Browsing by Author "Sreekantan Nair, G"

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Comparative study of yield performance of two important clones of rubber -RRII105 and RRIM 600 in Mooply valley of Thrissur district
(Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1992) Perumal Pillai, S; Sreekantan Nair, G
A comparative study of the yield performance of two high yielding clones. RRII 105 and RRIM 600 were made. The former one is recommended under category I irrespective of areas and the latter as category II in traditional areas and as category I in nontraditional areas. Two representative samples where both these clones were planted and under tapping for a pretty long period were selected and all the available data pertaining to yield were collected. The agroclimatic conditions in both the estates are similar. They were following the recommended package of practices by Rubber Board. The severity of the diseases were reduced by timely adoption of prophylactic/control measures. From the study it was observed that RRII 105 is superior to RRIM 600 in yield performance as well as in some of the secondary characters which are desirable for good planting materials. The results of the study indicated that both the clones can be safely recommended for planting in the Mooply Valley area of Thrissur district., giving more preference and greater area for RRII 105. This study also supports the recent changes made by the Rubber Board in the planting material recommendations under category I.
Major diseases affecting rubber and Its control measures adopted by small growers of Vaikom taluk
(Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1992) Sreedharan, A P; Sreekantan Nair, G
The major diseases affecting rubber in Vaikom taluk were powdery mildew, pink and abnormal leaf fall. Powdery mildew was more serious and infected about 99 per cent of the holdings surveyed. Dusting of sulphur at the time of refoliation can control the spread of the disease. Use of the chemical at the recommended dose was not adopted by the growers. This can be the main reason for the spread of the disease. Infection of pink disease was not so serious in the surveyed area. About 10.7 per cent of the trees were seen infected. Detection of the diseses at the early stages of infection and treatment of the trees was more important in the control of pink. It was obvious that the farmers knowledge in plant protection techniques were poor. No grower was seen adopting thiride treatment against pink though it was recommended as effective to Bordeaux paste. Lack of awareness of growers can be the main reason. Abnormal leaf fall was the least serious among the three diseases. The clone RRII 105 showed average tolerance to the disease and that can be the reason for the mild infection of the disease in the surveyed units. The study showed extension activities among the growers were highly inadequate. RRII 105 being the main clone, the leaf retention during monsoon was satisfactory even without prophylactic spraying. Therefore, prophylactic spraying was not seen as generally accepted practice among the growers of Vaikom taluk. Powdery mildew disease was very common in the surveyed units. But, many of the growers were neglecting it. All clones were seen infected with the disease. Repeated dusting of sulphur mixed with talc can control the infection effectively if sprayed at bud break. Four to six rounds of dusting should be done for the control of the disease. Extra weeding in plantation become necessary due to leaf fall and hence maintenance cost is higher. Unavailability of plant protection equipments was another difficulty faced by the growers. To overcome these difficulties disease tolerant clones may be planted in future. Moreover, the extension methods are to be strengthened to educate the growers about the diseases and its timely control.
New leaf blight disease of Catharanthus Roseus(L.) G. Don (L)
(Kerala Agricultural University, 1981) Padmakumary, G; Suharban, M; Nair, M C; Reghunath, B R; Sreekantan Nair, G
Note on the use of detached sprouts as a planting material in ginger
(Kerala Agricultural University, 1977) Sreekantan Nair, G
Performance of rubber clones during the pre-tapping period in Pathanapuram taluk of Quilon district
(Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1993) Sreekantan Nair, N; Sreekantan Nair, G
An attempt was made to assess the performance of rubber plantations during the pretapping period of Pathanapuram taluk of Quilon district. Primary data were collected through personal visits and interviews with the help of a pretested questionnaire. Secondary data were gathered from the records available at the regional office and field offices of the Rubber Board. For the study, 100 units were selected randomly from among those who planted rubber in 1986 and availed the subsidy from the Rubber Board. The region has the topography well suited for the rubber cultivation with good soil and climatic features. There has been a tendency for raising higher number of plants per unit area than what is recommended. Only in two units, planting density was between 401 to 450 per ha. Regarding planting distance in 53 units the growers have adopted the recommended planting distance. Even in these cases, close planting is noticed in the boundaries. In majority of the cases, pitting and refilling were found to be as per recommended package of practices. All the growers used advanced clones for planting. The most popular planting material used was RRII 105 which covered hundred per cent of the area under study. Majority of growers have used polybagged plants, advanced planting material. The trees were sturdy with average vigour and the clones had a fair degree of tolerance to abnormal leaf fall disease caused by phytophthora species under normal prophylactic measures. But it was susceptible to pink disease as seen from the details already furnished. The plants were free from serious wind damage as branch development was kept balanced. Discriminatory fertilizer application was not adopted by majority of the farmers in surveyed areas. However, intercropping was popular. The crops grown were plantain, banana, tapioca, yam, dioscoria. Only 46 growers out of 100 had planted leguminous cover crop. Higher density increased the immaturity period. This has been brought out by the study. All the trees had not attained tappable girth even after seven years of growth. More extension effort in reducing the stand per hectare during immaturity period is highly essential. In general, maintenance of plantations during the pretapping period was satisfactory. But there is further scope for improvement so as to reduce immaturity period. There is also a tendency among growers to open trees for tapping before attaining the recommended standard girth. It is interesting to note that eventhough majority of growers are literate, they seem to be less receptive especially about the optimum planting density and tapping stage.
Survey on the extent of adoption of scientific tapping and processing techniques by rubber growers of Vaikom Taluk
(Department of Plantation Crops and Spices,College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1993) Thankappan Achary, M K; Sreekantan Nair, G