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ThesisItem Open Access Delineating the various agroclimatic zones of Kerala & identifying the cropping patterns for the different zones(Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1986) Karmachandran, K M; KAU; Balakrishna Pillai, PAn investigation was carried out for delineating the various agroclimatic zones of Kerala and for identifying the cropping patterns for the different zones. Meteorological data were collected from 100 stations in Kerala. Soil and crop data were collected for the whole state. The agroclimatic features of Kerala were studied. The water balance elements and indices of 14 representative stations in the state were computed and presented on annual basis. Six moisture availability regimes (MAR) were proposed and delineated following the guidelines of Hargreaves (1971 & 1975). Twenty agroclimatic zones were identified by superimposing the six moisture availability regimes over seven soil groups. The zones are (1) Dry-Forest loam (AF1), (2) Semi dry-Red loam (BR1) (3) Semi dry-Laterite (BLa), (4) Semi dry-Alluvium (BA1), (5) Semi dry-Black soil (BBs), (6)Semi dry-Forest loam (BF1), (7) Sub humid-Red loam (CR1), (8) Sub humid-Laterite (CLa), (9) Sub humid-Alluvium(CA1), (10)Sub humid-Saline (CSa), (11) Sub humid-Forest loam (CF1), (12) Humid-Laterite (DLa), (13) Humid-Alluvium (DA1), (14) Humid-Greyish Onattukara (DGo). (15) Humid-Saline (DSa) (16) Humid-Forest loam (DF1), (17) per humid-Laterite (ELa), (18) per humid-Forest loam (EF1), (19) Wet-Laterite (FLa) and (20) wet-Forest loam (FF1). Twelve cropping patterns of the state were also identified. Suitability of the existing cropping patterns for the agroclimatic zones were examined. It is found that the cropping patterns existing in almost all the agroclimatic zones are suitable to the zones. Coconut is not suitable for BBs zone and the eastern part of the BLa zone, while rubber is not congenial for the zone BF1. Mango and jack are not suitable for the high altitude areas of DF1zone. Coconut, tapioca and cocoa are suitable only up to 900 m above M. S. L. in the zone EF1. In FLa zone rubber grows well up to 600 m above M. S. L, while cardamom is better for higher elevations. Tapioca is not suitable for areas 800 m above M. S. L in the zone FF1. The important crops except tapioca are unsuitable for AF1 zone. It is felt that a detailed study with a denser network of meteorological stations is necessary for examining the suitability of crops to the zone CF1. Crops such as millets with low water requirement should be given more importance in the zones like BBS and AF1. Dry (A) type MAR demands great care of crops at least for six dry months. Perhumid (E) and Wet (F) types of MAR demand proper drainage for crops except rice. Proper soil conservation measures have to be taken up when tapioca is grown on the slopes, especially of the sub humid (C), Humid (D), perhumid (E) and wet (F) types of moisture availability regimes.ThesisItem Unknown Screening plant materials for nitrification inhibition properties and testing the field performance of promising materials(Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1986) Gracy Mathew; KAU; Vikraman Nair, RThe present study ‘screening plant materials for nitrification inhibition properties and testing field performance of promising materials’ was conducted during May 1984 to November 1985 at the College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, Trichur. A total of 17 materials were used for screening using already proved nitrification inhibition materials like N-Serve and neem cake as reference. Nitrification rate in the soil was found to be very low and there was no appreciable conversion of NH+4 form to NO 3. Since there was no significant difference in the NH+4 content between treatments due to the naturally low rate of nitrification, selection of promising materials possessing nitrification inhibition property could not be done. Attempts were made to locate the factors that resulted in the low rate of nitrification in the soil. Organic matter content, pH, cropping history, amount of NH+4– N build up in the soil, incubation conditions and low microbial population were not indicated as responsible for the noted low degree of nitrification. In red and black soils of Coimbatore, nitrification was appreciable and there was fast disappearance of NH+4–N. Data on various growth parameters like mean, height, LAI and dry matter production of the test crop. Fodder maize, did not show any treatment difference. The yield in the treatment which received no fertiliser nitrogen was significantly lower than in other treatments. Similar were the results on nitrogen content of plant parts at various stages and those on total nitrogen uptake. The addition of materials used as nitrification inhibitors did not show any added advantage over untreated urea since the degree of nitrification in the soil was not appreciable.ThesisItem Open Access Water management in relation to split application of nitrogen on bhindi Abelmoschus esculentus (L) Moench(Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1986) Jaya Krishna, Kumar V; KAU; Ravindranathan Pillai, GA field experiment was conducted in the summer rice fallows of the Agronomic Research Station, Chalakudy during 1985 (January to March) to study the response of water management in relation to split application of nitrogen on bhindi. The soil of the experimental field was sandy loam in texture with a bulk density ranging from 1.41 to 1.47 g cm-3, slightly acidic in reaction, low in available nitrogen and potassium and medium in available phosphorus. The weather was almost normal without any appreciable amount of rainfall during the period of crop growth. The test variety was Pusa Savani. The treatments comprising combinations of five levels of irrigation (daily irrigation and irrigation at 30, 45, 60 and 75 mm CPE values) and three split applications of nitrogen (1/2 basal + 1/2 30 DAS, 1/2 basal +1/4 30 DAS + 1/4 50 DAS; 1/3 basal + 1/3 30 DAS+ 1/3 50 DAS) were laid out as a 5x3 factorial experiment in randomised block design with three replications.ThesisItem Open Access Fertilizer management in rice variety cheradi(Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1986) Vaijayanthi, C P; KAU; Ramachandran Nair, VTo evolve a suitable fertilizer management schedule for rice variety Cheradi, an experiment was conducted at State Seed Farm, Kottarakka, Quilon District during the second crop season of 1984-85. The treatment consisted of four graded levels of fertilizers (40: 20: 20, 50:25:25, 60:30:30 and 70:35:35 kg NPK/ha) and four times of application of nitrogen. The experiment thrice in a Factorial Randomised Block Design. Growth characters such as plant height, number of tillers/m2, LAI, CGR and dry matter production were the highest at the level of 70: 35: 35 kg NPK/ha. Interaction between levels of fertilizers and time of application of nitrogen influenced the LAI at active tillering stage. The LAI was the highest when 70 kg nitrogen was given 50% as basal, 25% each at active tillering and panicle initiation stages.ThesisItem Open Access Standardization of planting techniques in rice(Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1986) Thankappan, G; KAU; Tajuddin, EWith a view to identify suitable planting techniques for medium duration rice in Mundakan season, an experiment was conducted at the Cropping Systems Research Centre, Karamana, Trivandrum during 1984-85. The experiment was laid out in split plot design. In the main plot there were six treatments formed by the combinations of three spacings {20 x 15 cm, 20 x 10 cm and 15 x 10 cm) and two age of seedling (20 day old and 35 day old) ° In the sub plot there were six treatments formed by the combinations of two depth of planting ( 3 to 4 era and 6 to 8 cm) and three seedling rates per hill ( 3, 6 and 9 seedlings per hill).In total there were 36 treatment combinations. The Variety used was Jaya. The abstract of results are given below. Tiller production and leaf production per hill was highest with the wider spacing (20 x 15 cm) while LAI was more with the closer spacing (15 x 10 cm). Plant height was not affected due to plant spacing. Crop raised by planting 20 day old seedlings produced more plant height at harvest, more tillers at 40 DAT, and more leaves and LAI at 60 DAT, compared to the one raised by aged seedlings ( 35 day old). Shallow planting resulted more plant height, number of tillers per hill, number of leaves per hill, and LAI and this effect was seen only at 40 DAT. Crop raised by planting nine seedlings per hill produced more number of tillers and leaves per hill. LAI was not affected due to difference in seedling rate per hill. The interaction effects between treatment factors on growth characters such as plant height, tiller number per hill,leaf number per hill and LAI were not pronounced. The main effects of spacing seedling age# planting depth and seedling number per hill and the interaction between the treatment factors on the uptake of N# P and K can be treated as absent. Wider spacing (20 x 15 cm) resulted more number of filled grains per panicle and percentage filled grains. Crop raised by planting 35 day old seedlings produced highest percentage of filled grain. Planting @ three seedlings per hill produced longer panicles. A spacing of 20 x 15 cm gave the highest grain yield for medium duration rice in Mundakan season. Seedling age ranging from 20 to 35 days# and planting depth ranging from three to eight centimeter as such have no effect on grain yield. A seedling rate of three seedlings per hill provides higher yields. Planting ” 20 day old seedling at 20 x 15 cm spacing or planting seedlings at "three to four centimeter depth with a spacing of 20 x 15 cm gives higher grain yields. Neither the treatment factors nor their interactions influenced straw yield or harvest index.ThesisItem Open Access NPK requirement of short duration tapioca varieties grown in the uplands of Kuttanad(Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1986) Sunnykutty, M Kurien; KAU; Mohamed Kunju, UAn investigation was undertaken at the Regional Agricultural Research Station, Kumarakam during 1984-85 to identify a suitable variety of tapioca maturing in about six months and to find out the effect of different fertilizer doses on such varieties in the uplands of Kuttandu. The experiment was laid out in Factorial Randomised Block Design with three replications. The treatments consisted of three varieties namely Thoottakoli Kaduthuruthy. local and Sree Sahya and five fertilizer levels viz* 30:30:30, 30:30.45, 50:50:50, 50:50:75 and 50:50:100 Kg/ha of N P K. The varieties and fertiliser levels tried showed significant differences in the growth characters of tapioca. In all the three varieties the fertiliser level 50:50:100 recorded maximum plant height, leaf number and loaf area index. The yield and yield attributes were also influenced by the varieties and fertiliser levels. Maximum tuber yield was obtained from the variety Kaduthuruthy local (27.13 t/ha}. Tho variety Thottakolli produced 26.86 t/ha. In all the three varieties, highest tuber yield was observed in the 50:50:100 kg/ha N P K level.ThesisItem Open Access Biomass production in an agroforestry system involving food and fodder crops(Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1986) Ram Krishna, Neupane; KAU; Ragavan Pillai, GAn experiment was conducted in the Instructional Farm, college of Agriculture, Vellayani, during the period from Apr 1984 to Nov 1985, with the object of finding out the biomass production in an agroforestry system involving food and fodder crops and also to select the most suitable cereal-legune combination to be grown as intercrop under different plant densities of subabul. Subabul was planted at 3 x 1 m and 4 x 1 in spaclngs six months prior to the planting of annual crops in 1984. Annual legumes (cowpea and blackgram) and cereals (males, sorghum and bajra) ware planted in alternate rows in the space between tho rows of suitabul . Subabul foliage was pruned and applied as green manures to the annual crops 15 days before planting and at every fcifl 15 days interval after planting upfco the 60 day in the first year subsequent prunings at every 15 days interval till the planting of annual crops In July, 1985 were recorded as green fodder subabul foliage was pruned and applied as green manures to the annual crops at every 15 days interval after planting upto the 60 day in the second year also, subsequent prunings at every 15 days interval till the harvesting of annual crops x-iQVQ recorded as green fodder. The experiment was laid out as a factorial experiment in randomised block design with three replications.ThesisItem Unknown Response of maize varieties to graded levels of nitrogen grown under open and partial shade conditions(Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1986) Lincy xavier; KAU; Sasidhar, V KAn experiment was conducted at the Instructional farm, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, to find out the response of maize varieties to graded levels of nitrogen grown under open and partial shade conditions simultaneously with different levels of nitrogen viz. 0, 50, 100,150 and 200 kg/ha and five varieties via. AgAati-76, Deccan-101, Ganga safed-2, Histarch and Vijay. The experimental was laid out in a 5 x 5 simple lattice design with two replications and 25 treatment combinations. Nitrogen had significant effect on plant height number of leaves# leaf area index and dry matter production and the highest values were recorded at 200 kg N/ha under both open and partial shade conditions. Under open condition variety Ganga safed-2 produced the maximum height# number of leaves and leaf area index where as Vijay produced the maximum dry weight/plant. But under partial shade conditions Vijay recorded the maximum height of plants and dry weight plant whereas Ageti-76 recorded the maximum number of leaves and Ganga safed-2 the maximum leaf area index. Under open condition application of 200 kg N/ha recorded the highest number of cobs/plant length of cob and number of grains/cob, where as 150 kg N/ha was sufficient to produce the maximum girth and weight of cob and thousand grain weight. Butunder partial shade condition 150 kg N/ha was sufficient to produce the maximum length# girth and weight of cobs number of grains/cob and thousand grain weight where as 200 kg N/ha produced the maximum number of cobs/plant. The variety Ganga safod-2 performed good in these characters under both open and partial shade conditions. Minimum number of days to silking was recorded by Deccan-101 at 200 kg N/ha under both conditionsThesisItem Open Access Effect of date of sowing and levels of irrigation on the growth and yield of bitter gourd variety priya(Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1986) Sarah, Jacob; KAU; Balakrishnapillai, PEffect of date of sowing and levels of irrigation on the growth and yield of bittergourd variety Priya. An experiment was conducted at the Pepper Research Station, Vellanikkara during the summer months of 1984 -85 to study the effect of date of sowing and levels of irrigation on the growth and yield of bittergourd, variety Priya. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three replications. The treatments consisted of seven dates of sowing (December 1st, December 16th, December 31st, January 15th , January 30th, February 14th and March 1st), in the main plot and five levels of irrigation (IW/CPE = 1, IW/CPE = 0.75, IW/CPE + 0.50, conventional irrigation and pitcher irrigation) in the sub plot. The biometric observations of the crop growth characters, flowering and yield attributes were taken at different stages of development of the crop. Soil moisture studies were undertaken before and 24 hours after each irrigation. The observations on weather elements were recorded daily. Irrigation at IW/CPE ratio I was significantly superior to others with regard to date and number of female flower production, number of fruits, fruit length and girth, yield, total dry matter production. The conventionally irrigated plants showed maximum vine length, flesh thickness and fruit weight. The December sown plants were superior to others with regard to most of the crop characters. The crop weather relationship studies showed that the maximum temperature during the first 10 weeks, the minimum temperature during 7th to 11th week and relative humidity during 6th to 13th week were negatively correlated with both total yield and number of fruits per plant. While there was positive correlation between sunshine hours during 6th to 13th week and the yield characters. It was found that irrigation and sowing date had a significant effect on overall growth and yield of the crop. The highest yield of the crop was recorded in plots irrigated at IW/CPE + 1 and sown on December 1st. The best performance was attributed to the optimum weather condition during the crop period and the effective utilization of water. From the soil moisture studies it is evident that the consumptive use increased with the frequency of irrigation. The top 15 cm of the soil layer accounted for the highest soil moisture depletion. The depletion was more from the deeper layers in drier regimes. The water use efficiency was highest for the plants irrigated at IW/CPE = 0.5, sown on December 1st. Results of the present investigation indicate that bittergourd can be raised successfully during the summer months if irrigated at IW/CPE ratio I and sown on December 1st.