PhD

An investigation entitled 'Yield and quality of betelvine (Piper
betel L.) as influenced by planting material and integrated nutrient
management' was undertaken during 2001-2003 at College of
Agriculture, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram. The objectives of the
study were to develop a suitable propagation technique to improve the
establishment percentage of betelvine cuttings, to evolve an integrated
nutrient management practice for improved productivity and quality of
betelvine leaves and also to develop a suitable method for improving the
shelf life of harvested betel leaves.
In the propagation study (pot culture) eventhough earliest
emergence of leaf was shown by the treatment in which top 'nodes were
covered with polythene bag, highest percentage survival (72.34 %) was
recorded when cuttings were dipped in IBA at the rate of 50 ug mrl for
12 hours. Three, four and five noded cutting were equally effective in
increasing the percentage survival of cuttings.
Although there was a varying trend in the response to substitution
and type of organic manures, in general an increasing trend in growth
and yield characters of betelvine was observed as the nitrogen
application was increased from 60 to 90'kg ha' during both the years of
crop growth.
During both the years, highest yield was recorded by NC + urea in
2: 1 and 1: 1 ratio at 90 kg N ha-I. In first year PM + urea in 2: 1 ratio and
in second year FYM + urea in 2: 1 ratio were found to be equally
effective. NC + urea in 2: 1 ratio at 90 kg N ha-I recorded 59 per cent
higher yield than farmer's practice, the control treatment.
Pooled analysis of yield for two years indicated that the treatments
are consistent in performance with respect to yield and there is no
interaction between treatments and year. The study also showed that NC
+ urea in 2: 1 ratio is the best INM treatment (30.72 I ha') and was on par

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with NC + urea in 1: 1 ratio (27.30 I ha-I) and FYM + urea to 2: 1 ratio
(24.68 I ha"), all at 90 kg N ha-I.
During first year farmer's practice and in second year NC + urea
in 2: 1 ratio (90 kg N ha') recorded longest shelf life.
During both the years of the study at almost all the stages
analysed, NC + urea in 2: 1 ratio at 90 kg N ha" recorded the highest N,
P and K content in marketable leaves. Highest Nand K uptake was seen
in NC + urea combination and highest P uptake was seen in FYM + urea
combination, at 90 kg N ha-I.
Farmer's practice recorded highest Nand P status of soil after
experiment and highest potassium availability was seen in PM + urea in
1:1 ratio at 90 kg N ha'.
Highest sugar contents were recorded by FYM + urea and NC +
urea in 2: 1 combinations at 90 kg N ha':
Highest essential oil content during first year was recorded by
FYM + urea mixture in 2: 1 ratio and in second year by NC + urea in 2: 1
ratio, both at 90 kg N ha'.
During first year, highest BCR and net income were recorded by
NC + urea in 2: 1 substitution and during second year by NC + urea in 1: 1
substitution, both at 90 kg N ha-I.
The laboratory study on improvement of shelf life of betel leaves
showed that wet gunny cloth and banana leaf sheath are the best packing
materials as it recorded longest shelf life and lesser nutritional changes
in leaves during storage.