PG Thesis

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://localhost:4000/handle/123456789/2

Browse

Subject: search.filters.subject.Chemical analysis

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 7 of 7
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Effect of different types of fertilizers as influenced by adjuvants on fue and yield of upland rice
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2016) Sheeba, S S; Sajitha Rani, T
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Baby corn [Zea mays L.] as a dual purpose crop in summer rice fallows
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2016) Archana, C R; Lalitha Bai, E K
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Tank mix application of cyhalofop-butyl with selected herbicides for weed control in wet seeded rice
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2016) Atheena, A; Prameela, P
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Weed management in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz)
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2016) Reshma, N; Sindhu, P V
    Cassava, one of the most important tropical tuber crops, is known to sustain even under marginal soil conditions. Being a widely spaced crop with slow initial growth, a wide spectrum of weeds has been reported in cassava fields which may cause yield losses up to 90 per cent. Weeding is the main labour consuming activity of cassava fields as it is usually carried out by tillage practices and earthing up. Presently, chemical weed control is becoming popular among farmers as it is an efficient way of weed control with minimum labour cost. However, relying only on chemical weed control may not be feasible in the long term. Developing a complete weed management package by integrating chemical, physical and cultural methods may be the best option for cassava to achieve optimum yield. The present study entitled “Weed management in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz)” was carried out at the Agronomy farm attached to the Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara from May to October 2015 to compare different weed management practices for cassava. The treatments included applications of three pre emergence herbicides viz., oxyfluorfen 0.2 kg/ha, pendimethalin 1.5 kg/ha and imazethapyr 80g/ha, directed application of glyphosate 0.8 kg/ha at 30 Days After Planting (DAP), all this four herbicides followed by one hoeing and earthing up at 60 DAP, hoeing and earthing up twice at 30 and 60 DAP, concurrent growing of fodder cowpea and in situ green manuring and earthing up at 60 DAP, and unweeded control plot. Weed management treatments significantly affected the growth and yield characters. Number of tubers per plant was high when cassava was intercropped with cowpea and when hoeing and earthing up was done twice. These two treatments also recorded longer cassava tubers. Higher tuber yields were recorded for the treatments hoeing and earthing up (31.20 t/ha), pendimethalin followed by earthing up (30.60 t/ha) and glyphosate followed byearthing up (28.40 t/ha). These treatments also showed higher top yield and greater dry matter production. The treatments significantly influenced the weed population and weed dry weight at all the four stages of plant growth. The herbicide oxyfluorfen could control 99 per cent of weeds at 30 DAP. Pendimethalin followed by earthing up was more effective in suppressing the weeds in later stages and it resulted in 94 per cent control of weeds during harvest. Weed control efficiency of all the treatments increased with a follow up earthing up. Pre emergence application of imazethapyr alone was less effective in controlling the weeds and it recorded a lower weed control efficiency compared to other plots. Weed index was lower in the treatments hoeing and earthing up, pendimethalin followed by earthing up and glyphosate followed by earthing up. Lower nutrient uptake by weeds was recorded in the treatment which received pre emergence application of oxyfluorfen during early stages of plant growth. At the time of harvest, the treatments pendimethalin followed by earthing up and glyphosate followed by earthing up recorded lower uptake of nutrients. The soil pH, organic carbon and phosphorus contents of the soil were statistically on par in all the plots after the experiment. However, the contents of available N and K showed significant differences among the treatments. Green manure cowpea intercropped plots recorded higher available nitrogen content after the experiment. The highest B:C ratio of 2.41 was obtained for the treatment pre emergence application of pendimethalin followed by earthing up. The treatment with application of pre emergence oxyfluorfen had a higher B:C ratio of 2.27. Even though hoeing and earthing up produced higher tuber yields, the B:C ratio was lower because of the additional labour requirement. The results of the present investigation suggest the possibility of reducing the number of earthings up in cassava by applying a pre emergence herbicide such as pendimethalin.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Differential response of two medium duration rice varities to time of planning and graded doses of nitrogen
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1982) Lathif, P H; Balakrishna Pillai, P
    An experiment to study the differential response of two medium duration rice varieties to time of planting and graded doses of nitrogen was conducted during the mundakan season of 1980 – 81, at the Research Station and Instructional Farm Mannuthy. The experiment was laid out in split plot design, with combinations of four time of planting (September 25th, October 10th, October 25th and November 9th) and 2 varieties (Jaya and Sabari) in the main plot and 3 levels of nitrogen (60, 90, 120 kg/ha) in subplots. Observations on the plant growth characters were recorded at 30th day, 60th day after planting and at harvest. Chemical analysis of plants at these stages were also done. Time of planting significantly influenced the growth characters as well as the yield and yield attributes. Plant height, panicle length, number of spikelets, number of filled grains, percentage of filled grains, dry matter production, grain yield, straw yield, harvest index, grain straw ratio, total nitrogen uptake at harvest, nitrogen uptake by grain, content of phosphorous in straw and grain and the total uptake of phosphorous at harvest and potassium uptake by grain were significantly higher in the early planted crop, than in later planted crops. However, number of days taken to 50 per cent flowering, and to maturity, production of tillers and productive tillers, phosphorous content of straw and potassium content of grain were positively influenced by delayed planting. Sabari recorded significantly higher number of days to flowering and maturity than Jaya. Higher levels of nitrogen were found to increase the dry matter production and nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium content of straw.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Effect of secondary nutrients on yield and quality of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.)
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2014) Sanghamithre, V K; Meera V Menon
    Primary nutrients viz. nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are generally regarded to be instrumental in maintaining growth, yield and quality of crops. The secondary nutrients, sulphur, calcium and magnesium, though reported to play key roles in the growth and development of crops, seldom get the recognition they deserve. There are no recommendations for these nutrients for most crops. At the same time, there are reports of increasing deficiency of sulphur, calcium and magnesium in the laterite soils of Kerala. Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) is a vital spice crop of the Zingiberaceae family. The rhizome, which is the economic produce, contains an essential oil, curcumin and related compounds as major constituents. There is immense scope for cultivation of turmeric in Kerala due to favourable climatic and soil condition. Turmeric is a crop requiring heavy fertilization for increasing yield and quality. This research programme was taken up to study the effect of secondary nutrients on the yield and quality of turmeric. The field experiment was conducted during 2013-2014 in the farm of the Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara. There were 10 treatments with 3 replications each. Treatments consisted of package of practices recommendations (POPR) of 40 tonnes farmyard manure along with 30:30:60 kg N, P and K/ha and its combinations with S, Ca and Mg applied one and two months after planting. Rhizomes were planted at a spacing of 25 × 25 cm and planting was done on 05 June 2013. Harvesting was done after seven months. Biometric observations were taken at monthly intervals and nutrient contents were analyzed at three and six months after planting and at harvest. Nutrient uptake was also worked out. Curcumin and oleoresin content in rhizomes were also analyzed. The soil pH and chemical parameters were determined before and after the experiment. There were significant differences among the treatments with respect to leaf area index, yield, nutrient content and nutrient uptake. In the case of leaf area index, the treatment receiving Ca as second top dressing (viz. two months after planting) recorded the highest LAI compared to other treatments. Fresh and dry yields of turmeric and benefit: cost ratio was also high in the same treatment. This treatment resulted in the highest uptake of all nutrients except S at harvest. Earlier application of sulphur, calcium and magnesium (viz. one month after planting) also led to higher yield and benefit: cost ratio, confirming the direct positive effect on yield. Absolute control recorded the lowest values for all parameters including yield and quality components. Future research should be focused on altering and testing the dose and schedule of application of S, Ca and Mg, and analysis of their interaction effect to maximize productivity, Application of micronutrients and optimizing their dose and schedule for higher yield and quality should also be attempted.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Performance of spiny coriander (Eryngium foetidum L.)under different shade regimes
    (Department Of Plantation Crops & Spices,College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2008) Appukuttan, J; Sulekha, G R
    The studies on the “Performance of spiny coriander (Eryngium foetidum L.) under different shade regimes” were carried out at the Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, during 2004-2006. The objectives were to evaluate the adaptability and performance of Eryngium foetidum L. under varying levels of shade and plant population densities and also to study the feasibility of cultivating Eryngium foetidum L. under the homestead conditions of Kerala. Its use, both as a flavouring agent and herbal medicine, and also as a home remedy for various ailments point towards its inclusion as an important item in Kerala homesteads. The performance of Eryngium foetidum was studied at three levels of shade (25, 50 and 75%) and four spacings (10cm  15cm, 15cm  15cm, 20cm  15cm and 30 cm  15 cm). High Density Poly Ethylene shade nets of appropriate mesh size were used for providing the required shade levels. Observations on growth parameters, physiological characters, growth analysis, yield characters, bio-chemical analysis, storage studies etc., were taken and the benefit: cost ratio was worked out. From the experiment, it was found that the crop performed best under 75 per cent shade level in most of the characters studied. Maximum yield (1411.04 g/plot of size 120  150 cm) was recorded under 75% shade level and also at a closer spacing of 10x 15cm (1131.41 g/plot). But the interaction effect of shade and population density on total herbage yield was not significant. On analysis, no measurable quantity of volatile oil could be estimated. The highest NVEE of 0.86 per cent was obtained from the plants grown under 75 per cent shade and a spacing of 30 × 15cm. From the storage studies it was concluded that under ambient temperature the leaves could be stored for a maximum of 5.2 days and 4.8 days when grown under 50 per cent and 75 per cent shade respectively, whereas under cold storage, the leaves from 75% shade could be stored for a maximum of 109.65 days without any deterioration. Maximum benefit: cost ratios of 1.28, 1.27 and 1.21 were obtained in the treatments 75% shade and 15cm × 15 cm spacing, 75% shade and 10cm  15 cm and 75% shade and 20cm  15 cm spacing, respectively. In general, as the intensity of shade increased, performance of the crop was better. Since the highest level of shade (75%) was found to be the best for the growth and yield of Eryngium foetidum, a higher level of shade, can be studied. Further studies on intercropping Eryngium foetidum under the existing homestead farming situations and other shaded situations like coconut, rubber, oil palm and other perennial tree crops are necessary. Popularization of the crop and development of appropriate marketing strategy are necessary for making the crop more remunerative.