Browsing by Author "Savithri, K E"

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Agrotechniques for mitigating water stress in vegetable cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.)
(Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture,Vellanikkara, 2016) Syama S Menon; Savithri, K E
Water stress is one of the major abiotic stresses that limits crop production. Vegetable cowpea is an important non season bound crop in Kerala and water scarcity limits its area under cultivation during summer season. Research reports indicate that water stress in crop plants can be mitigated by foliar spray of plant growth regulators, seed hardening mulching, antitranspirant sprays and nutrient management. However, research works in this line in Kerala are meagre. Hence a study was taken up to develop a package for mitigating water stress in summer vegetable cowpea by assessing the effect of above practices on the growth and yield of the crop. Field experiments were conducted during the summer season (Jan-Mar) of 2014 and 2015, using the variety Kashi Kanchan. There were three experiments during the first year to evaluate the effect of (1) exogenous application of plant growth regulators (PGRs), (2) seed priming, antitranspirant sprays and soil moisture conservation practices, and (3) nutrient management practices for mitigating water stress in vegetable cowpea. The best treatments from each of the first year experiments were selected and their effects independently and in combinations were evaluated in an experiment during the second year of study. The first experiment was done to evaluate the effect of various plant growth regulators in mitigating water stress in vegetable cowpea. Among the treatments, farmers practice (irrigation at 2 days interval) recorded the highest growth and yield and absolute control the lowest. Among plant growth regulators, salicylic acid 2 per cent and NAA 40 pm recorded higher growth and yield by way of their favourable influence on mitigating water stress. The second experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of seed priming, mulching, and antitranspirant sprays in mitigating water stress. The results showed that, among seed primers, , seed hardening with 0.5 per cent NaCI recorded better growth and yield of cowpea compared to that with 2 per cent CaCl2 and per cent KH2PO4 due to the comparatively better efficacy of sodium chloride in equipping the cowpea plants for drought tolerance. Mulching with polythene and plant residues were equally effective in recording better plant growth and yield due to their favourable influence on soil moisture availability. Among anitranspirants, foliar spray of lime water as 2 per cent Ca(OH)2 during the water stress imposed period resulted in better growth and yield of cowpea plants due to increased albedo. The third experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of various nutrient management practices in mitigating water stress. The results revealed that among nutrient managements practices, foliar spray of 2 per cent DAP+I Per Cent KCL, 0.5 per cent ZnSO4 and seed treatment with PGPR mix I+ rhizobium were better in attaining higher growth and yield under water stress. In the second year, the best treatment from each of the first year experiments were selected and their independent and combinations were evaluated. In general, plant growth was higher higher in all mulched treatments, either alone or in combinations, NaCL+PRM+ (PGPR mix 1+rhhizobium)+ Zinc sulphate recorded the highest growth yield income ,net profit (Rs.2,03,389/-) and B:C ratio ( 4.1) which was even higher than farmers practice. Plant residue mulching alone also recorded higher yield and B:C ratio than farmers practice which showed the significant influence of mulching in mitigating water stress. Among the independent treatment, foliar spray of either Zinc sulphate or salicylic acid was found better compared to others in terms of growth and yield of vegetable cowpea.
Agrotechnological practices for quality crude drug production in nilappana(curculigo orchiodes gaertn)
(Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2003) Joy, P P; Savithri, K E
Effect of biofertilizers on the growth, yield and nitrogen economy of sesame grown in summer rice fallows
(Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1995) Indu K Paul; Savithri, K E
A field experiment was conducted in the rice fallows of Agricultural Research Station, Mannuthy, during the summer season (January – April) of 1995, to find out the effectiveness of biofertilizers on the growth, yield and N economy of sesame. The experiment was laid out in randomised block design with 1.4 treatments replicated thrice. The treatments included were, the recommended dose of inorganic N,@30 kg/ha alone, inoculation of Azospirillum or Azotobacter along with 50 percent, 25 percent or no inorganic N, either with or without lime and an absolute control. Most of the growth characters, yield attributes and yield were highest in the plots applied with the recommended dose of 30 kg inorganic N/ha alone. The crop nutrient uptake and available soil nutrients were also higher in the above treatment. The better initial physical, chemical and biological conditions of the soil, along with the added inorganic N fertilizer @30 kg/ha might have contributed to a better nutrient supply from the initial growth period itself. Though, both the microbes, Azospirillum and Azotobacter showed almost similar performances regarding various parameters, a slightly better response was shown by Azospirillum in most cases. This might be due to the fact that Azospirillum is a better root colonizer than the freeliving Azotobacter, which led to better nutrient uptake and ultimately yield of the crop, compared to Azotobacter inoculated treatments. Lime application, along with the inoculation of acid tolerant strains of the microbes, had no profound influence on the parameters studied. Thus, the study revealed the necessity of the application of recommended dose of inorganic N fertilizer @30 kg/ha for sesame grown in summer rice fallows. It also showed the lesser possibility of inorganic N substitution with Azospirillum or Azotobacter inoculation in such a situation. Moreover, liming could not bring about any significant influence on the activity of acid tolerant strains of either Azospirillum on Azotobacter.
Effect of biofertilizers vs perfected chemical fertilization for sesame grown in summer rice fallow
(Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikara, 2003) Indu K, Paul; Savithri, K E
Effectiveness and crop seletivity of pre-emergence herbicides under different methods of application in puddled rice
(Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1995) Mohan Kumar, P D; Savithri, K E
A field experiment was conducted at the Agricultural Research Station, Mannuthy under the Kerala Agricultural University during the second crop season of 1992-93 to find out the effectiveness and crop selectivity of pre-emergence herbicides under different methods of application in puddled rice. Twelve treatments were com- pared with two controls (hand weeded and unweeded). The experiment was laid out in Randomised Block Design with three replications. Sedges and broadleaved weeds dominated the weed flora. Among the sedges, Schoenoplectus lateriflorus, Cyperus iria, C. difformis and Fimbristylis miliacea were the prominent species, and the broadleaved weeds included Mono- choria vaginalis, Marsilia quadrifoliata, Sphenochlea zeylanica and Nymphaea nouchali. The broad leaved weeds were effectively controlled by pretilachlor + safener, oxyflourfen and pendimethalin, besides butachlor and thiobencarb. All the herbicides except pendimethalin and anilofos gave good control of sedges. Oxyflour- fen spray showed the highest weed control efficiency among the herbicides tested. Sand mixed broadcasting of herbicides was found to be lesser toxic than spray in all the herbicides except pretilachlor + safener, where the safener present protected the crop completely from phytotoxicity. Crop growth characteristics were highly influenced by the herbicide and method of application. Pretilachlor + safener, oxyflourfen and thiobencarb were found superior. Yield attributes were relatively unaffected by the different treatments. Pretilachlor + safener spray recorded the highest yield, among herbicides. Sand mixed broadcasting of all other herbicides produced a slightly higher grain yield compared to spray. Nutrient uptake by crop was directly related to the dry matter accumula- tion. The lowest weed index value was registered by pretilachlor + safener spray. Pretilachlor + safener spray recorded the highest total returns and its sand mixed broadcast realised the highest return per rupee invested on weed control.
Efficiency of pre-emergence herbicides in transplanted rice
(Kerala Agricultural University, 1994) Savithri, K E; Chidananda Pilial, M R; Tomy, P J
Experiments conducted at the Regional Agricultural Research Station, Pattambi during die first (kharif) and second (rabi) crop seasons of 1983-84 and 1984-85 revealed that weed growth and crop-weed competition were below the threshold level in transplanted rice. However, among the different herbicides tried, application of granular formulation of butachlor (Delchlor 5G) © 1.5 kg ai ha six days after transplanting was found to be die most effective for controlling weeds in transplanted rice.
Nutritional requirement of green gram (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek
(Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1980) Savithri, K E; Madhavan Nair, K P
An experiment was conducted In the Instructional Farm, College of Agriculture, Vellayni during 1979 to study the effect of three levels in each of nitrogen (20, 30 and 40 kg/ha), phosphorus (30, 45 end 60 kg/ha) and potash (10, 20 and 50 kg/ha) on growth, yield and quality of green gram (Vlgna radiata) grown in rice fallows. The experiment was laid out as 3 partially confounded factorial experiment with two replications, confounding NPK in replication I and NPK2 in replication II Tho study revealed that nitrogen, phosphorus and potash had on influence on height and number of leaves, but not on nodulatlon. The yield contributing factors sanely number of flowers sad number of pods per plant, length of pod and number of seeds per pod ware not influenced by the treatments, Weight of seeds per plant was significantly increased by the highest level of potash and 100 seed weight by higher levels of phosphorus, while highest level of nitrogen significantly decreased tho 100 seed weight. Maximum grain yield of 538 kg/ha was obtained with the highest level of potash.Dry natter yield was also influenced by potash and bhusa yield by nitrogen.
Nutritional requirement of green gram (Vigna Radiata (L.) Wilczek) grown in rice fallows
(Kerala Agricultural University, 1981) Savithri, K E; Nair, K P M; Oommen, M; Abdul Salam, M
A field experiment to study the effect of three graded levels each of nitrogen (20, 30 and 40 kg/ha), phosphorus (30, 45 and 60 kg Pa05/ha) and potash (10, 20 and 30 kg K20/ha) on the yield and quality of green gram variety, Pusa Baisakhi grown in rice fallows of the Instructional Farm, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Trivandrum has shown that the grain yield was significantly increased by highest level of potash over the lowest level and bhusa yield by highest level of nitrogen over the lower levels. Levels of nutrients had no significant influence on grain protein content, but highest level of potash significantly increased the grain protein yield over the lowest level. In the case of protein content of bhusa, higher levels of potash showed an adverse effect whereas fodder protein yield was not significantly affected by the treatments.
Productivity of ground nut (Arachis hypogaea L.) in summer rice fallows under different frequencies of irrigation.
(Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1995) Muktha, T M; Savithri, K E
A field experiment was conducted in the rice fallows of the Agricultural Research Station, Mannuthy during the summer season (February –May) of 1994 to identify a groundnut variety suitable for summer rice fallows and to find out the effect of different irrigation frequencies on the growth and yield of the crop. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three replications. The main plot treatments were five frequencies of irrigation viz. no irrigation and irrigation at IW/CPE ratios of 0.25, 0.50 and 0.75 and 1.0. The subplot treatments were three varieties of groundnut viz. TG-3 Co-2 and VRI-3. Irrigation at closer intervals (IW/CPE ratios of 0.75 and 1.0) improved the growth characters like number of branches, leaf area index and dry matter production. Moisture stress during early growth stages delayed flowering and adversely affected nodulation. Yield attributes like number of pegs per plant, weight of pods per plant and shelling percentage were improved by higher frequencies of irrigation (IW/CPE ratios of 0.75 and 1.0). The highest pod yield (2408 kg/ha) was obtained when crop was irrigated at IW/CPE ratio of 1.0 which was on par with that at IW/CPE ratio 0.75 (2288 kg/ha). Even though irrigation did not significantly influence protein and oil content of kernels, protein yield and oil yield were influenced significantly. Among the varieties, especially during the rainfree period (upto 50 DAS) VRI-3 produced the highest number of branches, drymatter and number of nodules per plant. Leaf area index was highest for Co-2. However TG-3 showed an early flowering, higher yield attributes and thereby highest pod yield. The variety VRI-3 was on par with TG-3 in pod yield. TG-3 gave the highest protein yield whereas VRI-3 gave highest oil content and oil yield. The results indicated that among the different frequencies of irrigation IW/CPE ratio of 0.75 was the optimum as it gave higher pod yield with lesser quantity of water. Among the varieties TG-3 was the best followed by VRI-3 in terms of economic yield.
Response of mahsuri to major nutrients and schedule of nitrogen application
(Kerala Agricultural University, 1992) Savithri, K E; Janardhanan Pillai, S; Chidananda Pillai, M R; Tomy, P J
Experiments conducted at the Regional Agricultural Research Station, Pattambi during the three consecutive wet seasons from 1982-83 to 1984-85 revealed that under transplanted condition, a fertilizer dose of 50:25:25 kg NPK/ha is sufficient for Mahsuri. The best schedule of application of nitrogen is 50% as basal, 25% at 40 DAT and the remaining 25% at 60 DAT.
Weed management in sole and intercropped coconut gardens
(Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1990) Savithri, K E; Sreedharan, C
Field experiments were conducted during the period from 1986 to 1989 at the Agricultural Research Station, Mannuthy, Thrissur to develop weed management practices for sole and intercropped coconut gardens. There were three fields trials. In trial - I the treatments comprised of three manual methods (digging once, digging twice and sickle weeding), six chemical methods (paraquat three sprays, glyphosate 0.4 kg ha-1, glyphosate 0.8 kg ha-1 dalapan followed by paraquat, paraquat + diuron and paraquat followed by glyphosate), two combinations of manual and chemical methods (2,4-D + diuron immediately after sickle weeding and glyphosate followed by digging) were compared with weed free and unweeded control in underplanted coconut garden. In trial - II, the treatments comprised of two manual methods (spade weeding and sickle weeding ), one cultural method (growing cowpea as an intercrop) two cultural + chemical methods (cowpea followed by paraquat or glyphosate), three pre-emergence herbicides + post-emergence herbicide (diuron followed by paraquat, oxyfluorfen followed by paraquat and atrazine followed by paraquat ) were compared with weed free and unweeded control in coconut+ banana cropping system. Unweeded control in coconut banana cropping system was compared with that in sole crop of coconut . In trial III, the treatments tried in coconut+banana cropping system were eveluated in sole crop of banana and there were thirteen treatments . All these three trials were laid out in Randomised Block Design and replicated thrice.