Browsing by Author "Santhosh, P"

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Cost of cultivation and marketing of pepper in Cannanore district
(Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1985) Santhosh, P; Narayanan Nair, E R
The study was based mainly on the data collected from a sample of farmers and market intermediaries in Cannanore district of Kerala during the year 1982-’83. Data for estimating the cost of cultivation were generated from a random sample of 72 farmers, stratified on the basis of size holding. The costs were analysed input wise, operation wise and also based on ABC cost concepts in the aggregate level and stratum level. Capital productivity analysis was also attempted to study the economic feasibility of pepper cultivation. Pepper marketing was studied from the level of producers to the terminal market at Cochin. Price spread was worked out through the method of concurrent margins. Cost of production analysis was carried out both at the aggregate level and at the stratum levels for a period of seven years viz. from planting till the crop attained the stage of yield stabilisation. The annual cost for the seven year period at the aggregate level was found to be Rs.5,605, during the first year, Rs.2,475.06 in the second year, Rs.3,481.80 in the third year, Rs.3,514.48 in the fourth year, Rs.3,992.72 in the fifth year, Rs.4,715.12 in the sixth year and Rs.5,681.68 in the seventh year. In general the most conspicuous cost creating input was human labour while the corresponding operation was intercultural operations. Roughly one-fourth of the total cost was fixed cost and the rental value of the land was the predominant item in this. The cost of cultivation was highest in stratum II and less in stratum I. Analysis of capital productivity revealed that the investment on pepper cultivation had a pay back period of nine years two months and eleven days, benefit-cost ratio of 1.16, Net present worth of Rs. 6,646 and an internal rate of return of 17.22 per cent. The market practices, marketing costs, market structure and price spread were also studied. The marketing channels identified were: 1. Producer → Pre-harvest contractor → Wholesaler →Exporter 2. Producer → Village Merchant → Wholesaler → Exporter 3. Producer → Wholesaler → Exporter 4. Producer → Village Merchant → Commission agent → Wholesaler → Exporter 5. Producer → Commission agent → Wholesaler → Exporter 6. Producer → Village Merchant → Internal wholesaler (Consignment trade) The price spread in these six channels were worked out to be 28 per cent, 17.45 per cent, 12.65 per cent, 18.91 per cent, 14.11 per cent and 14.01 per cent respectively.
Response of two sesamum varieties (Kayamkulam-1 and Surya) to different plant densities and nitrogen levels
(Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1988) Santhosh, P; Sasidhar, V K
An experiment was conducted at College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 1987 to study the influence of 3 plant densities (30 x 15 cm, 30 x 10 cm and 30 x 5 cm) and 4 levels of nitrogen (0,20,40 and 60 kg N/ha) on the growth, yield, oil and protein contents, chemical composition and nutrient uptake pattern of two sesamum vatieties (Kayamkulam -1 and Surya). The experiment was laid out in split-plot design with the variety-spacing combinations in the main plots and nitrogen levels in the subplots. The variety Surya recorded higher values for plant height, number of leaves/plant, leaf area index, drymater production, seed yield, stover yield, number of capsules/plant, capsule length, number of seeds/capsule, 1000 seed weight, harvest index, oil and protein contents of seeds, nitrogen and phosphorus contents and nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium uptake. Plant spacing of 10 cm resulted in maximum height. Number of leaves/plant, number of branches/plant, number of capsules/plant, number of seeds/capsule and harvest index were significantly reduced under close planting. Leaf area index, drymatter production, stover yield and the uptake of nutrients increased with close planting. Surya recorded significantly higher seed yield under 10 cm spacing. No significant differences was observed between 15 and 10 cm spacings with respect to seed yield of Kayamkulam -1 Spacing 0f 5 cm reduced the protein content of seeds. Close planting decreased the nitrogen, Phosphorus and potassium contents of plants. Plant height, number of leaves/plant, number of branches/plant, leaf area index, drymatter production, number of capsules/plant, number of seeds/capsule and stover yield increased upto 60 kg N/ha. Both the varieties recorded significantly higher seed yield with 60 kg N/ha. Capsule length and 1000 seed weight were increased only up to 20 and 40 kg N/ha respectively. Nitrogen application beyond 20 kg/ha increased the harvest index up to 60 kg/ha. Applied nitrogen significantly influenced the oil and protein contents of seeds up to 40 kg/ha. The uptake of all the nutrients and the nitrogen and phosphorus contents of plant were significantly influenced by applied nitrogen.