1. KAUTIR (Kerala Agricultural University Theses Information and Retrieval)
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Item Performance of Maize (Zea mays L.) intercropping systems in lowlands(Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture ,Vellayani, 2024-02-26) Meera, L Raj; Jacob JohnThe study entitled “Performance of maize (Zea mays L.) intercropping systems in lowlands” was undertaken at the College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 2021-2023. The objective was to evaluate different maize based intercropping systems in the summer fallow of double cropped lowland rice field in terms of weed dynamics, biological efficiency and economics. The field experiment was carried out at the Integrated Farming System Research Station (IFSRS), KAU, Karamana from January to May 2023 in Randomized Block Design with 10 treatments and three replications. The treatments comprised of T1: maize + bush cowpea (1:2), T2: maize + green gram (1:2), T3: maize + black gram (1:2), T4: maize + fodder cowpea (1:2), T5: sole crop of maize, T6: sole crop of bush cowpea, T7: sole crop of green gram, T8: sole crop of black gram, T9: sole crop of fodder cowpea and T10: fallow. Maize (var. TNAU maize hybrid Co-6) was raised as main crop and bush cowpea (var. PGCP-6), green gram (var.TM 96-2), black gram (var. VBN-6) and fodder cowpea (var. Aiswarya) were raised as intercrops. Maize was raised as per the recommendations of TNAU (CPG, 2005) and the intercrops as per KAU Package of Practice Recommendations (KAU, 2016). The results revealed that intercropping had significant effect on the growth and yield of the main crop and intercrops. Growth attributes of maize viz. plant height, number of leaves per plant, leaf area per plant and leaf area index (LAI) showed significant variation with intercropping. The treatment T5 resulted in taller plants, highest number of leaves per plant, leaf area per plant and LAI and it was followed by T1. Seed weight per cob (63.02 g), grain yield (4566 kg ha-1) and stover yield (13122 kg ha-1) were also highest in T5, which was followed by T3. Growth and yield attributes of intercrops were significantly reduced under intercropping systems. Sole crop of bush cowpea (T6), green gram (T7) and black gram (T8) recorded greatest plant height, number of branches per plant, leaf area per plant and LAI. Yield attributes like number of pods per plant, grain yield and haulm yield were also higher in sole cropping system. The plant height, number of branches per plant, leaf area per plant, leaf area index, leaf stem ratio, green fodder yield and dry fodder yield were higher in the sole crop of fodder cowpea (T9). Intercropping with maize profoundly reduced the weed count, weed dry matter production (DMP) and NPK removal by weeds. The lowest weed count was recorded in T9 at 30 DAS. At 60 DAS, lowest weed count was recorded in T3 and T1. The highest weed count was recorded in T10, both at 30 and 60 DAS. Lowest weed DMP was recorded in T1, 30 and 60 DAS. The weed smothering efficiency of maize + bush cowpea system was the highest among the different intercrops at 30 and 60 DAS (41.46 % and 59.04 % respectively). The N removal by weeds was lowest in T1(1.15 kg ha-1), which was on par with T4 (1.54 kg ha-1) at 30 DAS. At 60 DAS the lowest N removal was recorded in T1 (5.58 kg ha-1). P removal by weeds was lowest in T1 (0.62 kg ha-1, 0.64 kg ha-1) which was on par with T3 (1.78 kg ha-1,1.85 kg ha-1) both 30 DAS and 60 DAS respectively. K removal by weeds was lowest in T1 at 30 DAS (0.92 kg ha-1) and 60 DAS (2.22 kg ha-1). All the crops recorded higher values of NPK uptake under sole cropping of main crop and intercrops. The dehydrogenase activity was the highest in the maize + bush cowpea (T1) (175.52 µg TPF g-1 soil d-1) system compared to the others. The highest amount of available N in the soil found after the experiment was in T8 (472.29 kg ha-1) which was on par with T7 (397.23 kg ha-1) and T9 (397.23 kg ha-1). The highest amount of available P was found in T9 (71.00 kg ha-1) while available K was higher in T8 (168.64 kg ha-1). Analysis of the competitive indices of the intercropping system revealed that the land equivalent ratio (LER), monetary advantage index (MAI) and maize equivalent yield (MEY) were highest in the maize + black gram system (T3). The highest relative crowding coefficient and positive aggressivity value of maize indicated the dominance and competitive nature of maize over intercrops. The maize + black gram (T3) intercropping system recorded the highest net income (₹ 102262 ha-1) and B:C ratio (2.15). From the present study, it is inferred that in summer fallows of double cropped lowland, maize + black gram (1:2) system was more suitable in terms of maize equivalent yield, land equivalent ratio, monetary advantage index, net income and benefit cost ratio. Based on weed dry matter production, weed smothering efficiency and nutrient removal by weeds, the maize + bush cowpea (1:2) system was the best.Item Chilli-amaranth intercropping system under fertigation(Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2018) Anitrosa Innazent; Anitha, SIntercropping is a way to augment production through intensifying cropping by combining different crops thereby utilisying the available resources more efficiently. The productivity of intercropping system can be enhanced by adopting suitable planting geometry and by proper nutrient and water management. Information on planting geometry and schedules of fertigation and drip irrigation can help in further increasing the productivity of the system. The present study was undertaken to assess the bio economic suitability of chilli- amaranth intercropping system under different nutrient and water regime. The experiment entitled “Chilli-Amaranth intercropping system under fertigation” was conducted at Water Management Research Unit, Vellanikkara during January to July 2017. The trial was laid out in randomized block design replicated thrice. The treatments consisted of chilli- amaranth intercropping system planted at two different planting geometries viz., normal row planting and paired row planting, three nutrient levels viz., 100, 75 and 50 per cent of NPK recommendation for both crops as fertigation and two irrigation levels viz., 100 per cent Epan and 75 per cent Epan and two control viz., chilli pure crop and amaranth pure crop. Performance of crops under intercropping and pure crop system revealed that the yield of intercropped chilli was 41 per cent lower than chilli pure crop. However for amaranth, the yield was 17 per cent higher under intercropping compared to pure crop. In addition to the fertigation of amaranth, amaranth receives nutrients from fertigation given to chilli crop. This resulted in the higher dry matter production and nutrient uptake of intercropped amaranth and finally higher yield. Paired row pattern was adopted to accommodate more intercrops. However planting geometry had no significant influence on the yield performance of intercropped chilli and amaranth. The nutrient levels showed no significant difference on the yield of intercropped chilli, whereas yield of intercropped amaranth was significantly influenced. Intercrop yield of amaranth at 100 per cent of nutrient dose (26,227 kg/ha) was significantly higher than intercrop yield of amaranth at 75 (21,824 kg/ha) and 50 per cent of nutrient dose (24,050 kg/ha) and pure crop yield (20,559 kg/ha). Intercropped chilli receiving irrigation at 100 per cent Epan recorded 37 per cent higher yield compared to lower level of irrigation. However, the performance of intercropped amaranth was not significantly influenced by the irrigation levels. The water productivity increase at 100 per cent Epan for intercropped chilli + amaranth was 170 per cent and 54 per cent higher compared to pure crop chilli and pure crop amaranth respectively. LER (Land Equivalent Ratio), LEC (Land Equivalent Coefficient), ATER (Area Time Equivalent Ratio), RCC (Relative Crowding Coefficient) and CEY (Crop Equivalent Yield) were worked out for assessing biological efficiency of intercropping system. LER more than 1.0, LEC more than 0.25 and higher values of ATER and CEY revealed the biological efficiency of chilli- amaranth intercropping system compared to pure crop system. Intercropping system under normal row planting produced significantly higher LER (2.84) compared to paired row planting. In addition, nutrient level of 100 per cent NPK recommendation showed higher LER (2.81) compared to lower doses. Irrigation at 100 per cent Epan recorded significantly higher value of LEC and ATER. Economic benefit of intercropping system was assessed using gross return, net return and B:C ratio. The net return of chilli-amaranth intercropping system (Rs.428212) was 116 per cent higher compared to pure crop chilli (Rs.197716) and 164 per cent higher to pure crop of amaranth (Rs.24548). The study indicated that there is an effective utilization of space, nutrients and water when amaranth was raised as intercrop with chilli. To get maximum biological and economic benefit from chilli- amaranth intercropping system, planting should be done at normal row with 100 per cent recommended dose of nutrients for both the crops and irrigation at 100 per cent Epan under fertigation during summer season.Item Forage yield, soil fertility and carbon dynamics of calliandra (Calliandra calothyrsus meissn,) in coconut plantation(Departament of Silviculture and Agroforestry , College of Forestry, Vellanikkara, 2017) Jilna Joy; Asha K RajA study entitled “Performance of calliandra (Calliandra calothyrsus Meissn.) under diverse management regimes in a coconut based hedge row fodder production system” was carried out at Instructional Farm, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during 2014-2015. The main objective of the study was to assess the influence of management practices like tree density, pruning height and pruning frequency on initial growth, forage yield and nutritional qualities of calliandra intercropped in coconut gardens under humid tropical conditions of Kerala. The treatments consisted of three levels of plant density (27,777; 22,222 and 17,777 plants ha-1), three levels of pruning frequency (8, 12 and 16 weeks interval) and two levels of pruning height (0.5m and 1m) in all possible combinations laid out under factorial randomized block design with three replications. The results revealed that various management practices had a profound influence on the forage yield and quality aspects of calliandra when grown as an intercrop in coconut garden. Comparing plant densities, highest density stand (27,777 plants ha-1) yielded 55 percent more forage (11.73Mg ha-1yr-1, dry basis) than the lowest density (17,777 plants ha-1), with higher foliage fraction. Quality parameters of forage like crude protein, ash, dry matter, phosphorus and potassium content increased and crude fibre content decreased at higher densities indicating closer spacing for production of tender nutritive fodder. Pruning at the prolonged interval of 16 weeks yielded more total forage, but the majority of the fodder comprised of stem fraction as indicated by the poor leaf-stem ratio. Leaf –stem ratio of fodder harvested at 8 and 12 weeks showed an increment of 125 percent over that of the 16 weeks interval, indicating more foliage production than stem fractions when harvested at shorter intervals. Pruning frequencies also had profound influence on nutritive value of the forage. Harvesting at shortest interval of 8 weeks and 12 weeks yielded fodder with maximum crude protein, phosphorus and potassium content when compared to 16 weeks. Ash and dry matter content in 99 fodder was significantly higher at the longest interval of 16 weeks. Crude fibre content of forage increased sharply from 28.33 to 49.98 percent by prolonging the harvest interval from 8 to 16 weeks thereby adversely affecting the palatability of the forage. Pruning height showed more prominent influence on forage yield of calliandra than the nutritive parameters. Dry fodder yield increased from 8.11 to 10.81 Mg ha-1yr-1 with increasing pruning height from 0.5 to 1m, with a higher leaf-stem ratio for taller stocks. Similarly there was a significant improvement in CP yield from taller stocks (1.67 Mgha-1 )when compared to shorter ones (1.23 Mgha-1) The interaction effects of plant density, pruning height and pruning frequency had no significant effect on yield and quality parameters of callianrda. The highest yielding combination (13.39 Mg ha-1dry basis) was found to be D1H2F2 (27,777 plants ha-1 + pruning height 1 m + pruning interval 12 weeks ) with higher foliage fraction and better nutritive parameters, compared to all other management levels, which were inferior either in forage yield or nutritive value or palatability of forage. On the whole, the study revealed that forage yield and quality of young stands of calliandra underneath coconut garden could be optimized at the cheapest level by adopting a tree density of 27,777plants ha-1, pruning height of 1m and pruning interval of 12 weeks. Moreover, based on the growth and yield performance and quality aspects, it is found that calliandra is a promising fodder tree, which can be successfully integrated with the existing coconut gardens of Kerala. Establishment and proper management of calliandra in coconut garden at appropriate management levels thus offers a cheap source of quality forage to Kerala farmers against the highly expensive concentrate feeds.