MSc

Abstract
Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) is an annual seed as well as herbal spice which belongs to the family Apiaceae. Whole part of the plant possesses specific aroma and flavour. Apart from the use of coriander as a flavouring and preservative agent, consumption of coriander leaves have multiple health benefits too. Coriander cultivation is confined to specific regions as it needs cool and dry climate for flowering and seed set. But for leaf purpose, cultivation is possible in non-conventional areas too with the advent of protected cultivation under rainshelter. The present study entitled “Standardization of package of practices for leaf coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) under rainshelter” was carried out in the Dept. of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Kerala Agricultural University during July 2019 to March 2020 with four experiments to standardize seed treatment, spacing, manurial schedule and harvest maturity of coriander . Two varieties viz. CO-4 and Theni Local were used in the study and all the experiments were conducted in two seasons ie July-September and October - December.
Results indicated that presowing seed treatments can be adopted in coriander as priming of seeds significantly enhanced the sprouting, growth and yield. Hydropriming for 24 h and seed treatment with 50 mg L-1 GA3 for 8 h enhanced the growth, yield and quality of both the varieties. Priming with NAA for 8 h and hydropriming for 12 h also improved the growth and yield of coriander than untreated seeds. Highest vitamin C content in CO-4 and Theni Local was recorded in seed treatment with 50 mg L-1 GA3 for 8 h and hydropriming for 24 h respectively.
Medium spacing of 20 cm x 10 cm significantly increased the single plant biomass and herbage yield in coriander variety CO-4, whereas closer spacing of 10 cm x 10 cm spacing was found to be the best spacing for Theni Local. Highest herbage yield and biomass yield of CO-4 (683.43 g m-2 and 653.00 g m-2) as well as Theni Local (1477.57 g m-2 and 1448.00 g m-2) from unit area was obtained from the closer spacing which accommodated maximum number of plants per unit area. Vitamin C content in CO-4 was highest in closer as well as medium spacings in both the varieties compared to wider spacing.
Growth parameters such as plant height and number of leaves and, yield parameters such as biomass (10.27 g plant-1) and herbage (10.04 g plant-1) yield were highest with the application of 5 t ha-1 FYM alone followed by 2.5 t ha-1 vermicompost alone in the variety CO-4. The vitamin C content of CO-4 was highest in the plants supplemented with basal application of 2.5 t ha-1 vermicompost (65.78 mg per 100g). A fertilizer schedule of 5 t ha-1 FYM+20:10:10 kg ha-1 NPK+ 1.5 per cent urea (foliar) was found to the best for improving the biomass (14.30 g plant-1), herbage (13.96 g plant-1) and vitamin C content (87.05 mg per 100g) in the variety Theni Local.
The harvest maturity was indicated by emergence of serrated leaf. The plants of CO-4 entered to reproductive phase by the emergence of serrated leaf on 37 DAS and completed the life cycle within 75 DAS. Harvest maturity of CO4 for leaf purpose was concluded as 40 DAS. The variety Theni Local exhibited infinite growth and the crop was harvested at 60 DAS for leaf purpose. The harvesting on 60th day exhibited a percentage increase of 35.89 per cent in herbage yield from 40th day yield. Quality parameters were also found to be highest at 60th day harvest.
Irrespective of the seed treatments, spacing, fertilizer schedule and harvest maturity, both the varieties performed well during during October – December under rainshelter. There was 5.06 and 1.72 fold increase in herbage yield of CO-4 and Theni Local respectively during October – December. The quality parameters were also found to be highest during the same season.
The best treatments in all experiments and October – December season was found to be the best combination in both the varieties for getting better growth, yield and quality coriander leaves.
From this study, it was concluded that the early variety CO-4 and late variety Theni Local are suitable for rainshelter cultivation. Presowing seed treatments with 50 mg L-1 GA3 for 8 h and hydropriming for 24 h are effective for both the varieties to improve growth and yield. A closer spacing of 10 x 10 cm can be adopted in both the varieties for getting maximum yield from unit area. Basal application organic fertilizer such as 5 t ha-1 FYM and 2.5 t ha-1 vermicompost alone is enough for better
performance of CO-4. The fertilizer schedule of 5 t ha-1 FYM+ 20:10:10 kg ha-1 NPK+ 1.5 per cent urea (foliar) at 20 DAS is best for Theni Local. Harvest at 40 DAS and 60 DAS respectively is ideal in CO-4 and Theni local for getting maximum herbage yield. The ideal season for coriander cultivation under rainshelter is October – December in Kerala.