1. KAUTIR (Kerala Agricultural University Theses Information and Retrieval)
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Item Phenology and yield of strawberry (Fragaria X ananassa Duch.) under varied weather conditions(Department of Agricultural Meteorology, College of Agriculture , Vellanikkara, 2025-02-04) Ajaykumar, V C; Shajeesh Jan, PStrawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.), a widely consumed fruit of the Rosaceae family, is an octoploid hybrid (2n=8x=56) derived from Fragaria chiloensis and Fragaria virginiana. Renowned for its adaptability to diverse climatic conditions, the crop thrives across temperate to tropical regions. This study aimed to investigate the phenology of the strawberry variety 'Winter Dawn' under varying weather conditions and analyze the crop weather relationship to predict yield using statistical and artificial intelligence techniques. Experiments were conducted at the Regional Agricultural Research Station, Ambalavayal, employing a randomized block design (RBD) in open-field conditions and a completely randomized design (CRD) in polyhouse conditions. Five planting dates (1st September, 15th September, 30th September, 15th October and 30th October) were evaluated in the open field, while a single planting date (30th September) was tested under two polyhouse conditions. The study revealed that planting time significantly influenced the yield and quality of strawberries, with optimal weather conditions enhancing vegetative growth and fruit development. Phenological observations indicated six distinct stages: inflorescence emergence, first flower opening, fruit set, full flowering, fruit development, and fruit ripening. September 30th planting recorded superior growth parameters, including plant height, spread, number of leaves and crown number, and achieved the highest yield across both open field and polyhouse conditions. Among polyhouse treatments, the Indian polyhouse demonstrated superior performance in terms of growth and yield compared to the Dutch polyhouse, attributed to its higher light intensity and lower humidity levels, which promoted photosynthesis and nutrient assimilation. Weather parameters critically influenced phenophases and yield. Correlation analysis indicated negative impacts of higher temperatures and suboptimal humidity during later growth stages, while increased bright sunshine hours and reduced minimum temperatures during early phenophases positively influenced vegetative and reproductive development. In polyhouses, the Dutch polyhouse's higher humidity and lower light intensity curtailed growth and yield compared to the Indian polyhouse. For yield prediction, Random Forest emerged as the most effective model among machine learning techniques evaluated, including AdaBoost, Gradient Boosting, and Stacking. Feature importance analysis underscored the pivotal role of weather variables in determining yield across phenophases. This study highlights the importance of optimizing planting time and microclimatic conditions to enhance productivity and highlights the potential of machine learning models for accurate yield forecasting, thereby aiding informed agricultural decision-making .Item Quality assessment and standardization of propagation techniques in peanut butter fruit (Bunchosia armeniaca(CAV.) DC.)(Department of Fruit Science, College of Agriculture, Padannakkad, 2024-02-03) Nithya.; Meera Manjusha, A VThe study entitled “Quality assessment and standardization of propagation technique in peanut butter fruit (Bunchosia armeniaca) (Cav.) DC.” was carried out at RARS, Pilicode and College of Agriculture Padannakkad from January 2022 to December 2022. The objectives were to study phenological stages concerning flowering, fruit setting and fruit development in peanut butter fruit; estimate the nutritional parameters and antioxidant properties of peanut butter fruit in comparison with Barbados cherry; ascertain the best method of propagation and identify suitable chemical and dosage for seed priming. In the phenological study, floral bud initiation started by the end of March. From floral bud initiation to anthesis it took around 28 days. The period of flowering was observed from April to September which peaks in the months of April, May and June. Yellow coloured flowers are borne on racemose inflorescence. The period of fruit set was observed from April to September, which peaks in the months of May, June and July. From fruit set to fruit ripening, it took around 50 days. Fruits are found in clusters. Green coloured fruits produced during fruit set gradually changes its colour to greenish yellow then orange and red at maturity. The proximate analysis of peanut butter fruit was carried out in a completely randomized design with two treatments and seven replications. The treatments were T1 (peanut butter fruit) and T2 (Barbados cherry). The parameters such as TSS, titratable acidity, ascorbic acid, fibre content, protein, reducing sugar, non-reducing sugar and antioxidant value of peanut butter fruit were found to be 20.50˚Brix, 0.38%, 231.22 mg/100g, 2.5%, 1.93%, 17.29%, 0.96%, 47.71% respectively and that of Barbados cherry were found to be 7.88˚Brix, 1.23%, 1996.75 mg/100g, 1.57%, 0.74%, 4.59%, 1.06%, 67.55% respectively. The mineral content of peanut butter fruit such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, iron, boron, sulphur, manganese, copper and magnesium were found to be 0.31%, 0.06%, 0.76%, 32.31 ppm, 0.42 ppm, 0.07%, 4.79 ppm, 4.1 ppm and 0.65% respectively and that of Barbados cherry were 0.12%, 0.03%, 0.19%, 53.8 ppm, 1.38 ppm, 0.05%, 2.53 ppm, 3.17 ppm and 0.33%. TSS, fibre content, protein content, reducing sugar content, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, manganese, and magnesium content of peanut butter fruit was significantly higher than that of Barbados cherry. Organoleptic evaluation of peanut butter fruit was done in comparison with Barbados cherry. The score of peanut butter fruit for appearance, colour, aroma, taste, and texture the score was found to be 7.75, 8.11, 4.86, 6.08 and 6.56 respectively and that of Barbados cherry was 7.73, 7.42, 6.61, 6.69 and 6.89 respectively. In the case of colour, the score of peanut butter fruit was significantly higher than that of Barbados cherry indicating higher preference. The aroma of peanut butter fruit was less preferred than that of Barbados cherry. In the case of appearance, taste and texture rating, peanut butter fruit and Barbados cherry were similar. The propagation study of peanut butter fruit was carried out in a completely randomized design with eleven treatments and three replications. The treatments were T1 (Air layering), T2 (Semi hard wood cutting), T3 (Hard wood cutting), T4 (T3+Treatment with 500 ppm IBA, T5 (T3+Treatment with 2500 ppm IBA), T6 (T3+Treatment with 5000 ppm IBA), T7 (T3+Treatment with 6000 ppm IBA), T8 (T2+Treatment with 500 ppm IBA), T9 (T2+Treatment with 2500 ppm IBA), T10 (T2+Treatment with 5000 ppm IBA), T11 (T2+Treatment with 6000 ppm IBA). Treatment T6 had higher values for most of the parameters and was the best-performing treatment followed by treatment T4. Priming study of peanut butter fruit was carried out in a completely randomized design with six treatments and four replications. The treatments were T1 (Soaking the seeds in GA3 @ 100 mg/l for 12 hours), T2 (Soaking the seeds in GA3 @ 200 mg/l for 12 hours), T3 (Soaking the seeds in KNO3 @ 1% for 12 hours), T4 (Soaking the seeds in KNO3 @ 2% for 12 hours), T5 (Soaking the seeds in water for 12 hours), T6 (Seeds without soaking). Higher values for most of the parameters were observed in T3 followed by treatment T5. Salts like KNO3 reduce the water potential of the solutions in which seeds are steeped and deplete the water content of seeds. This makes the seeds proceed to the first stage of germination, to rapidly imbibe water with no lag after sowing.Item Assessment of rice (oryza sativa L.) production under climate change scenarios(Department of Agricultural Meteorology Vellanikkara, 2017) Jasti Venkata Satish; Ajithkumar, BAgriculture is sensitive to short term changes in weather and to seasonal, annual and long term variations in climate. Climate change will have decisive impact on crop production and the prediction of this climate change emerged as a major research priority during the past decade. Numerous estimates for the impending decade projects that continuous rise of anthropogenic forcing leads to increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) atmospheric concentrations, is expected to alter regional temperature and precipitation patterns, also contributing to higher risk of extreme weather events and climate irregularity (IPCC, 2013), with obvious implications on crops (Porter and Semenov, 2005). Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is vulnerable to unfavourable weather events and climate conditions. Despite technological advances such as improved crop varieties and irrigation systems, weather and climate play significant roles in rice production. The present investigation “Assessment of rice (Oryza sativa L.) production under climate change scenarios” was carried out in the Department of Agricultural Meteorology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during 2016-17, to determine the crop weather relationship, to validate the CERES (Crop Environment Resource Synthesis) -Rice model for the varieties Jyothi and Kanchana and to project the changes of rice yield and growth under climate change scenarios. The field experiment was conducted at Agricultural Research Station, Mannuthy during the kharif season of 2016. Split plot design was adopted with five dates of planting viz., 5th June, 20th June, 5th July, 20th July and 5th August as the main plot treatments and two varieties viz., Jyothi and Kanchana as the sub plot treatments. The number of replications for the experiment was four. Analysis of weather with crop duration and yield showed that maximum and minimum temperatures showed increasing trend towards late plantings, whereas the relative humidity, rainfall and rainy days were found to be low in late planting than during early plantings. To determine the critical weather elements affecting the crop duration, correlation analysis was performed. Number of days for panicle initiation to booting stage, decreased with increase in maximum and minimum temperature, whereas, the reverse was observed with afternoon relative humidity, afternoon vapour pressure deficit and rainfall in Jyothi. In case of Kanchana, days for transplanting to active tillering decreased with increase in maximum, minimum temperatures and bright sunshine hours, whereas relative humidity, afternoon vapour pressure deficit, rainfall and 159 number of rainy days showed a positive influence. The mean yield of Jyothi and Kanchana on June 5th planting found to be on par with June 20th planting. The correlation analysis showed that with increase in maximum and minimum temperature during transplanting to Active tillering will reduce the yield for both Jyothi and Kanchana The crop genetic coefficients that influence the occurrence of developmental stages in the CERES-Rice models were validated, to achieve the best possible agreement between the simulated and observed values. Predicted yield and phenology of both rice varieties, Jyothi and Kanchana under different planting dates were reasonably close to the observed values. Analysis of yield and growth phases of rice under different climate change scenarios ( Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) 4.5 and 8.5) for the time periods 2050s and 2080s showed that, days taken to panicle initiation, anthesis and physiological maturity decreases for all the five different dates of planting. This may be due to increase in maximum and minimum temperatures during the future scenarios. The predicted values of rice yield for the climate change scenarios during first and second plantings for the time periods 2050s and 2080s showed a low yield whereas increase in yield was observed in third, fourth and fifth plantings compared with 2016. This increase in yield is may be due to combined effect of increase in CO2 (538 and 936ppm) and solar radiation during the panicle initiation, anthesis and physiological maturity for the delayed plantings. These findings suggests that, planting date need to be shifted to late July and early August in case of kharif crop in the central zone of Kerala in future.Item Diversity analysis and reproductive biology of milk yam (Ipomoea digitata L.)(Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2017) Vidya, K M; Jessykutty, P CItem Quality evaluation and value addition of fruits of Elaeocarpus serratus L. (Ceylon olive tree)(Department of Forest Management and Utilisation, College of Forestry, Vellanikkara, 2015) Yeshma Machamma; Vidyasagaran, KThe present study “Quality evaluation and Value Addition of fruits of Elaeocarpus serratus L. (Ceylon Olive Tree)” was conducted in Vazhachal forest division of Thrissur district, Kerala. From the selected trees the fruits were collected to evaluate their physical parameters, biochemical and mineral composition. Two products were also, prepared from the fruits and their bio chemical parameters were analyzed. The physical characteristics of the fruits revealed that the mean fruit weight, volume, length, diameter for the fruit were 3.55 g, 5.97 cm3, 23.07 mm and 15.58 mm respectively. The mean pulp and seed weight was observed as 2.03 g and 1.52 g respectively for the fruits. The pulp and seed proportion was estimated to be 57.50 per cent and 42.50 per cent of the total Elaeocarpus serratus fruit content. Correlation matrix revealed a significant and positive relation among all the studied physical parameters. The biochemical parameters of the fruit such as moisture, total soluble solids, total sugar, reducing sugar, starch, fibre, titrable acidity, beta carotene, vitamin C were obtained as 62.45 per cent, 5.990 brix, 12.05 per cent, 8.26 per cent, 18.78 per cent, 1.73 per cent, 1.36 per cent, 1.04 μ g /100gm and 2.9 mg /100gm respectively. Minerals like phosphorous, potassium, iron and calcium were found to be 62.80 mg/100g, 331.48 mg/100g, 2.14 mg/100g and 10.94 mg/100g. The nutritional composition of the fruits was found to be in par with other tropical fruits like tamarind, passion fruit, jackfruit etc. In terms of organoleptic evaluation the fruit showed the mean scores for appearance, colour, flavour, texture, odour, taste, after taste was found as 6.7, 6.8, 5, 5, 4.9, 4 and 4.1 respectively. Since the mean value for the above characteristics of the fruit are low, the overall acceptability of the fruit is low with the value of 4.1. Two products were developed from the fruit i.e. pickle and candy. The chemical composition of the fruit product pickle was analysed to evaluate the acidity, total soluble solids, vitamin C, total sugar and reducing sugar which were found to be 1.2 per cent, 10.450 brix, 2.6 mg/100g, 6.05 mg/100g and 0.76 mg/100g respectively. Similarly Candy chemical composition analysed values was found to be 1.42 per cent, 68.060 brix, 2.8 mg/100g, 40.10 mg/100g and 15.01 mg/100g respectively. The organoleptic scores for the pickle and candy showed high values for all the parameters with the overall acceptability mean score of 8.4 and 7.7 respectively. Hence, the present study of fruits of Elaeocarpus serratus clearly reflects the potential of this underutilized wild edible fruit for commercial utilization.Item Pheno-morphological studies of selected tree species in a tropical forest ecosystem(Department of tree physiology and breeding, College of Forestry, Vellanikkara, 1994) Gopakumar, S; Luckins Babu, CA pheno – morphological study was carried out in pattikad Range of Trichur Forest Division, Kerala. Two groups of ten species each, where each group represented the moist deciduous and the semi – evergreen tract, were used for the present investigations. The study was initiated in March 1993 and was continued for a calendar year upto February 1994. The study was pursued with the objectives of supplementing information on the different phonological cycles of the commonly found species of this forest area. Along with this, the important macromorphological features of these trees were noted. An attempt was also done to understand the tree architectural principles of these species. The pattering of the phonological events like flowering, fruiting, leaf fall and leaf flushing, no doubt, are partly under endogenous control. However, in general, the timing of these life cycle events were noticed to follow a climatic cue. The deciduous habit exhibited by the study species during the dry weather had an ecological significance, because it strongly helped the trees to tide over the moisture limiting summer months. Likewise, dry season flower and fruit production shown by the species might be a part of a much complex adaptive strategy developed by these species through the course of competitive evolution. Apart from these climatic triggers, there exists possibilities of several, other external stimuli, that might have favoured these important seasonal cycles. However, the cardinal factor effecting these events would be the climatic factors, through its direct and indirect influences on the physiological mechanisms of these woody plants. Regarding tree architecture, it was noted that all the species build up through a progressive duplication of their basic architectural units. This architectural metamorphosis continued from seedling stage upto the death of the tree. Branch production and initiation of sexuality were intermediate events. However, the free expression of the architecture was found drastically affected, possibly due to the different stresses that perennial woody species encounters in its long life span.