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Subject: Agriculture × Author: KAU × End date: 2012 × Start date: 2012 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Standardization of organic manuring in kasthuri turmeric (Curcuma aromatica salisb)
    (Department of Plantation Crops and Spices,College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2012) Bhende Siddhesh, Shamrao; KAU; Jessykutty, P C
    A study entitled "Standardization of organic manuring in kasthuri turmeric (Curcuma aromatica Salisb.)" was carried out at the Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram, during 2010-2011 to formulate a cost effective organic manurial recommendation for commercial cultivation of kasthuri turmeric. The experiment was laid out in RBD with nine treatments and three replications. The treatments consisted of different doses and combinations of three organic manures viz., FYM, vermicompost and neemcake plus a combination of microbial inoculants viz., Azospirillum, Arbuscular Mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), Trichoderma and Pseudomonas. The treatments were M1 d (T1) - FYM 40.0 t ha-1 + mi, M2 d (T2) - Vermicompost (VC) 25.0 t ha-1 + mi, M3 d (T3) - Neemcake (NC) 6.0 t ha-1 + mi, M1 d/2 (T4) - FYM 20.0 t ha-1 + mi, M2 d/2 (T5) -Vermicompost 12.5 t ha-1 + mi, M3 d/2 (T6) - Neemcake 3.0 t ha-1 + mi, M4 d (T7) - FYM 20.0 t ha-1 + VC 6.25 t ha-1 + NC 1.5 t ha-1 + mi, M4 d/2 (T8) - FYM 20.0 t ha-1 + VC 3.125 t ha-1 + NC 0.75 t ha-1 + mi and M0 d0 (T9) - Absolute control with no organic manures and microbial inoculants. The results revealed that application of different organic manures along with microbial inoculants significantly influenced the morphological characters, biochemical and physiological parameters, nutrient uptake, dry matter production and ultimately the yield and yield attributes in kasthuri turmeric. A general improvement in the soil physical, chemical and biological properties was noticed in the experimental plots, after the experiment. Treatment M2 d recorded significantly superior values for plant height, leaf area, rhizome and root characters followed by M3 d and M4 d and M1 d. No significant difference in tiller production was noticed by the treatments but highest number of leaves was recorded in M3 d/2. Highest fresh and dry rhizome yield was produced by M2 d. Equivalent yield was also obtained from M3 d. Significantly superior yields compared to control were also registered by M4 d, M1 d, M2 d/2 and M4 d/2. All these treatments recorded significantly lesser crop duration than control. All treatments except M3 d/2 and M1 d/2 were equally effective in giving better dry matter production than control. M2 d affected the biomass accumulation most favourably, followed by M3 d, and M4 d.In the case of leaf area index, M4 d was found to have the most significant influence throughout the crop growth period followed by M2 d. In all other treatments also significant increase in the leaf area index over control (M0 d0) was noticed. All treatments recorded significantly superior harvest index than control. In the case of biochemical characters like volatile oil, non volatile ether extract and starch M2 drecorded the highest values followed by M3 d and M4 d and same treatments recorded lower crude fibre content also. However, no significant difference in leaf chlorophyll and rhizome curcumin content was noticed among the treatments. After the experiment an improvement in the soil physical and chemical properties was recorded in all plots. A general reduction in soil bulk density and an increase in the water holding capacity of the soil was recorded in all plots after the experiment. However, a significant difference among the treatments was not noticed. Soil pH range of the experimental field remained same after the experiment (6.38-6.59), while an increase in the electrical conductivity was noticed in all the treatments.An increase in organic carbon was noticed in all treatments including control (M0 d0) after the experiment. General increase in available N, P and K was noticed in all plots with highest values in higher doses of organic manures (M3 d, M2 d, M1d and M4 d) applied plots. Highest N uptake was observed with full dose application of vermicompost, neem cake and combination application (M2 d, M3 d and M4 d). Significantly superior P uptake was noticed with full dose application of organic manures (M1 d, M2 d and M3 d) with the combined application recording the highest value (M4 d). Lower dose of organic manures though with microbial inoculants, recorded lower uptake of P. Application of organic manures like neemcake and vermicompost along with microbial inoculants either singly or in combination (M1 d, M2 d, M3 d and M4 d) had significant influence on the uptake of K, as observed from the present study. Pest and disease incidence was observed very less in present experiment. The treatment M3 d was found the best treatment for reducing the phytopathogenic bacterial population in the soil. Maximum reduction of pathogenic fungal population was found in the treatment M3 d/2 whereas, in the case of actinomycetes it was observed in the treatment M2 d/2. Throughout the growth stages, all treatments recorded significantly superior root colonization than control. At 2 and 4 MAP, M1 d recorded significantly superior root colonization, but at 6 MAP, M3 d/2 recorded significantly superior value. In the cost benefit analysis, highest net income was obtained from M3 d (Rs. 4, 67,935 /-) followed by M2 d (Rs. 4, 16,796 /-) and M4 d (Rs. 4, 05,390 /-). Treatment M3 d recorded the highest B: C ratio (3.05) followed by M3 d/2 (2.92). Better B: C ratios were also observed with treatments M4 d/2, M1 d/2, M4 d, M1 d and M2 d/2 (2.57, 2.55, 2.53, 2.49 and 2.43 respectively). M2 d recorded a B: C ratio of 2.37. Economic analysis revealed that, treatments M3 d, M3 d/2 and M4 d/2 recorded the higher B: C ratios. Hence, treatment M3 d (Neemcake 6.0 t ha-1 + mi) can be considered as the best cost effective organic manurial recommendation for kasthuri turmeric cultivation.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    In vitro production of microrhizomes in curcuma aromatica salisb
    (Department of Plantation Crops and Spices,College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2012) Shameena, S; KAU; Reghunath, B R
    Investigations on “In vitro production of microrhizomes in Curcuma aromatica Salisb.” was carried out at the Department of Plantation Crops and Spices and Department of Plant Biotechnology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram during 2009-2011. The objective of the study was to standardize the method(s) for in vitro production of microrhizomes in Curcuma aromatica Salisb. so as to utilize them for rapid propagation and conservation of germplasm. The investigations were carried out in two phases viz., (i) In vitro shoot multiplication and (ii) Microrhizome production. IISR accession of Curcuma aromatica from the germplasm collection of the Department of Plantation crops and Spices, College of Agriculture, Vellayani was used for the study. For in vitro shoot multiplication rhizome bud sprouts was used as explants. Sprouted rhizhome bud of C. aromatica treated with Bavistin 0.2 per cent for 30 minutes and mercuric chloride 0.1 per cent for 12 minutes registered the highest survival percentage (87%). Murashige and Skoog’s medium supplemented with BA and NAA and agar 6.5 per cent was optimum for shoot multiplication. Maximum number of multiple shoots (12.4), and the longest shoot (6.03 cm) was obtained in 5 mgl-1 BA and 0.10 mg l-1 NAA. For in vitro rooting, the shootlets produced in vitro were transferred to rooting media where half strength MS medium with IBA 0.2 mg l-1 favoured best rooting with regard to percent of cultures initiating roots (100%), number of roots (15.4) and root length (6.4 cm). Mixture of coir pith compost and vermi compost (1:1 v/v) was identified to be the best potting medium for planting out and acclimatization, registering 100 per cent survival rate. The in vitro multiplied tissue cultured plants were successfully established in the field. The plants were healthy and vigorous with cent per cent field survival and were morphologically uniform. 85 For microrhizome induction, three to four cm long shoots generated from in vitro shoot multiplication cultures were used as explants. Microrhizome formation was found to be controlled by the concentrations of cytokinins and sucrose as well as photoperiod during the culture. BA 5.0 mg l-1 was identified as the best hormone for microrhizome induction with regard to number of microrhizome per culture vessel (4.8), fresh weight (247 mg) and dry weight (65 mg) of microrhizomes produced. Different concentration of growth regulators on microrhizome production showed that the number of shoots producing microrhizomes range between two to five. Among the different levels of sucrose, 70 g l-1 was most effective for microrhizome induction as indicated by earliness in induction (37 days), maximum percentage (92 %) of cultures with microrhizome and highest number (5.5) of microrhizome per culture vessel. But maximum fresh weight (260 mg) and dry weight (70 mg) microrhizome was noticed at higher concentration of 80 g l-1. With regard to various durations of photo period used for microrhizome induction, eight hours light was found better than others with respect to percentage (92 %) of cultures with microrhizome, number (5.5) of microrhizome per culture and fresh (220 mg) and dry weight (56 mg) of microrhizome. Harvested microrhizomes from in vitro culture were germinated both in vitro and ex vitro. During in vitro germination, regeneration of microrhizomes was independent of size and weight and registered 83.3 per cent regeneration and survival. But in ex vitro germination, regeneration of microrhizomes was dependent of size and weight and larger microrhizomes (>150 mg) registered highest regeneration percentage (91.6 %) and survival percentage (75 %). With regard to growth parameters larger microrhizomes (>150 mg) performed better both under in vitro as well as ex vitro conditions. They recorded maximum shoot length (30 mm), highest rate of shoot growth (10 mm week-1), maximum fresh weight (160 mg) of shoot and dry weight (40 mg) of shoot during in vitro germination and highest rate of shoot growth (10 mm week-1), maximum shoot number (20 mm), maximum root number (4.0), maximum shoot length (39 mm), maximum root length (4.1 cm), maximum fresh weight (200 mg) of shoot and dry weight (50 mg) of shoot during ex vitro germination.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Production and evaluation of proteinaceous earthworm meal
    (College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2012) Fasila, E K; KAU; Sushama, P K
    The study on the “Production and evaluation of proteinaceous earthworm meal” was conducted at College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during the period of 2011-2012. The experiment was done to compare the efficiency of different substrates on the mass multiplication of exotic earthworms, to formulate viable techniques for the collection and multiplication of native worms, to develop a protocol for the preparation of worm meal using exotic and native earthworms and to evaluate the nutritive content of different worm meal preparations. In order to attain the objectives three separate experiments were conducted. The first experiment included the comparative evaluation of different substrates for the mass multiplication of exotic earthworm Eisenia foetida. In order to study the influence of different substrates on the mass multiplication of exotic earthworms, three different substrates like silkworm waste, banana pseudostem and azolla were used along with cow dung in 1:1 ratio by volume. The results revealed that the best substrate for the multiplication of exotic worm was azolla. The contents of crude protein, carbon and nitrogen were higher in silkworm waste as compared to azolla and banana pseudostem. The compost matured within 12 weeks for the treatment with silkworm waste as the main substrate, where as it attained maturity within six weeks with azolla and banana pseudostem. Among the worm casts from different treatments, the worm cast produced from azolla as the main substrate, recorded the contents as 1.43% N, 0.91% P, 1.29% K, 0.79% Ca and 0.83% Mg. The second experiment mainly included the viable techniques for culturing native earthworms. For collecting the native worms, a hand full of cow dung with leaf litter was spread in the surface of soil and covered with wet jute bag. Moisten the bag without flooding. After a fortnight interval worms were found to be at the surface and were collected by digging and hand sorting. The collected worms were identified and cultured for the multiplication with different substrates like silkworm waste, banana pseudostem and azolla along with cow dung and soil in the ratio 1:1:1 by volume. Among the three treatments, the treatment with azolla as main substrate was the most efficient one. However a mortality of native worms was recorded in all the three treatments within a period of 30 days of vermicomposting. Considering the manurial value of native worm cast, the treatment with azolla as the main substrate was found to be better than other treatments (0.78% N, 0.39% P, 0.59% K, 0.17% Ca and 0.47% Mg). Irrespective of the substrates and types of worms, the worm cast maintained a pH range of 6.5 to 7.8. The third experiment, the preparation of earthworm meal and comparative evaluation of nutritive contents of different earthworm meals, was done to identify the best feed material in terms of protein, along with readymade and locally prepared feeds. A simple and cost effective method was proposed for the preparation of worm meal with the clearing of earthworm’s gut using cellulose material. The crude protein (46.37%), crude fibre (1.00%) and crude fat (10.33%) were found to be comparatively rich in exotic worm meal. The total protein content was also higher in exotic (43.45%) than native worm meal (41.61%), but the total carbohydrate was low in both cases with the values 15.03 and 19.06% (as compared to FAO specifications for fish feed) respectively. All the essential and non essential amino acids except proline, tryptophan, cystine and cystine hydrochloromonohydrate were qualitatively detected in all the feeds including worm meals. There is no appreciable change in pH and EC of aquarium water with the continuous use of worm meal as a feed for the ornamental fish, Red Oscar.