Browsing by Author "Sheeja K Raj"

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Eco-Friendly Weed Management in Okra (Abelmoschus Esculentus (L.) Moench)
(Department Of Agronomy College Of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2021-10-13) Seethal Rose Chacko; Sheeja K Raj
The study entitled “Eco-friendly weed management in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) was carried out during the period 2019-2021, at College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala with an objective to find out a cost -effective ecofriendly weed management practice for okra. The field experiment was conducted at Coconut Research Station, Balaramapuram, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala during Rabi 2020 (November 2020- March 2021). The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with 12 treatments replicated thrice. The treatments were combinations of two factors, first factor being seedbed preparation (S), viz., stale seedbed (S1) and normal seedbed (S2) and second factor, weed management practices (W) viz., dried banana leaf mulch @ 10 t ha-1 alone (W1), dried banana leaf mulch @10 t ha-1 fb mechanical weeding (MW) with wheel hoe weeder (WHW) at 30 DAS and 45 DAS (W2), dried banana leaf mulch @10 t ha-1 fb hand weeding (HW) at 30 and 45 DAS (W3), MW with WHW at 15, 30 and 45 DAS (W4), HW at 15, 30 and 45 DAS (W5) and weedy check (W6). The variety used for the study was Anjitha. Results of the experiment revealed that seedbed preparation had significant influence on growth parameters, physiological parameters, yield attributes and quality parameters in okra and higher values were recorded in SSB. At 15, 30 and 60 DAS, lower total density of weeds (30.44, 90.67 and 35.67 no. m-2), weed dry weight (0.139, 4.57 and 7.81 g m-2) and higher weed control efficiency (WCE) (80.20, 89.46 and 81.33%) were recorded in SSB compared to normal seedbed. The highest nutrient uptake by crop, dehydrogenase enzyme activity at 60 DAS and urease enzyme activity at 15, 30 and 60 DAS and the lowest nutrient removal by weeds at 30 and 60 DAS were recorded in SSB. Higher net income (54,520 ₹ ha-1) and B:C ratio (1.69) were recorded in SSB compared to normal seedbed (non-stale). Higher values for growth parameters viz., plant height, number of branches per plant, number of leaves per plant, dry matter production and physiological parameters such as LAI, total chlorophyll content at 60 DAS and CGR at 30-60 DAS time interval were recorded in MW with WHW at 15, 30 and 45 DAS (W4). However, the treatment W5 (HW at 15, 30 and 45 DAS) resulted in the highest total chlorophyll content at 30 DAS and W2 (dried banana leaf mulch @ 10 t ha-1 fb MW at 30 and 45 DAS) resulted in the highest CGR during 60 DAS-final harvest. Mechanical weeding with WHW at 15, 30 and 45 DAS recorded greater number of fruits per plant (38.8 no. per plant), higher fruit girth (6.36 cm), fruit length (15.20 cm), fruit weight (6.98 g), dry haulm yield per plant (63.51 g), dry haulm yield per hectare (2353 kg ha-1), fruit yield per plant (0. 270 kg) and fruit yield per hectare (4412 kg ha-1) and the lowest weed index. Quality parameters such as crude protein and ascorbic acid content was higher in treatment W2 (dried banana leaf mulch @ 10 t ha-1 fb MW at 30 and 45 DAS). The lowest total weed density at 60 DAS (26.67 no. m-2), the lowest total weed dry weight at 30 and 60 DAS (2.48 and 2.54 g m-2, respectively) and the highest WCE at 30 and 60 DAS (92.28 and 93.86 %, respectively) were recorded in MW with WHW at 15, 30 and 45 DAS (W4). The highest nutrient uptake by crop and the lowest nutrient removal by weeds was recorded in the treatment W4. The highest net income (97,804 ₹ ha-1) and B: C ratio (2.24) were recorded in W4 (MW with WHW at 15, 30 and 45 DAS). Interaction between seedbed preparation and weed management practice was significant only for plant height at 60 DAS and final harvest, DMP at 30 and 60 DAS, LAI at 60 DAS and CGR at 30-60 DAS and total weed density, weed dry weight, WCE and nutrient removal by weeds at 30 and 60 DAS. Stale seedbed fb MW with WHW resulted in the lowest total weed dry weight and the lowest nutrient removal by weeds. Considering the growth, yield, weed control efficiency, nutrient removal by weeds, nutrient uptake by crop and economics, it could be concluded that in SSB or in normal seedbed (non-stale), mechanical weeding with wheel hoe weeder at 15, 30 and 45 DAS could be adjudged as the best ecofriendly weed management practice for higher yield and net income in okra
Herbicide mixtures for weed management in direct seeded puddled rice (Oryza sativa L.)
(Department of Agronomy,College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2016) Sheeja K Raj; Elizabeth K Syriac
Integrated weed management in bush type vegetable cowpea(Vigna unguiculata subsp.unguiculata(L.) Verdcourt
(Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2020) Sinchana, J K; Sheeja K Raj
The study entitled “Integrated weed management in bush type vegetable cowpea (Vigna unguiculata subsp. unguiculata (L.) Verdcourt) was carried out during the period 2018-2020, at College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala with an objective to find out a cost-effective weed management practice for bush type vegetable cowpea. The field experiment was undertaken at Coconut Research Station, Balaramapuram, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala during Kharif 2019 (May to August 2019). The experiment was conducted in RBD with two factors, first factor being seed bed preparation (S), viz., stale seed bed (S1) and normal seed bed (S2) and second factor, weed management practices (W) viz., dried banana leaf mulch @ 10 t ha-1 alone (W1), dried banana leaf mulch @ 10 t ha-1 fb post emergence imazethapyr @ 50 g ha-1 at 25 DAS (W2), dried banana leaf mulch @ 10 t ha-1 fb post emergence quizalofop-p-ethyl @ 50 g ha-1 at 25 DAS (W3), post emergence imazethapyr @ 50 g ha-1 at 15 DAS (W4), pre emergence diclosulam @ 12.5 g ha-1 fb post emergence quizalofop-p-ethyl @ 50 g ha-1 at 25 DAS (W5), pre emergence diclosulam @ 12.5 g ha-1 fb hand weeding at 25 DAS (W6), hand weeding at 20 and 40 DAS (W7) and weedy check (W8). The variety used for the study was Bhagyalakshmy. Results of the experiment revealed that stale seed bed (SSB) had significant effect on crop growth parameters, physiological parameters, total chlorophyll content and nodule parameters at different stages of crop and it recorded the lowest total weed density and nutrient removal by weeds, the highest WCE, total plant uptake, yield, net income, harvest index, B: C ratio and the lowest weed index. Weed management practices significantly influenced the growth, physiological, and nodule parameters at different stages of crop growth. The treatments W2, W3 and W1 recorded the lowest total weed density and the treatments W6, W7 and W3 recorded the highest weed control efficiency at 15, 30 and 45 DAS, respectively. The N, P and K uptake by weeds at 30 and 45 DAS was recorded the lowest in W7 and W3, respectively. Results 200 on dehydrogenase and urease enzyme activity revealed that the tested herbicides, viz., diclosulam, imazethapyr and quizalofop-p-ethyl did not have any negative impact. The treatment w3 recorded the highest N and P uptake by crop, pods per plant (44.00), pod length (15.23 cm), pod girth (2.20 cm), pod weight (2.56 g), green pod yield per plant (110.73 g) and per hectare (7589.0 kg), net income (₹63,121.0), B:C ratio (1.71) and the lowest weed index (1.68 per cent). The treatment w6 recorded the highest K uptake by crop and protein content the highest in W1. The interaction effect was significant for leaves per plant at 60 DAS, root fresh weight, root volume and LAI at 20 and 60 DAS, chlorophyll content at 40 and 60 DAS and nodule parameters at 50 per cent flowering stage. The lowest total weed density was registered in s1w5, s1w3 and s1w2 at 15, 30 and 45 DAS, respectively. The treatment s1w6 recorded the highest weed control efficiency at 15 and 45 DAS and s1w7 at 30 DAS. The weed index was recorded the lowest in s1w3. At 30 and 45 DAS, s2w8 recorded the highest N, P and K uptake by weeds. The number of green pods per plant (44.7), pod weight (2.68, g), pod yield per plant (119.66 g) and per hectare (7731.7 kg), harvest index (0.279), net income (₹ 64,775.0) and B: C ratio (1.72) were found the highest in s1w3. The protein content was recorded the highest in s1w1. Hence, considering the WCE, yield, weed index, HI, net income and B:C ratio, stale seed bed + dried banana leaf mulch 10 t ha-1 fb application of quizalofop-p-ethyl @ 50 g ha-1 at 25 DAS (s1w3) could be adjudged as the cost effective and the best weed management practice for higher green pod yield and net return in bush type vegetable cowpea.
Nutrient scheduling for upland rice intercropped in coconut
(Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2018) Suman, B M; Sheeja K Raj
Seed invigouration for yield enhancement in grain cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. walp)
(Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2019) Anju B Raj; Sheeja K Raj
Weed management in finger millet (Eleusine coracana L. Gaertn) intercropped in coconut
(Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture ,Vellayani, 2023-01-09) Sneha S R.; Sheeja K Raj
The study entitled “Weed management in finger millet (Eleusine coracana L. Gaertn) intercropped in coconut” was undertaken during 2020-2022 at College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, with the objective to assess the cost-effective weed management practice for finger millet raised as intercrop in coconut. Field experiment was laid out at Coconut Research Station, Balaramapuram in Randomized Block Design with 12 treatments and three replications during Summer 2021 (6/01/2022 to 4/04/2022). The treatments adopted for the study were T1: PE pretilachlor + bensulfuron methyl 495 g ha-1 0 DAS fb WHW at 25 DAS, T2: PE pretilachlor + bensulfuron methyl 495 g.ha-1 0 DAS fb bispyribac.sodium 20 gpha-1 at 25 DAS, T3: PE pretilachlor + bensulfuron methyl 495 gpha-1 0 DAS fb penoxsulam+ cyhalofop butyl 125 g ha-1 at 25 DAS, T4: PE pyrazosulfuron ethyl 20 g ha-1 0 DAS fb WHW at 25 DAS, T5: PE pyrazosulfuron ethyl 20 gpha-1 0 DAS fb bispyribac sodium 20 g ha-1 at 25 DAS, T6: PE pyrazosulfuron ethyl 20 g ha-1 0 DAS fb penoxsulam+ cyhalofop butyl 125 g ha-1 at 25 DAS, T7: PE oxyfluorfen 50 g ha-1 0 DAS fb WHW at 25 DAS, T8: PE oxyfluorfen 50 gpha-1 0 DAS fb bispyribac.sodium 20 gpha-1 at 25.DAS, T9: PE oxyfluorfen 50 g ha-1 0 DAS fb penoxsulam+ cyhalofop-butyl 125 g ha-1 at 25 DAS, T10: WHW at 15 and 30 DAS, T11: HW at 15 and 30 DAS andT12: weedy check. The finger millet variety used for the study was PPR 2700 (Vakula). Weed management had significant effect on growth attributes, viz., plant height at.20, 40 and 60pDAS, leaves per plant at 20 DAS, tillers m-2 and DMP at 20, 40 and 60 DAS and at harvest. The treatment T11 resulted in taller plants at 20, 40 and 60 DAS. However, T4 noted the highest number of tillers m-2 at all stages of observation and the highest number of leaves per plant at 20 DAS. The treatment T10 recorded the highest DMP at 20 and 60 DAS, T6 at 40 DAS and at harvest T4 recorded the highest DMP per plant (27.50 g per plant). Weed management had significant impact on chlorophyll content at 20 and 60pDAS. At 20 DAS, T10 recorded the highest chlorophyll content and at 60 DAS, 156 T6 resulted in the highest chlorophyll content. Relative growth rate and CGR was found significant only at 20-40 DAS and 40-60 DAS. At 20-40 DAS, the highest RGR and CGR were observed in T6. However, at time interval 40-60 DAS, treatment T4 resulted in the highest RGR and T10 recorded the highest CGR. Leaf area index was found to be the highest in T10 at 20 DAS and T4 at 40 DAS. Yield parameters viz., productive tillers m-2 , fingers per ear head and ear head weight were significantly influenced by weed management and the treatment T4 resulted in higher productive tillers m-2 (93.3), fingers per ear head (13.3) and ear head weight (12.8 g). Weed management profoundly influenced the grain and straw yield and harvest index. The highest grain yield (2072 kg ha-1 ), straw yield (3670 kg ha-1 ) and harvest index (0.380) were noted in T4. Weed index was also found to be the lowest in T4 (0.0). The quality attributes, viz., protein and starch content of grain were significantly improved by weed management. The highest protein content was observed in T4 and the starch content in T6. Available N, P, K and organic carbon status of post-harvest soil and total N, P and K uptake by crop were markedly influenced by weed management. The highest soil available N was observed in T1, available P in T3 and T4 recorded the highest soil available K and organic carbon. The highest total N and K uptake were observed in T4 (65.87 and 67.03 kg ha-1 , respectively) and P uptake in T10 (25.22 kg ha-1 ). Weed management had significant impact on nutrient uptake by weeds. The treatment T8 at 20.DAS (0.43 kg ha-1 ), T11 at 40.DAS (0.23 kg ha-1 ) and T10 at 60 DAS (8.72kg ha-1 ) resulted in the lowest N uptake by weeds. The lowest P uptake by weeds was observed in T6 and T9 at 20.DAS (0.01 kg ha-1 ), T11 at 40.DAS (0.04 kg ha-1 ) and T4 at 60 DAS (0.02 kg ha-1 ). The treatment T9 recorded the lowest K uptake at 20 DAS, T11 at 40 DAS and T4 at 60 DAS. The highest dehydrogenase enzyme activity was reported in T4 at 20 DAS and T6 at 40 DAS. However, T6 resulted in the highest urease enzyme activity at 20 DAS and T4 at 40 DAS. 157 In comparison to weedy check, significant reduction in total weed density and weed dry weight were observed in weed management treatments. The lowest total weed density at 20, 40 and 60 DAS were observed in T7 (12.0 no.m-2 ), T1 (12.0 no. m-2 ) and T2 (8.0 no.m-2 ), respectively. However, the lowest weed dry weight was observed in T8 at 20 DAS (1.04 g m-2 ), T11 at 40 DAS (1.41 g m-2 ) and T4 at 60 DAS (32.40 g m-2 ). Weed control efficiency also followed the same trend of weed dry weight. Gross return ((Rs. 82, 888ha-1 ), net return (Rs. 40, 974 ha-1 ) and BCR (1.98) were found to be the highest in T4. Considering the dry matter production per plant, total chlorophyll content, CGR, RGR, total weed dry weight, WCE, yield attributes, grain yield, gross return, net return and BCR, the treatment T4 (PE pyrazosulfuron ethyl 20 g ha-1 on the day of sowing fb wheel hoe weeding at 25 DAS) could be recommended as the best weed management practice for higher yield and net return from finger millet intercropped in coconut garden.
Yield maximization in bush type vegetable cowpea (Vigna unguiculata subsp. unguiculata (L.) Verdcourt)
(Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2021-10-13) Krishnasree, R K; Sheeja K Raj; Sheeja K Raj
The study entitled “Yield maximization in bush type vegetable cowpea (Vigna unguiculata subsp. unguiculata (L.) Verdcourt) was undertaken during 2019-2021 at College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, with the objective to find out the effect of foliar nutrition of water-soluble fertilizers, Zn and B in maximizing the yield of bush vegetable cowpea. Field experiment was carried out at Coconut Research Station, Balaramapuram in Randomized Block Design with 13 treatments and three replications during Rabi 2020 (12/11/ 2020 to 31/01/2021). The treatments were T 1 (POP recommendation [20-30-10 kg N, P and K ha -1 -half N, full P and K as basal and half N at 20 DAS]), T 2 (T 1 + foliar application of 19:19:19 (0.5 %) at 45 DAS), T 3 (T 2 + foliar application of 19:19:19 (0.5 %) at 60 DAS), T 4 (T 2 + foliar application of ZnSO 4 (0.05 %)at 45 DAS), T 5 (T 2 + foliar application of solubor (0.025 %) at 45 DAS), T 6 (T 2 + foliar application of ZnSO 4 (0.05 %) and solubor (0.025 %) at 45 DAS), T 7 (T 6 + foliar application of 19:19:19 (0.5 %) at 60 DAS), T 8 (T 1 + foliar application of KNO 3 (0.5 %) at 45 DAS), T 9 (T 8 + foliar application of KNO 3 (0.5 %) at 60 DAS), T 10 (T 8 + foliar application of ZnSO 4 (0.05 %) at 45 DAS), T 11 (T 8 + foliar application of solubor (0.025 %) at 45 DAS), T 12 (T 8 + foliar application of ZnSO 4 (0.05 %) and solubor (0.025 %) at 45 DAS) and T 13 (T 12 + foliar application of KNO 3 (0.5 %) at 60 DAS). The variety used for the study was Bhagyalakshmy. Foliar application of macro and micro nutrients had no significant effect on plant height. However, significant effect was observed on leaves per plant, branches per plant, and dry matter production per plant at 60 DAS and final harvest. Significantly higher number of branches at 60 DAS and final harvest was recorded in treatment T 12 , the highest number of leaves per plant at 60 DAS in T 5 and T 8 at final harvest. The highest dry matter production was observed in T 2 at 60 DAS (27.45 g per plant) and T 5 at final harvest (39.51 g per plant).112 Nodule parameters were significantly influenced by foliar nutrition of macro and micro nutrients. The highest number of nodules per plant (23.7 no.) and fresh nodule weight per plant (1.35 g) were observed in T 5 and effective nodules per plant in T 2 (16.7 no.). Number of pods per plant, individual pod weight, green pod yield, dry haulm yield and harvest index were significantly influenced by foliar application of macro and micro nutrients. However, other yield parameters viz., days to 50 per cent flowering, pod length and girth did not show any significant variations. Higher number of pods per plant (30.88) was recorded in T 5 and the highest pod weight (4.16 g) in T 2 . The highest green pod yield (106.54 g per plant and 7410 kg ha -1 ) was recorded in T 5 and it was statistically on par with the treatments T 2 , T 6 and T 11 . The highest dry haulm yield (24.61 g per plant and 5470 kg ha -1 ) was observed in T 13 and the highest harvest index in T 7 (0.419). Significantly higher total chlorophyll content was observed in T 6 at 60 DAS and in T 5 at final harvest. At 60 DAS, the highest LAI was recorded inT 8 and T 9 at final harvest. The highest LAD was recorded in T 8 at both time intervals, 30-60 DAS and 60 DAS-final harvest. Crop growth rate was the highest in T 2 at 30-60 DAS and T 5 at 60 DAS-final harvest. However, the highest RGR was recorded in T 6 at 30-60 DAS and T 5 at 60 DAS-final harvest. Foliar application of macro and micro nutrients showed significantly higher crude protein content in pods. The highest crude protein content of pod was noted in the treatment T 7 . Results on uptake of nutrients by crop showed that foliar application of nutrients significantly enhanced the total uptake of N, P, K, Zn and B by crop. The highest total uptake of N (337.17 kg ha -1 ), P (96.24 kg ha -1 ) and K (137.68 kg ha -1 ) were recorded in the treatment T 5 , however the highest Zn uptake was noted in T 9 and B uptake in T 11 .113 Available N, P, K, Zn and B status of post- harvest soil was significantly influenced by foliar application of macro and micro nutrients. However, organic carbon did not have any significant variation. The highest available N was observed in treatment T 13 , available P in T 1 , T 3 and T 9 , available K in T 2 , available Zn in T 11 and available B in T 2 . The highest net income (₹ 82651 ha -1 ) and B:C ratio (2.26) were recorded in the treatment T 5 (POP + foliar application of 19:19:19 (0.5 %) and solubor (0.025 %) at 45 DAS) and it was followed by T 2 (POP + foliar application of 0.5 per cent 19:19:19 at 45 DAS). A yield enhancement of 55 percentage and 150 percentage increase in net income were observed in T 5 over T 1 . Considering the dry matter production, yield attributes, yield, total chlorophyll content, CGR, RGR, net income and B:C ratio the treatment T 5 (POP + foliar application of 19:19:19 (0.5 %) and solubor (0.025 %) at 45 DAS) could be adjudged as the best treatment for yield maximization in bush type vegetable cowpea.