yield of turmeric at harvest. The uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium was not found influenced by the levels of nitrogen and phosphorus employed. But levels of potassium significantly influenced the uptake of these nutrient elements, the K1 level being superior to K2 and K0. There was a continuous increase in the number of tillers per clump, number of leaves per tiller and height of tiller with advancing period of growth. A period of pronounced and active vegetative growth was observed during the period between 120th and 150th day. Fresh and dry weights of rhizome increased with increasing age of the crop and attained maximum at harvest. Uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium steadily progressed with advancing age of the crop. Maximum uptake of nitrogen and phosphorus took place during the period from 120th day to 150th day whereas the uptake of potassium was maximum during 180th day to 210th day after planting. The contents of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium were highest in the top most leaf and continuously decreased with increasing number of the leaf position when the leaves are numbered from top to bottom of the tiller. In consideration of the stability of the nutrient level with leaf positions and correlation with uptake of nutrients, the third leaf appeared to be the best suited for foliar diagnosis of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium status of the crop. The period between 90th to 120th day after planting was recommended as optimum period for the detection and amendment of the nutrient status of the crop. The graded doses of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium and their interaction failed to influence the percentage of oleoresin content of turmeric.
Geographic information system for micro-level decision making in the agriculture sector of central midlands of Kerala
(Department of Soil Science and Agriculture Chemistry, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2005) Anup Balakrishnan; Saifudeen, N
Management requirements of overaged rice seedlings
(Kerala Agricultural University, 1981) Nair, R R; Kuriakose, T T; Saifudeen, N
Micronutrient status of soil and leaf of coconut palms growing on reclaimed marshy soil
(Kerala Agricultural University, 1985) Jose, A I; Venugopal, V K; Sushama, P K; Gopi, C S; Saifudeen, N
Nutrient uptake efficiency of cassava (Manihot Esculenta Crantz) as influenced by vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizal (Vam) association and rock phosphate application
(Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1991) Narayanan, S; Saifudeen, N
Pottassium dynamics in Neyyattinkara soil series under coconut cultivation
(Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1993) Sreelatha, A K; Saifudeen, N
Soil properties and produce quality of cardamom(Elettaria cardamomum Maton) under organic farming
(Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2004) Arun, G; Saifudeen, N
An investigation was conducted at the Upputhara panchayath of Peermede taluk, in Idukki district of Kerala with the objective to compare the soil properties, crop nutrient concentrations and quality of cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum Maton) under organic and conventional farming.' Nine certified organic farms, that follow IMO and Skal International certification standards and eight adjacent conventional cardamom farms following recommendations of Spices Board were selected for investigation. Fifty samples each of soil and cardamom leaves were drawn from both organic and conventional farms. Cured cardamom samples were collected from each farm under study. A proforma was developed in accordance with the standards fixed by IFOAM for documenting farming practices of the study area Biometric parameters and yield attributes of cardamom plants were observed directly and yield data for the organic and conventional cardamom farms were collected from farm records during the survey. The orgaruc farms selected for the study did not follow strict package of practices and there were variations among individual farms, but within the purview of certification procedures. Conventional and organic farming practices of the study area differed mainly on fertilization policy, plant protection strategy, weed control and land management. Soils of the organic cardamom farms were found to have better aeration than conventional farms, evident from the significantly lower bulk density of soils of the organic farrns. Another significant effect of organic agriculture in cardamom was the improvement of soil electrochemical properties. The rich organic soils of the study area resulted in insignificant difference in organic carbon and organic matter content of the soils of the two farming systems. The ranges of major nutrients in soils were medium to high and hence the difference between organic and conventional cardamom farms with respect to major nutrients was also not consistent. Microbes were proliferating in the organic farms resulting in better decomposition of organic matter with concomitant solubility of major nutrients in the soil. But dehydrogenase enzyme activity of the soil didn't differ significantly. Conventional farming with chemical inputs enhanced morphological make up of cardamom plants. Leaf length, leaf breadth, plant height and number of tillers per clump were significantly low in organic cardamom plants. A reverse trend was seen in the case of petiole length. Panicle length, number of panicles per clump, number of racemes per panicle and number of capsules per raceme were significantly lower in organic farms contributing to lower yields, which of course are expected to improve as farming practices stabilize in due course. Since the morphological make up of the cardamom plants in the organic farms was relatively smaller, the minerals taken up were not diluted resulting in higher concentrations of major nutrients in organically managed plants. The effect of high levels of Ca in the exchange complex is also reflected in low uptake of Fe and Mn by organic cardamom plants. Size of fresh cardamom capsules, colour, and litre weight were higher in the organically produced cardamom samples. However, the number of seeds per capsule was lower in organic cardamom. Both oleoresin and volatile oil contents were found significantly superior in the organic to that of conventional cardamom.
Soil resource inventory of the main campus Kerala Agricultural University Vellanikkara: Part II (WEST)
(Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2000) Sajnanth, K; Saifudeen, N