1. KAUTIR (Kerala Agricultural University Theses Information and Retrieval)
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Item Organic nutrition for yield and quality in chilli (Capsicum annuum L.)(Department of Plant Physiology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2025-08-14) Arya, S R; Viji, M MThe present study entitled “Organic nutrition for yield and quality in chilli (Capsicum annuum L.)” was conducted at the Department of Plant Physiology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani during the period 2021 to 2024 with an objective to elicit information on the physiological, molecular, yield and quality attributes as influenced by the application of soil amendments and foliar nutrition in organically grown chilli. The study consisted of three experiments and the chilli variety used for all the three experiments was Vellayani Athulya. The firstexperiment(potculture)focusedonassessingtheeffectofsoilapplicationof organic amendments on physiological, flowering and yield parameters in chilli. The experiment I employed a simple CRD with eight treatments consisting of various organic amendments with three replications. The treatments consisted of T1-soil application of FYM asperKAUOrganicPOPandT2-soilapplicationofFYMasperKAUPOPwhichweretaken asControl1andControl2respectivelyandtheremainingtreatmentswereasperKAUOrganic POPwhereinFYMwassubstitutedwithvermicompostandgoatmanureandtheircombination with biochar. All soil organic amendment treatments showed an increased growth compared to control treatments which were not supplemented with extra nutrients as that of other treatments.Amongthetreatments,T8[FYMsubstitutedwithgoatmanureasperKAUOrganic POP (2017) + Rice husk biochar]recorded the highest values for physiological and growth parameters such as total chlorophyll content, water use efficiency, carotene content, relative watercontent,plantheight(85.70cm),numberofbranches(5.33),shootweight(42.23g),root weight (9.20g), root : shoot ratio (0.22). In addition the best flowering characters such as earliestdaystofirstflowering(22days)andhighestnumberofflowersplant-1(44.67)aswell as best yield attributes such as earliest days to first harvest (41 days), highest percentage of fruit setting(64.18%), number of fruits plant -1 (28.67 ), fruit length (15.30cm),fruit girth(9.30cm),fruitweight(17.70gfruit-1),yield(507.41gplant-1)andB:Cratio(1.92)were obtained for the treatment T8, when compared to the control treatments. The experiment II (pot culture) was focused to assess the effect of foliar fertilization on physiological, flowering, yield and quality parameters in chilli. The experiment employed asimpleCRDwith7treatmentsconsistingofdifferentorganicfoliarsprayswith3replications. Beforeplanting,allthepotsweresubjectedtothebesttreatment(T8)fromexperimentI(BT1) ie;SoilapplicationofFYMsubstitutedwithgoatmanureinKAUOPOP+Ricehuskbiochar. Then various organic foliar fertilizer treatments such as T1-Panchagavya (3%), T2- Fish jaggery acid(3%), T3-Vermiwash (20%),T4- Humic acid (0.05%) and T5- Azolla liquid extract(75mlL-1)weregiventotheexperimentalplantsasperthetreatmentsandcompared withT6-Control1[KAUOPOP(2017)+waterspray]andT7-Control2[KAUP Thefoliarspraytreatments(T1toT7)were given three timesat30daysinterval starting from 15DAT.All the organic foliar spray treatments showed enhanced growth of chilliwhencomparedtocontroltreatments.Amongtheseventreatments,T1hasrecordedthe best values for physiological and growth parameters such as total chlorophyll content, water use efficiency, carotene content, relative water content, plant height (89.67 cm), number of branches(5.31),shootweight(41.00g),rootweight(9.31g)androot :shootratio(0.23).Also better flowering characters such as highest number of flowers plant-1(48.33)and earliest days firstflowering(21days)aswellasbestyieldattributessuchasearliestdaystofirstharvest (40.33days),highest percentage of fruitsetting(62.76%),number of fruits plant-1(30.33),fruit length(15.50cm),fruitgirth(9.53cm),fruitweight(11.41gfruit-1),yield(571.23gplant-1) andB:Cratio(2.07)wereobtainedinthetreatmentT1.Thequalityparameterssuchashighest total sugars (4.57 mg g -1 fresh fruit weight), total phenolic content (24.46 mg g -1 fresh fruit weight) , shelf life (14.33 days), N, P, K content (3.65%, 0.42% and 3.94% %), membrane integrity (88 %) and lowest PLW (12.00%) were also observed significantly higher for the treatment T1. The same treatment has resulted in 49% & 77% increase in capsaicin content and24%&45%increase in vitamin C content compared to both the control treatments (KAU Organic POP and KAU POP respectively). The third experiment was carried out in the field to assess the effect of foliar fertilization on quality parameters and nutrient uptake in chilli. The best treatment from experiment II (BT 2) ie; combination of best organic amendment and best foliar spray was taken as T1 and it was compared with both the controls (T2-Organic POP with waters prayand T3- KAU POP with water spray). The experiment employed a simple RBD design with 3 treatmentsand7replications.Thequalityparametersandnutrientuptake(N,P,K)bythecrop were analysed at the harvest stage and the soil analysis was done before transplanting as well as after harvest.The results from the third experiment revealed that the foliar fertilization had significant influence on quality parameters and nutrient uptake in chilli. Compared to both the controls (T2 and T3), the treatment T1 showed significant influence on quality parameters in chilli fruits and nutrient uptake in chilli plants.T1 also has shown improved quality parameters such as capsaicin content(0.84%), shelf life (15 days), membrane integrity (88.41%),Vitamin C content (121.38 mg 100 g-1 fresh fruit weight) and lowest Physiological LossofWeight(PLW)(13.23%)inchillifruitandhighestN(132.23kgha-1),P(31.32kgha-1), K (122.34kg ha-1) uptake) in chilli plants compared to the controls (T2 and T3). Whensoilanalysiswascarriedoutaftertheharvest,improvementinsoilpH,soilEC, organic carbon, available nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium were noticed. In T1, the increaseinthesoilorganiccarboncontentwasfoundapproximately27%and35%higherthan both the controls, T2 (Control 1) and T3 (Control 2) respectively, whereas the available N content in soil (627.2 kg ha-1) was about 19% higher when compared individually with both the treatments T2 (Control 1) and T3 (Control 2). Also in T1, the available P (336 kg ha-1) content in the soil was higher by 20% and 29% than the treatments T2 Control 1) and T3 (Control 2) respectively and available K (371.05 kg ha-1) was 33% and 91% higher than the treatments T2 (Control 1) and T3 (Control 2) respectively. Inthethirdexperiment,molecularanalysisandexpressionprofilesofthegenespAMT, Pun 1, CaAMT,FdGOGAT and GS2 werecarried out byusing qRT-PCR(Quantitative Real- Time PCR) technique. The treatment T1, was found to result in the upregulation of gene expression of Pun 1 (in fruits) as well as CaAMT and Fd GOGAT (in the roots). But the gene expression of pAMT (in fruits) and GS2 (in roots) were down regulated in the treatment T1 when compared with both the controls (T2 and T3). The present study on the moderately pungent variety ‘Vellayani Athulya’ revealed notably low expression of pAMT, despite its intermediate pungency level. This observation suggests that in such varieties, even modest Pun1 activity may be sufficient to channel the limited pool of vanillylamine toward capsaicin synthesis and Pun1playsa more decisive role than pAMT in determining final capsaicin levels. The integrated use of goat manure, biochar, and panchagavya in T1 created optimal conditions for Pun1 gene upregulation and capsaicinoid biosynthesis, leading to increased capsaicin content and enhanced pungency and the treatment combination enhanced nitrogen uptake and assimilation through Up regulation of key genes involved in ammonium transport(CaAMT) and assimilation(GS and GOGAT),ultimately contributing to improved capsaicinoid biosynthesis in chilli variety Vellayani Athulya. The present study has revealed that the physiological, molecular, yield and quality attributesweregreatlyinfluencedbytheapplicationofsoilamendments,FYM substituted with Goatmanure(1tha-1)inKAUOPOP+Biochar(0.5%w/w)andfoliarnutritionofPanchagavya (3%)in organically grown chilli. The outcome of the programme emphasizes the importance ofapplicationoforganicsoilamendmentsandfoliarnutritionincropmanagement.Thisstudy also highlights the significance of exploration of genes and their regulatory mechanisms in quality improvement in organically grown chilli.Item Effect of foliar application of selected micronutrients and growth regulators on tuber development , yield and fortification status of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.).(Department of Plant Physiology , College of Agriculture,Vellayani, 2019) Arya, S R; Viji, M MA field experiment entitled “ Effect of foliar application of selected micro nutrients and growth regulators on tuber development, yield and fortification status of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.)” was conducted at the Instructional farm, College of Agriculture, Vellayani during the period 2017-2019 with an objective to enhance the qualitative and quantitative attributes in sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.). Foliar application of selected micronutrients and growth regulators were carried out to study their effect on growth, development and changes in fortification status of sweet potato tubers and leaves. The sweet potato variety used for the experiment was Bhu Krishna. The technical programme consisted of 17 treatments and 3 replications with the design simple RBD. The treatments were C1 : NPK (as per POP) , C2 : NPK (as per POP) with water spray, T1 : C1+ FN (MN mixture( * ) 0.01% each , T2 : C1+ FN (MN mixture( * ) 0.05% each , T3 : C1+ FN (MN mixture( * ) 0.1% each , T4 : T1+ Ethrel 250 ppm , T5 : T1+ Ethrel 500 ppm , T6 : T1+ CCC 250 ppm , T7 : T1+ CCC 500 ppm , T8 : T2+ Ethrel 250 ppm , T9 : T2+ Ethrel 500 ppm , T10: T2+ CCC 250 ppm , T11: T2+ CCC 500 ppm, T12: T3+ Ethrel 250 ppm , T13: T3+ Ethrel 500 ppm , T14: T3+ CCC 250 ppm and T15: T3+ CCC 500 ppm [*MN mixture (Zn+Fe+B+Mn)]. Except C1, for all other treatments foliar sprays were given 3 times ie. at 30 days interval(30 DI). All the biometric and physiological parameters were taken at 25th,50th,75th and 100th days after planting and the quality parameters were taken at harvest. The results revealed that the micronutrients and growth regulators had significant influence on most of the biometric parameters, physiological parameters as well as quality parameters. Tuber characters such as tuber length, tuber diameter, tuber weight and tuber yield were found to be best in plants under the treatment T15 (T3+ CCC 500 ppm at 30DI) and it was on par with T13(T3+Ethrel 500ppm). Branch length (155.50cm), shoot weight (612 g) and specific leaf area (389.44 cm2 g-1) were found to be best in plants under the treatment T3(C1+ FN (MN mixture( * ) 0.1% each at 30DI). Number of leaves also were found to be higher in T3 (91.33) and it was on par with T2, T13 and T15. Cycocel and ethrel are growth retardants and they were found to have dwarfing effect on plants and hence shoot length and shoot weight did not increase in the treatments, T15(T3+ CCC 500at 30DI) and T13(T3+ Ethrel 500 ppm at 30DI) and on the other hand the number of leaves got positively influenced in both these treatments T15 and T13. Except transpiration rate all physiological parameters viz., total chlorophyll content (2.25 mg g-1), caroteinoid content (0.87mg g-1), stomatal conductance (131.33 mmole H2O m-2 s-1), photosynthetic rate (4.49 µmole CO2 m-2 s-1) and water use efficiency (5.35 mmol CO2 mol-1 H2O) were found to be best in plants under the treatment T15 (T3+ CCC 500 ppm) and T13 was on par with T15 in all these physiological parameters studied. Mineral constituents; N (0.614 %), P (0.056%), K (0.489%),Fe (16.30 mg kg-1), Zn (15.07 mg kg-1), Mn (7.37 mg kg-1) and B (1.27 mg kg-1) as well as other quality parameters like total phenol (13.33mg g-1), total sugar (34.48 mg g-1) and protein content (38.40mg g-1) were found to be higher in tubers under the treatment T15 (T3+ CCC 500 ppm) followed by treatment T13 which is considered as the second best treatment with respect to mineral content in tubers. Overall, the combined treatments of micronutrients along with growth regulators were found most effective in influencing quality parameters. Treatment T15 (ie.,NPK as per POP along with foliar nutrition of micronutreint mixture (Fe+Zn+Mn+B @ 0.1% each ) + cycocel (500ppm) at 30 days interval ) was found to be the best in terms of improving both the quantitative and qualitative attributes in sweet potato. Hence it is concluded that the treatment T15 improved the growth and development of plants, physiological parameters of leaves, tuber yield as well as fortification status of sweet potato tubers. Thus this study helped in identifying the best treatment combination of micronutrients and growth regulators for improving growth, development, yield and fortification status in sweet potato.Item Bioefficacy and soil health impact of flucetosulfuron in wet seeded rice (Oryza sativa L.)(Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2018) Arya, S R; Elizabeth K SyriacItem Herbicide based weed management for semi dry rice (Oryza sativa L.)(Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2015) Arya, S R; Ameena, MAn investigation entitled “Herbicide based weed management for semi dry rice (Oryza sativa L.)” was conducted during the period May to September 2014 at farmer’s field in Nemom block, Thiruvanthapuram. The main objectives of the study were to evaluate the weed control efficiency of new generation herbicides in semi dry rice, to assess their selectivity and influence on growth and yield, to work out the economics and to develop a weed management strategy for semi dry rice.The field experiment comprised of eleven treatments replicated thrice (Variety: Uma) was laid out in randomised block design. The treatments were T1: bensulfuronmethyl + pretilachlor @ 60 + 600 g a.i. ha-1 (pre - emergence), T2: T1 + hand weeding at 40 DAS, T3: T1 + azimsulfuron @ 30 g a.i. ha-1 (post emergence), T4: pyrazosulfuron ethyl @ 25 g a.i. ha-1 (pre - emergence),T5: T4 + hand weeding at 40 DAS, T6 : T4 + azimsulfuron @ 30 g a.i. ha-1 (post emergence), T7 : oxyfluorfen @ 0.15 kg a.i. ha-1 (pre - emergence), T8 : T7 + hand weeding at 40 DAS, T9 : T7 + azimsulfuron @ 30 g a.i. ha-1 (post emergence) and two controls: T10: hand weeding at 20 and 40 DAS and T11: weedy check. Result of the study revealed substantial reduction in weed population and biomass in all the herbicide treated plots compared to weedy check. Weed composition of the experimental field indicated the dominance of broad leaved weeds followed by sedges and grasses with considerable variation in weed flora during dry and flooded condition.Hand weeding at 20 and 40 DAS (T10) recorded lowest weed density, weed dry weight and highest weed control efficiency. Absolute frequency (Af) for all weed species throughout the crop growth stages was also lower under hand weeding while higher values of importance value (IV) and summed dominance ratio (SDR) for sedges and broad leaved weeds were recorded in weedy check (T11). Pre-emergent herbicide application followed by either hand weeding at 40 DAS (T2 and T5) or application of post emergent herbicides (T3 and T6) recorded higher weed control efficiency and lower nutrient removal in comparison with hand weeding twice (20 and 40 DAS). None of the herbicides produced any phytotoxic symptoms on rice plant. However, crop density and growth was lower at the initial stages in oxyfluorfen treated plots. This indicated that bensulfuron methyl + pretilachlor and pyrazosulfuron can be treated as safe pre-emergent herbicides for dry sown (semi dry) system of rice cultivation. Result of the study also indicated the safety of the herbicides on microbial activity as evidenced by the increase in soil dehydrogenase activity in herbicides applied plots.The yield attributes of rice viz., number of productive tillers m-2 and filled grains panicle-1 were significantly influenced by the weed management practices T2, T3, T5, T6 and T10. Grain yield (4817.67 kg ha-1) and straw yield (7969.33 kg ha-1) were significantly higher in T2 (bensulfuronmethyl + pretilachlor @ 60 + 600 g a.i. ha-1 + hand weeding at 40 DAS) and remained on par with T3, T5, T6 and T10. Yield loss due to weeds was found to be 52.22 per cent. The most economically viable weed management practice was T6 (bensulfuronmethyl + pretilachlor fb azimsulfuron) with a B: C ratio of 1.76 which was on par with T3 (1.75). Grain yield, net income and B: C ratio were significantly lower in weedy check.It can be concluded that the most effective weed management practice for semi dry rice is pre-emergence application of either bensulfuron methyl + pretilachlor @ 60 + 600 g a.i. ha-1 or pyrazosulfuron ethyl @ 25 g a.i. ha-1 on the next day of sowing followed by post emergence application of azimsulfuron @ 30 g a.i. ha-1 at 25 DAS.