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Open Access
Production potential of two fodder grasses under different management practices
(Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1986) Raghavan Pillai, G; KAU; Madhavan Nair, K P
Open Access
Effect of NPK on seed progeny and air layers in cashew ( Anacardium occidentale L. )
(Department of agronomy, College of Agriculture Vellayani , Trivandrum, 1985) Harishu Kumar, P; KAU; Sreedharan, C
An experiment was conducted to assess the "Ef f e c t of NPK fertilisers on seed orogeny and air layers in cashew at Cashew Seed Farm, Shanmtigodu under Central Plantation Crops Research Institute , Regional Station, f i t c a l 574 24 3, during 1982-84. fhe treatments consisted of test ing three le v e ls each of d,? and K on seed . rogen/ i.,d ai r layers Ln cashcv/. r ’ne study revc ile 1 t h . t d i f f e r en t grov.'th oar meter 7 i. e . , he L'jl'it, can>py rolLus, surf ice area, le a f area n ; : ; v/erc influenced by increasing le v e ls of I:PR. f ■ r t i I i. s e r s . [' r/ ii chlorophyl l , to I; il v.ug ir , le.it v; .ter f-,■ n* , in-: sp e c i f ic le if w ight v;ere influenced by » b ,n v/11 i I e n i t rci' p n 11 one i n c i i iset i , , ., ii c * * . I', i r 1 y i'ii s r: u I: i- c ’ i I i r r - • * * in f l o w e r i n g , numbt l r, f ft mi. t e, _ .m ,lg ,■ I ; -I -,l puilr-h t'< t-i.l il 'hoots WC IX ; i ? V i . r ‘ I i I -■ 1 nr r r 1.0,1 b y f.f r » i I i d L >n . t’rmt j;un ii r‘ rc rn> r ri o nl; inrl acc' u b i ^ ici-1 c o n t e n t , ] Lc if ion . /c r | , 7 0 1 1 0 ' J W l ! " l p l Mut v Jupic an 1 IglTt wctr drrrc ir.ecl due to d M M, ion w,lH. V ipol ic .Llon ( ivour* rl nut md P i p d i ' - 1 , 4-r d W- i n ( k c - T l u 1 n - Leaf N v;as increased by NPIC. Lear ? was increased by p and K appl icat ion v/hile i t was reduced by N appl icat ion. Leaf K was reduced by H appl icat ion while i t was increased by ? and K appl icat ion. N appl ication resul ted in an Increase in le a f C i, where as P and K reduced i t . M and K reduced le a f Mg while P had no e f f e c t . M increased lui f Zn while P reduced the same. K had no e f f e c t . Cr i t ical levels in Ic if for M and ? are f ixed at 2.09% and 0.14% respectively. hoot CSC was increased by UP.' f e r t i 1 is ition . .1 application reduc’d organic carbon and P ‘./hale- i t i.nere -Scd ^>oil M, h and oH. P appl ication increased o i l d, K and pH. ‘V. ipol icat ion incr*. ia«_ , roi l H, h and oH wher>- as i c r c r\ v c c r: o i l P • rj ind P f spons r, r*. curvul in«. ar while not as i u ■ esnonrs v m Jincir. rhc od.imuni of U and P r , pc-j/trr ,./y ai re no-. c t ivt 1 y . M ixvv.um income W L. 1. ' - * * r t ' l i - r r l In lie 1 IV- r r . r
Open Access
Response of cucumber (Cucumis melo L.) to drip irrigation under varying levels of nitrogen and potash
(Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1997) Lakshmi, S; KAU; Sasidhar, V K
Two field experiments and one observational trial were conducted in the Instructional Farm, College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 1992 and 1993 to study the effect of drip irrigation and application of N and K fertilizers on the growth and yield of cucumber. In the preliminary observation trial (Experiment I a) three levels of drip irrigation, (2, 3 and 4 I plant-1 day-1) four timings of irrigation (1, 2, 3 and 4 hours) and two number of drippers per plant (1 and 2 dripper plant-1) were evaluated and based on the results of this experiment, the number of drippers per plant and duration of drip irrigation was standardised. Experiment 1 b was conducted to standardise the method of application of fertilizers in Experiment 2 and 3 for which cucumber plants raised under different levels of drip irrigation (2, 3 and 4 I plant-1 day-1). This was conducted during April 1992. The results of these experiments indicated the duration for drip irrigation as 3 hours per day and one number of dripper per plant to be the best. The spread and depth of root system of cucumber plants raised under drip irrigation pointed out that the fertilizers as a ring around the base of the plant at a distance of 20 cm will be within the root zone of the plant. The experiments 2 and 3 were laid out in the field with three levels of drip irrigation (2, 3, and 4 I plant-1 day-1), three levels of nitrogen (35, 70 and 105 kg ha-1) with three levels of potassium (25, 50 and 75 kg ha-1) with three drip irrigation controls (2, 3 and 4 I plant-1 day-1) and farmer's practice. The yield of cucumber was highest at the drip irrigation level of 31 planr-1 day-1. Irrigation at this level favourably influenced the vegetative characters, yield attributes and yield. But root dry matter was not influenced by the different drip irrigation level while the root spread and root depth were highest at the drip irrigation level of 41 plant-1 day-1. When different levels of nitrogen applied were observed, the vegetative characters yield attributes and yield were found to be favourably influenced at 70 kg N ha-1. The root spread of cucumber was highest at the highest level of N applied (l05 kg ha-1). Potassium at 50 kg ha-1 produced the highest yield due to its favourable influence on the vegetative and yield characters. There was no influence of potassium on my of the root characters studied. The soil moisture status was highest up to 30 cm depth in all drip irrigated treatments while in pot watered plots, the soil moisture was higher in the lower layers below 30 cm. The field water use efficiency was highest at the drip irrigation level of 3 I plant-1 day-1, 70 kg nitrogen ha-1 and 50 kg potassium ha-1. The nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium uptake by the plants and fruits were highest at the drip irrigation level of 31 plant day I, 70 kg N ha-I and 50 kg K ha-I. The physical optium levels of drip irrigation was 31 plant -1 day -1, 93 kg N ha-1 and 65 kg K ha-1 in the first season. When another crop is repeatedly grown in the same field, the Nand K levels can be reduced to 75 kg ha-1 and 60. kg ha-1 but drip irrigation is required at the rate of 31 plant-1 day-1. This resulted in higher benefit cost ratio of 2.83 and internal rate of returns of 23%. The payback period of this project worked out to 1.13 years.
Open Access
Soil test crop response studies in cassava in laterite soils of Kerala
(Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1997) Kumari Swadija, O; KAU; Sreedharan, C
An investigation was undertaken at the College of Agriculture, Vellayani to establish soil test crop response correlation for soil test based balanced fertilizer prescription for cassava var. M-4 in laterite soils of Kerala. The field investigation consisted of fertility gradient experiment, STCR experiment and technology verification trial. The fertility gradient experiment was conducted during April- May 1994 in the Instructional farm, Vellayani. The desired gradient in soil fertility was created in one and the same field by applying graded doses of N, P and K fertilizers and raising fodder maize var. African Tall. The STCR experiment was conducted in the same field during June '94-March '95 using the test crop, cassava var. M-4. The treatments consisted of factorial combinations of four levels of N (0, 50, 100 and 150 kg ha-1), three levels of P (0, 50 and 100 kg P2O5 ha-1) and five levels of K (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 kg K20 ha-1) along with three levels of farmyard manure (0, 6.25 and 12.50 t ha-1) fitted in a response surface design. Using multiple regression model, the fertilizer adjustment equation for N at varying soil test values for available N for maximum tuber yield (t ha-1) of cassava in laterite soil was derived as FN = 136.6 - 0.2 SN where FN is fertilizer N (kg ha-1) and SN is soil available N (kg ha-1). The equation becomes FN = 136.6 - 0.2 SN - R for economic tuber production where R is the ratio of cost of one kg of fertilizer N to price of one kg of tuber. At varying soil test values for organic carbon% (OC) the above equations become FN = 226.13 - 378.13 OC for maximum tuber yield and FN = 226.13 - 378.13 OC - 1.25 R for economic tuber yield. The behaviour of fertilizer P and K was found to produce responses other than 'normal' and hence optimisation could not be done for fertilizer P and K for maximum and economic tuber yield at varying soil test values. The nutrient requirements of cassava var. M-4 were estimated to be 6.58, 2.37 and 6.28 kg N, P2O5 and K2O respectively to produce one ton of tuber. In the laterite soil, the efficiencies of contribution of nutrients from the soil for cassava were calculated as 40.17, 41. 3 3 and 48.60% N, P2O5 and K2O respectively. The fertilizer efficiencies were worked out as 54.38, 47 and 52.650% N, P2O5 and K2O respectively. The efficiencies of contribution of nutrients from farmyard manure were calculated as 78.24, 57.33 and 69.66%) N, P2O5 and K2O respectively. From the above basic data, fertilizer prescription equations for specific yield targets of cassava var. M-4 in the laterite soil were derived as given below. Without FYM FN = 12.10 T - 0.74 SN FP2O5 - 5.04 T - 2.02 SP FK2O = 11.93 T - 1.10 SK With FYM FN = 12.10 T - 0.74 SN - 1.44 ON F P2O5 - 5.04 T - 2.02 SP - 2.79 OP FK2O = 11.93 T - 1.10 SK - 1.58 OK where FN, F P2O5 and FK2O are fertilizer N, P2O5 and K2O respectively in kg ha-1, T is the target of tuber yield in t ha-1, SN, SP and SK are soil available N, P and K in kg ha-1 respectively and ON, OP and OK are quantities of N, P and K supplied through organic manure in kg ha-1 The technology verification trial was undertaken during June '96-March. '97 in the laterite soil in three farmers' fields in Thiruvananthapuram district and also in the Instructional Farm, Vellayani. The treatments consisted of Package of Practices recommendation for fertilizer, fertilizer recommendation by the Soil Testing Laboratory and fertilizer doses for the yield targets of 15, 20 and 25 t ha-1 along with a uniform dose of 6.25 t ha-1 of farmyard manure for all treatments. The fertilizer doses based on targeted yield equations recorded higher tuber yield and net income, benefit cost ratio and net returns per rupee invested over the fertilizer recommendation by the Soil Testing Laboratory and Package of Practices recommendation emphasising the need for site specific recommendation based on soil tests. The yield targets of 15 and 20 t ha-1 recorded more than cent per cent achievement and the yield target of 25 t ha-1 recorded about 90% achievement. Higher tuber yield, benefit cost ratio and net returns per rupee invested could be achieved for the yield target of 20 t ha-1. The fertilizer dose for the yield target of 15 t ha-1 recorded the highest returns per rupee invested on fertilizers. The study has revealed the superiority of fertilizer application based on targeted yield approach over the semi-quantitative approach employed in the soil testing laboratories and generalised state level Package of Practices recommendation for the crop. In this approach, the fertilizer dose can be adjusted in accordance with the specific objective and available resources of the farmer.
Open Access
Phosphorus management in a rice based cropping system
(Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1989) Annamma, George; KAU; Sasidhar, V K
In order to standardize an appropriate phosphorus management practice in a rice based cropping system involving rice-rice-cowpea/sesamum, field experiments were carried out in the rice fields of the Instructional Farm, College of Agriculture, Vellayani from June 1984 to September 1986. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with three replications. There were eight treatments. The treatments comprised of (1) continuous phosphorus application to all the three crops in the system (2) phosphorus application to the first and second crops of rice (3) phosphorus application to the first crop of rice and third crop of cowpea/sesamum (4) phosphorus application to the first crop of rice only (5) phosphorus application to the second crop of rice and third crop of cowpea/sesamum (6) phosphorus application to the second crop of rice only (7) phosphorus application to the third crop of cowpea/sesamum only (8) control plot with no addition of phosphorus to any of the crops in the system. The salient findings of the experiment are as follows: Phosphorus application had no significant influence on grain and straw yield of first crop of rice. But available nitrogen, available and total phosphorus and available potassium of the soil were increased with phosphorus application. Direct, residual and cumulative effects of phosphorus had no significant influence on grain and straw yield of second crop of rice. Phosphorus uptake could not show any variation due to the different treatments. Available and total phosphorus content of the soil were highest under cumulative phosphorus treatment. All the growth and yield attributes of third crop of cowpea and sesamum were increased by the direct and cumulative effects of phosphorus. Grain yield of cowpea was significantly increased by the direct application of phosphorus. Eventhough not significant the highest sesamum yield was accorded by the direct and cumulative application of phosphorus. Phosphorus uptake in all the growth stages of the crop was highest in direct phosphorus plots. Available and total phosphorus content of the soil was highest in continuous phosphorus applied plots. There was no significant influence on grain and straw yield of first crop of rice after cowpea and sesamum in the direct, residual and cumulative effects of phosphorus. Residual phosphorus was sufficient to maintain the available nitrogen status of the soil. Available phosphorus of the soil was increased by the direct, cumulative and continuous application of phosphorus and total phosphorus by continuous application of phosphorus. Balance sheet of available phosphorus revealed that the soil phosphorus level almost maintained, where phosphorus was applied only to the third crop of cowpea or sesamum. The highest net return and benefit-cost ratio for the rice-rice-cowpea and rice-rice-sesamum system was obtained when phosphorus was applied only to the third crop in the rice fallow and the residual effect being utilized by the succeeding rice crops.
Open Access
Ecophysiology and management of Isachne in rice fields of Onattukara
(Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1996) Abraham, Varughese; KAU; Tajuddin, E
Isachne miliacea Roth is the most dominant weed in the 28,000 ha of low land rice fields of the coastal sandy Onattukara region, situated in Kollam and Alapuzha districts of Kerala. A serious of investigations were undertaken at Rice Research Station, Kayamkulam, during 1991 to 1994 with the objective to identify the major weeds in the rice ecosystem and to bring out the ecophysiology of 1. Miliacea and to find out a suitable weed management strategy for the rice based cropping system of Onattukara. Isachne miliacea was found to be the dominant weed in rice during Kharif and Rabi seasons. The weed seeds germinate in April – May, attains its peak vegetative growth in July and flowers in October. The seeds mature in November and the plants dry off in January with the onset of summer. The weed is propagated by seeds and stem cuttings. Germination of seeds can be prevented by submerging the seeds in the area in water even to a depth of one centimetre. The forcing of the stem cuttings of 1. Miliacea to a depth of five centimetre below the soil surface or maintaining a submergence for more than five centimetre can effectively check the vegetative multiplication of the weed. Seeds attained physiological maturity in November and remained dormant upto March. Seeds of the season that remain on the surface germinate fully in April – May with the pre – monsoon showers while the buried seeds remain dormant. Burying the seeds to more than five centimetre depth and water stagnation in July to November induced secondary dormancy. Viability of the seeds was lost faster at shallow depth of burial. Crop weed competition studies were conducted in Kharif and Rabi for two years with different densities of 1. Miliacea. Weed competition was severe in dry dibbled Kharif compared to wet transplanted Rabi. Even a small density of five 1. Miliacea plants per square metre produced appreciable biomass and reduced the DMP of rice substantially. Integrated weed management study was conducted in Kharif and Rabi for two years in a split – plot design in three randomised blocks. Kharif season treatments formed the main plots for Rabi trial. In Kharif five pre – emergence herbicides were compared with local practice. Local practice of hoeing on 15 DAS and HW twice on 25 and 40 DAS gave maximum grain yield. Application of oxyfluorfen 0.1 kg ha-1 followed by HW on 30 DAS was on par with local practice and ranked second. The performance of other herbicides anilofos 0.40 kg, butachlor 1.25 kg and thiobencarb 1.25 kg per hectare were also satisfactory when followed by one HW on 30 DAS. Pretilachlor 0.50 kg ha-1 was phytotoxic to rice. The tested herbicides effectively controlled 1. miliacea upto harvest of rice compared to local practice. During Rabi the effect of pre-plant spray of glyphosate and hand weedings were compared. Among the treatments a pre – plant spray of glyphosate after harvest of Kharif controlled 1. miliacea best and gave maximum rice yield in Rabi season. Kharif treatments did not show any significant influence on yield of rice during Rabi. From the study it could be concluded that pre – emergence spray of oxyfluorfen 0.1 kg ha-1 followed by one HW on DAS in Kharif and pre – plant application of glyphosate 0.75 kg ha-1 on residual weeds immediately after the harvest of the Kharif crop gave efficient weed control and economic yield of rice in the rice based cropping system involving rice – rice – fallow of Onattukara region.
Open Access
Seed production in stylosanthes gracilis under varying levels of population density, nutrition, moisturiser regimes and cuttings
(Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1989) Balachandran Nair, G K; KAU; Sreedharan, C
An investigation was carried out during the period from July 1980 to March 1982 in the Instructional Farm, College of Agriculture, Vellayani to study the agronomic techniques required for maximum seed production in Brazilian lucerne (Stylosanthes gracilis). The following three separate field experiments were conducted and data collected and analysed. The first experiment entitled ‘influence of cultivars and plant population on seed production’ was laid out as a22 Factorial Experiment in R. B. D and replicated five times with the objective to find out the best cultivar of Stylosanthes gracilis for seed production along with the seed rate. The treatments consisted of combinations of two cultivars of Stylosanthes gracilis viz. Schofield and Cook, and two seed rates viz. 2.5 and 5 kg/ha. The second experiment entitled ‘nutritional requirements of Stylosanthes for seed production’ was laid out as a32 Factorial Experiment in R. B. D and replicated thrice with the treatment combinations of three levels of phosphorus viz.80, 120 and 160 kg P2 O5/ha and three levels of lime viz. no lime, 375 and 750 kg lime/ha. The objective was to assess the phosphorus and lime requirement of the crop for maximum seed yield. The third experiment entitled ‘Effect of moisture regimes and cuttings on seed production’ was conducted as a 32 Factorial Experiment in R.B. D and replicated thrice with treatment combinations of three irrigation schedules (IW/CPE ratios) viz. 0.50, 0.75 and 1.00 and three cutting schedules viz. no cutting, one cutting and two cutting. The objective was to investigate the efficiency of irrigation schedules and cuttings on seed yield. The results from the investigation revealed that the variety cook produced significantly higher seed yield of about 64 kg/ha as against 35 kg/ha obtained from the variety schofield. The seed rate of 5 kg/ha gave the higher seed yield of about 56 kg/ha as against the seed yield of about 43 kg/ha under the seed rate of 2.5 kg/ha. The seed yield attributing characters like setting percentage of seeds and number of seeds per plant were maximum for the variety cook. All the growth characters contributed to about 66 per cent of the variation in seed yield. The highest net return per hectare was obtained when the variety schofield was grown under a seed rate of 2.5 kg/ha. Application of phosphorus at 120 kg and lime at 375 kg per hectare gave maximum seed yield of about 80 kg/ha. It was also found that higher levels of phosphorus like 120 or 160 kg/ha helped to increase the setting percentage of seeds. The biometric characters such as spread of plants, number of branches and LAI were significantly influenced by the application of 120 kg phosphorus and 375 kg lime per hectare. The nutrients uptake was also enhanced by the application of phosphorus and lime at the above levels. The growth characters influenced the seed yield by 53 per cent. The economic optimum doses of phosphorus and lime for maximum seed yield were found to be 149 kg and 593 kg per hectare respectively. The highest gross and net returns were obtained from plots treated with phosphorus and lime at 120 kg and 375 kg per hectare respectively. Irrigating the crop at IW/CPE ratio 1.00 gave the maximum seed yield of 89 kg/ha. When the crop was left without cut it produced the highest seed yield of 92 kg/ha. The maximum setting percentage of seeds and leaf production were observed when the crop was irrigated at ratio 1.00 and without cut. The no cutting treatment gave maximum number of seeds per plant. The biometric charaters like height, spread, number of branches and length of branches were all found maximum in treatments where no cutting was given. Maximum water use efficiency for seed production was recorded by the lowest irrigation ratio of 0.50 and also when the crop was left without cut. About 46 per cent of the variation in seed yield was explained by the growth characters. Maximum net return per hectare was obtained when the crop was irrigated at IW/CPE ratio 1.00 and without cut.
Open Access
Influence of levels of nitrogen, methods of application and plant population on the performance of the high yielding rice variety sabari
(Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1989) Mohamed Kunju, U; KAU; Sadanandan, N
An investigation was undertaken to study the effect of different levels and methods of nitrogen application and different plant populations on the growth, yield and quality of the rice variety sabari in the southern Region of Kerala. The treatments consisted of four levels of nitrogen (40,80,120 and 160 kg/ha), two methods of application of nitrogen (application of the entire dose through soil and 75 per cent through soild plus 25 per cent through foliage) and three levels of spacing viz.10x10cm (100 hills/m2) 10x15 cm (67 hills /m2) and 10x 20 cm (50 hills m2). The experiment was laid out in split-plot design, replicated thrice and conducted for two years at the Instructional Farm, College of Agriculture, Vellayani. Growth characters like plant height, number of tillers per hill, leaf area index and dry matter production at different stages of growth increased with incremental doses of nitrogen. Closer planting resulted in smaller plants and higher number of tillers per unit area. The leaf area index was high in closer planting. Total dry matter production at harvest was more in 10x15 cm spacing. Foliar application of nitrogen (25 per cent) increased the total dry matter production at harvest. Increasing levels of nitrogen delayed flowering. Number of panicles per unit area, length of panicle, weight of panicle, number of spikelets per unit area filled grains per panicle and number of grains per unit area were increased due to incremental levels of nitrogen. Application of the second top dose of nitrogen through foliage produced more number of panicles. It also increased the weight of panicle, number of filled grains per panicle and number of filled grins per unit area. Test weight of grain was more at higher levels of nitrogen. Foliar application also increased the test weight of grain. Maximum yield of grain was recorded at 120 kg/N/ha which was on par with 160 kg N/ha. The average yields of grain at the 40,80,120 and 160 kg N levels were 3149, 3818, 4106 and 4027 kg/ha respectively. Foliar application of the second top dose of nitrogen was superior to soil application in increasing grain yield. Higher grain yield was obtained at 10x15 cm spacing. Quadratic response curve was found to be a suitable fit for nitrogen dose. The overall economic optimum level of nitrogen was 120 kg/ha. It was low (109 kg/ha) at closer spacing and high (124 kg N/ha) at wider spacing. Straw yield was increased with increasing levels of nitrogen application. Foliar application also increased the straw yield. Foliar application of nitrogen resulted in higher grain straw ratio while higher levels of nitrogen decreased the ratio. Increasing doses and foliar method of nitrogen application increased the nitrogen content of plants at flowering and of straw and grain at harvest. Protein content of grain was high at higher levels of nitrogen. It was also increased due to foliar application. The uptakes of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium were more at higher levels of nitrogen and foliar application. This was not influenced by different spacings. Increasing levels of nitrogen application resulted in only a marginal increase in the residual available nitrogen status of the soil. Residual available phosphorus and potassium in the soil were not appreciably influenced by any of the treatments. Net income and benefit cost ratio were highest at 120 kg N/ha. Foliar application also increased the net income. Among the different spacings 10x15 cm spacing recorded the maximum net income. A combination of 120 kg N/ha of which 25 per cent applied through foliage at the panicle initiation stage with 10x15 cm spacing was found to be the most ideal for maximum benefit from the rice variety sabari under the agroecological situations of the southern Region of Kerala.
Open Access
Standradisation of organic and inorganic fertiliser comnbinations for maximising productivity in bitter gourd (Momordica Charantia L.)
(Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1999) Rajasree, G; KAU; Raghavan Pillai, G
An investigation was carried out during 1995-96 and 1996-97 at the Instructional Farm attached to College of Agriculture, Vellayani to study the efficacy of different levels of N applications (200, 250 and 300 kg N ha") in different ratios of organic - chemical N substitutions (l : 1, 1:2 or 2: 1) at different frequencies (F I - full quantity of organic source as basal, F2 - organic source at basal and at 40th and 70th DAS, F3 - organic source as basal + fortnightly equal splits and chemical N source as basal + fortnightly intervals in equal splits in all the frequencies) of application. Two different organic sources ie. farm yard manure and poultry manure were used in two simultaneous experiments viz. Experiment I and 11. The experiments were separately and simultaneously laid out as confounded 33 design in 9 plot blocks with 2 replications, confounding LR2F in RI and LRF2 in R 11. Higher levels ofN nutrition was found to reduce days taken to flower in farm yard manure applied trial while sex ratio was narrowed at 90 DAS in poultry manure applied experiment. Higher jassid population was noticed at 60 DAS when higher levels ofN was supplied predominantly through organic source as farm yard manure. Fungal leaf spot infestation was higher with the application of200 kg N at 90 DAS and was also more with split applications of both farm yard manure and chemical N source at early stages of growth. Full basal application of poultry manure was found to promote the per hectare yield of fruits, fruit yield planr I and number of fruits planr I compared to its split applications. When highest level ofN (300 kg) was supplied through 2: 1 ratio of organic - chemical N substitution using poultry manure as organic source, it effectively increased the fruit yield and number of fruits plant". 2 Shelf life of fruits at room temperature was more when nutrient N was supplied through 2: 1 ratio of organic - chemical N substitution using farm yard manure or poultry manure as an organic source. When N level was increased beyond 200 kg, shelf life of fruits at room temperature slightly decreased even when it was predominantly supplied through organic source of farm yard manure or poultry manure. Similar trend was noticed at refiigeratory condition too. Nitrogen nutrition showed depressing effect on ascorbic acid or vitamin-C content of fruits in Experiment I. Iron content in fruits was more with the application of 200 or 300 kg N level in Experiment ll. When 300 kg N was applied through a major source of poultry manure (2: 1 ratio) it produced higher iron content in fruits. Higher nitrogen levels or nitrogen nutrition through 2: 1 ratio of substitution promoted the soil bacterial population in both Experiment I and II. Full basal application of farm yard manure or poultry manure favourably influenced the soil bacterial population. Nitrogen nutrition showed depressing effect on fungal population of soil in Experiment I while it stimulated the fungal growth in Experiment 11. Soil actinomycetes population was higher with 2: 1 substitution ratio using farm yard manure as organic source ofN. When farm yard manure or poultry manure as organic source was used in equal or higher proportion with chemical N source, it showed moderating effect on the soil acidity. Full basal application of farm yard manure also enhanced the soil pH from the acidic range and the organic carbon content. Application of higher levels ofN increased the net loss ofN, P and K of soil in both the Experiment I and H. Net loss ofN was higher with 1:2 ratio ofN substitution or few or more split applications of organic source (farm yard manure) in Experiment 1. Net loss of nutrients was moderated during the second year of field experimentation. Nitrogen 3 nutrition in 1:2 ratio of substitution enhanced the net loss ofN in Experiment H. Nitrogen nutrition through 2: 1 ratio ofN substitution or basal + 2 split doses of farm yard manure increased the net loss of P in soil. The net loss of K in soil was more when farm yard manure and chemical N sources were applied in 2: 1 or 1: 1 ratio of substitution. Net gain of K was observed in Experiment H, when chemical N source was substituted in higher proportion compared to poultry manure or when full dose of poultry manure was applied as basal dressing. Higher levels ofN application have resulted in negative net energy returns or energy loss in both the experiments. The 1: 1 or 1 :2 ratio ofN substitution caused higher net energy losses in Experiment I while split applications of poultry manure resulted in more energy loss in Experiment H. Total energy output was higher with full basal application of poultry manure in Experiment I. Energy ratios registered a negative value and was higher with low level ofN application in Experiment I and II. Higher gross returns were obtained when full quantity of poultry manure was applied as basal dose in Experiment 11. Application of300 kg N through 2: 1 ratio of organic- chemical N substitution registered higher gross returns in Experiment II. Net returns was higher when 200 kg N ha! was applied. Increasing N level beyond 200 kg was not economic in Experiment I using farm yard manure as organic source. When full quantity of poultry manure was applied completely as basal dose, higher net returns was obtained in Experiment H. Benefit-cost ratio decreased when N level was enhanced beyond 200 kg ha' in Experiment I. Higher benefit - cost ratio was recorded when poultry manure was applied in full dose as basal dressing. Study revealed the favourable influence of organic sources; farm yard manure and poultry manure on fruit quality, shelf life and soil properties. The suitability of poultry manure as organic source for vegetable cultivation was also established by this study.

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