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Subject: Agriculture × Author: KAU × End date: 2014 × Start date: 2014 × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Development of nendran banana chips with enhanced shelf life and quality
    (Department of Processing Technology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2014) Sonia, N S; KAU; Mini, C
    The present investigation entitled “Development of Nendran banana chips with enhanced shelf life and quality” was conducted at Department of Processing Technology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, with the objective to evaluate and compare the effect of natural antioxidants in delaying rancidity of banana chips during storage and to explore the possibility of developing flavoured chips. Nendran banana chips were prepared in unrefined coconut oil by incorporating two types of antioxidants viz., processing waste and flavour imparting substances in fresh and dried forms at 0.01 and 0.02 % concentrations, either by presoaking slices in antioxidant solution before frying or by directly adding to frying oil. The prepared chips were analysed for physical, chemical and sensory quality parameters. Banana chips prepared by addition of 0.02% fresh banana peel to frying oil recorded the least moisture (6.45%), oil uptake (30.65%), peroxide value (4.70 meq. O2/ kg) and free fatty acid (FFA) value (3.08 mg KOH/ g) along with highest integrity (84.45%) and iodine value (8.76) indicating superior quality. Of all the flavor imparting substances tried, chips prepared by adding 0.02% dried curry leaf powder to frying oil had lowest moisture (5.30%), oil uptake (31.40%) peroxide (6.50 meq. O2/ kg) and FFA value (3.02 mg KOH/ g) along with highest integrity (85.90%) and iodine value (6.73). Both these treatments recorded highest sensory parameters too, hence selected for further storage study. Banana chips prepared using fresh banana peel and dried curry leaf powder were stored in low density polyethylene pouches, tri-layered laminated pouches and under modified atmospheric packaging (MAP) in laminated pouches for three months to evaluate the shelf stability. Chips prepared with 0.02% dried curry leaf powder and packed under MAP in laminated pouches showed low moisture (6.90%), least hardness (4.86 N), toughness (1.90 Ns), FFA value (5.24 mg KOH/g), peroxide value (7.87 meq. O2/ kg), highest iodine value (10.27), yellowness index (109.86), crispness (5.12) and higher mean rank value for sensory parameters throughout storage period. Highest antioxidant activity (12.61 ± 1.31 %) was also recorded by this treatment. When the possibility of development of flavoured banana chips was explored, chips prepared by addition of 2% dried garlic powder was acceptable to the sensory panel. The study revealed that preparation of Nendran banana chips by addition of 0.02% dried curry leaf powder into frying oil and storing under modified atmospheric packaging system in laminated pouches can ensure a shelf life of three months.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Standardization of techniques for better rooting and growth of orthotropic shoots in black pepper (Piper nigrum L.)
    (Department of plantation crops and spices, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2014) Nimisha, Mathews; KAU; Sulekha, G R
    The present study on “Standardization of techniques for better rooting and growth of orthotropic shoots in black pepper (Piper nigrum L.)” was carried out at the Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 2012- 2014. The objective of the study was to standardize techniques for profuse rooting and vigorous growth of orthotropic shoots of black pepper so as to produce quality planting material. The experiment was laid out in completely randomized design consisting of 10 treatments with 3 replications. All the treatments were tried using 2 node and 3 node semi hardwood cuttings of orthotropic shoots of black pepper. The treatments consisted of IBA (500 ppm and 1000 ppm), common sugar solution (1 per cent, 2 per cent and 3 per cent), AMF, Azospirillum 15 per cent and Psuedomonas 15 per cent. Solarized potting mixture enriched with Trichoderma was used for all the treatments including control and PGPR Mix -II was drenched uniformly in all treatments except absolute control. In the experiment with 2 node cuttings, T7 (Azospirillum 15 per cent) was found to be superior for most of the growth characters like minimum number of days for sprouting and number of days for 50 per cent sprouting . The same treatment recorded the highest value for height of sprouted cutting, length of leaf, breadth of leaf and leaf area. But the maximum values for number of leaves, petiole length, internodal length, root volume and number of roots was recorded in T2 (IBA 1000 ppm). In experiment with 3 node cuttings, T2 registered minimum number of days for sprouting, number of days for 50 per cent sprouting, highest values for height of sprouted cutting, number of leaves, petiole length, number of roots and root volume. The anatomical characters when studied, leaf cuticle thickness was highest in 2 node cuttings treated with T5 (common sugar solution 3 per cent) and in 3 node cuttings treated with T6 (AMF). The number of vascular bundles in leaf was found highest in T2 (IBA 1000 ppm) for both 2 node and 3 node cuttings. But the number of vascular bundles in root was highest in T1 (IBA 500 ppm), both in the case of 2 node and 3 node cuttings. For stomatal frequency, T7 showed maximum value in both the cases. The treatment T8 (Psuedomonas 15 per cent) recorded highest value for total dry matter production in both the experiments. The biological properties of potting mixture (after the experiment) showed that, AMF colonization and spore count was maximum in T6 for 2 node and 3 node cuttings .The observation on total actinomycetes load was highest in T7 in both the experiments. The treatment, T7 showed the highest percentage of success in the establishment of 2 node orthotropic cuttings which was on par with T1 and T2. With 3 node cuttings also T7 and T1 showed highest percentage success in the establishment of cuttings. From the results, it can be concluded that 2 or 3 node cuttings with Azospirillum 15 per cent or IBA 1000 ppm or IBA 500 ppm were found to be the best treatments for better rooting and growth of orthotropic shoots in black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) when planted in solarized potting mixture enriched with Trichoderma. However, 2 node cuttings are preferred because the availability of orthotropic shoots are scarce in black pepper.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Growth and yield analysis of aloe (Aloe vera L. Burm.f.) under different organic nutrient regimes
    (Department of plantation crops and spices, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2014) Dipin, M N; KAU; Jessykutty, P C
    The study entitled “Growth and yield analysis of aloe (Aloe vera L. Burm.f.) under different organic nutrient regimes” was carried out during 2012-14 in the Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Agriculture Vellayani, to analyse the effect of different organic manures and biofertilizers on growth, yield and quality of Aloe vera, to assess the relative efficiency of organic manures and biofertilizers as substitutes for inorganic fertilizers and to compare the economics of cultivation of different treatments. The experiment was laid out in RBD with sixteen treatments and three replications. The treatments included adhoc organic POP recommendation of KAU (2011), NPK dosage followed by commercial growers in Tamil Nadu and different combinations of three organic manures (FYM, neem cake and vermicompost) and biofertilizer as PGPR mix 1 and an absolute control (without manures and fertilizers). The study showed that, application of 37.5kg N in the form of FYM and.neem cake in 2:1 ratio along with PGPR mix I (T11 - 75 per cent N of FP as [FYM (50 per cent N) + .neem cake (25 per cent N)] + PGPR mix I) was significantly superior in increasing the morphological parameters (plant height, number of leaves, leaf width, thickness and weight) of aloe. Significantly superior fresh leaf yield (4.74 kg plant-1 year-1) and latex yield (18.91 g plant-1 year-1) was registered by T11. Application of chemical fertilizers (T3) recorded lesser yields compared to organic manure applied plants. Growth analysis carried out at different growth stages also revealed the superiority of T11. Significant improvement in gel quality was noticed for T11 and T14. Significant improvement in soil quality in terms of nutrient availability and microbial load was obtained by the combined application of organic manures and PGPR mix 1 in which, PGPR mix 1 can be used as N substitute to a maximum level of 25 per cent. Among the sixteen treatments tried, T11 (37.5 kg N/ha in the form of FYM and neem cake in 2:1 ratio along with PGPR mix 1) was the best cost effective treatment (B: C ratio 1.8) for getting highest yield and gel quality in aloe.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Standardization of planting time for off season cabbage (Brassica oleracea L.var capitata) production in rain shelter
    (College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2014) Shanthi, Elizabeth Kurian; KAU; Indira, P
    The present study entitled ‘Standardization of planting time for off-season cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata) production in rain shelter’ was undertaken in the Department of Olericulture, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during May-October 2013. The objective of the study was to standardize planting time for off-season cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata) production in rain shelter. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with four replications. The cabbage hybrid NS 43 of Namdhari Seeds Pvt. Ltd. was used for the study. The treatments comprised six planting dates namely May 15th, May 30th, June 15th, June 30th, July 15th and July 30th. The crop was raised inside two rain shelters each of 100 m2 floor area. Observations on quantitative and qualitative characters of cabbage were recorded during the course of study. Head formation was noticed in all dates of planting eventhough rainy season is an off-season for cabbage. There was no significant difference between planting dates with respect to plant spread, number of non wrapping leaves, stalk length, core length, head index and total number of marketable heads. The lowest number of wrapping leaves was observed for May 30th (3.9) planting which was on par with May 15th (4.0) planting. May 30th planting took the minimum number of days to reach 50% head formation (47.50 days) which was on par with May 15th (48 days) planting. The minimum number of days to reach 50% head maturity was observed for May 30th (63.75 days) planting which was on par with May 15th (68 days) and July 30th (67 days) planting. The highest net head weight was observed in May 15th (818.75 g) planting whereas the lowest was recorded in June 15th (486.25 g) planting. May 15th planting recorded the maximum value for head characters like head length (13.55 cm) and head breadth (15.73 cm). The highest harvest index was also observed in May 15th (60.79) planting while the lowest harvest index was observed in June 15th (53.05). The yield/plot was highest for May 15th (11.78 kg) planting. Moisture content was found minimum for June 15th (93.41 %) planting. The head shape of cabbage was round in all the planting dates. With regard to head compactness, all the heads were observed to be loose. The major pest observed during all the planting dates was tobacco caterpillar (Spodoptera litura F.). Incidence of soft rot (Erwinia carotovora) was noticed in all dates of planting. A physiological disorder called internal tip burn reported to be caused due to calcium deficiency was noticed in heads in all planting dates. The lowest pest and disease incidence was observed for May 15th planting. Considering the yield and lower pest and disease incidence, May 15th planting was found ideal for off-season cultivation of cabbage inside rain shelter.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Simulation of environmental and varietal effects in Rice using CERES model
    (College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2014) Naziya; KAU; Ajithkumar, B
    The present investigation on “Simulation of environmental and varietal effects in rice using CERES model” were carried out in Department of Agricultural Meteorology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during 2012-13 to determine the crop weather relationship, to calibrate the genetic coefficient and simulation of phenology, growth and yield of Jyothi and Kanchana varieties of rice. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with four replications at Agricultural Research Station, Mannuthy during the Kharif season of 2013. Five dates of planting was assigned as a main plot treatment viz., 5th June, 20th June, 5th July, 20th July and 5th August with two varieties (Jyothi and Kanchana) as sub plot treatment. The different growth and yield characters like plant height, leaf area index, dry matter accumulation,1000 grain weight, grain yield, straw yield, number of panicles, spikelets, filled grains and duration of different growth phases were recorded along with monitoring the incidence of various pest and diseases. The daily weather parameters like maximum and minimum temperatures, forenoon and afternoon relative humidity, forenoon and afternoon vapour pressure deficits, bright sunshine hours, evaporation, wind speed, rainfall and rainy days were determined. The minimum temperature, afternoon and forenoon relative humidity, rainfall, rainy days, bright sunshine hours and evaporation were found to be higher in early planting dates compared to late plantings. Plant height, leaf area index, dry matter accumulation, yield and yield attributes were highly variable among the different planting dates. Yield and yield attributes were influenced by various weather parameters experienced by the crop during different dates of planting. Days taken to complete maturity were reduced with each successive delay in planting dates in both the varieties. Genotypic variations are found between the varieties but days taken for each phenophases were found to be similar. June 5th and July 20th planting recorded the highest yield in Jyothi whereas June 20th and July 5th planting gave highest yield in Kanchana. Jyothi was found to be superior to Kanchana during the crop season. To determine the critical weather elements affecting the crop growth, correlation analysis was done and it was observed that crop duration would decrease with increase in temperature and bright sunshine hours whereas, the forenoon and afternoon relative humidity, rainfall and rainy days showed a positive influence on crop duration. Multiple linear regression models were fitted, to predict the grain yield based on weather variables. The crop genetic coefficients that influence the occurrence of developmental stages in the CERES-rice models were derived, to achieve the best possible agreement between the simulated and observed values. Calibration was done with the independent data sets of two rice varieties viz. Jyothi and Kanchana for different genetic coefficients, which characterize the performance of the crop. The performance of the CERES-rice simulation model was tested and evaluated using the calibrated genetic coefficients for both the varieties with their respective planting dates. The results of simulation studies in respect of phenophases and yield of rice were compared with the observed values from the field experiment. Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and D- stat (index of agreement) were used to evaluate the model performance and found that predicted yield of both rice varieties Jyothi and Kanchana under different planting dates were reasonably close to the observed values.