Theses

Browse

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 7 of 7

Open Access
Performance analysis of clove bean ipomoea muricata (L) jacq. genotypes
(Department of Olericulture, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2008) Malsawmkimi; KAU; Salikutty, Joseph
An experiment was carried out in the Department of Olericulture, College of Horticulture, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara during August 2007 - January 2008 to analyze the performance of different accessions of clove bean Ipomoea muricata (L.) Jacq. The major objectives of the study were to genetically catalogue the germplasm and to assess the genetic variability, divergence, heritability, genetic gain and correlation of different traits with yield. Twenty five accessions collected from different parts of Kerala were grown in randomized block design with three replications. Cataloguing of the germplasm evidenced significant differences for the characters like vine length, days to first flower production, days to first harvest, length and weight of pedicel, length of fruit, yield per plant, duration of the crop, number of harvests and contents of vitamin C, calcium and crude fibre. There was also much variability in the germplasm with regard to colour shades of vine, flower and fruit. The accession IM-14 was found to be the highest yielder (4.24kg/plant) coupled with maximum length (3.675cm), girth (4.49cm) and weight of pedicel (93.27g) and length (2.8cm), girth (6.61cm) and weight of fruits (3.27g). Maximum vine length was observed in IM-7 (414.48cm). The accession IM-15 was the second best yielder (4.13 kg/plant) with superior yield contributing characters. Among quality attributes, protein content was found to be highest in IM-21, phosphorus in IM-2 and crude fibre in IM-10 and IM-3. The iron content ranged from 0.13mg/100g to 0.19mg/100g, vitamin C ranged from 24mg/100g to 48 mg/100g and calcium content ranged from 230.67mg/100g to 209.79mg/100g. Highest genotypic and phenotypic coefficients of variation were observed for weight of pedicel, yield per plant and crude fibre content. High heritability coupled with genetic gain was observed for yield per plant. The 25 accessions were grouped into six clusters and no parallelism between geographical distribution and genetic diversity was observed. Strong association was revealed between yield and length, girth and weight of pedicel and weight of fruit. Highest positive direct effect on yield was contributed by weight of individual fruits. A selection model was also formulated using characters like length, girth and weight of pedicel, length and girth of fruit, days to first flower production, vine length, protein, phosphorus, iron, ascorbic acid and crude fibre. Based on selection index accession IM-14 was identified as the best performer followed by the accessions IM-15, IM-12 and IM-11
Open Access
Performance of spiny coriander (Eryngium foetidum L.)under different shade regimes
(Department Of Plantation Crops & Spices,College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2008) Appukuttan, J; KAU; Sulekha, G R
The studies on the “Performance of spiny coriander (Eryngium foetidum L.) under different shade regimes” were carried out at the Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, during 2004-2006. The objectives were to evaluate the adaptability and performance of Eryngium foetidum L. under varying levels of shade and plant population densities and also to study the feasibility of cultivating Eryngium foetidum L. under the homestead conditions of Kerala. Its use, both as a flavouring agent and herbal medicine, and also as a home remedy for various ailments point towards its inclusion as an important item in Kerala homesteads. The performance of Eryngium foetidum was studied at three levels of shade (25, 50 and 75%) and four spacings (10cm  15cm, 15cm  15cm, 20cm  15cm and 30 cm  15 cm). High Density Poly Ethylene shade nets of appropriate mesh size were used for providing the required shade levels. Observations on growth parameters, physiological characters, growth analysis, yield characters, bio-chemical analysis, storage studies etc., were taken and the benefit: cost ratio was worked out. From the experiment, it was found that the crop performed best under 75 per cent shade level in most of the characters studied. Maximum yield (1411.04 g/plot of size 120  150 cm) was recorded under 75% shade level and also at a closer spacing of 10x 15cm (1131.41 g/plot). But the interaction effect of shade and population density on total herbage yield was not significant. On analysis, no measurable quantity of volatile oil could be estimated. The highest NVEE of 0.86 per cent was obtained from the plants grown under 75 per cent shade and a spacing of 30 × 15cm. From the storage studies it was concluded that under ambient temperature the leaves could be stored for a maximum of 5.2 days and 4.8 days when grown under 50 per cent and 75 per cent shade respectively, whereas under cold storage, the leaves from 75% shade could be stored for a maximum of 109.65 days without any deterioration. Maximum benefit: cost ratios of 1.28, 1.27 and 1.21 were obtained in the treatments 75% shade and 15cm × 15 cm spacing, 75% shade and 10cm  15 cm and 75% shade and 20cm  15 cm spacing, respectively. In general, as the intensity of shade increased, performance of the crop was better. Since the highest level of shade (75%) was found to be the best for the growth and yield of Eryngium foetidum, a higher level of shade, can be studied. Further studies on intercropping Eryngium foetidum under the existing homestead farming situations and other shaded situations like coconut, rubber, oil palm and other perennial tree crops are necessary. Popularization of the crop and development of appropriate marketing strategy are necessary for making the crop more remunerative.
Open Access
Integrated nutrient management in dendrobiums
(College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2008) Meghana, Davis; KAU; Jyothi, Bhaskar
Studies on “Integrated nutrient management in dendrobiums” were carried out in the orchidarium of All India Co-ordinated Floriculture Improvement Project in the Department of Pomology and Floriculture, College of Horticulture, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, Thrissur during the period from March 2005 to June 2007. The study was conducted using two Dendrobium varieties, Earsakul and Shavin White, with the main objective of determining the effect of organic manures on growth and flowering in Dendrobium in combination with inorganic fertilizers. The inorganic nutrients NPK were applied twice weekly @ 0.2 % concentration along with fermented farmyard manure (1:10) fortnightly as recommended dose for control. The organic manures like panchagavya, Manchurian tea and vermiwash were applied at fortnightly interval as treatments along with 50% of the recommended dose. Results revealed that, different treatments involving combinations of organic manures and inorganic fertilizers highly influenced the growth characters of the plant. The plant height obtained was the highest for the treatment which received 50% recommended dose along with 3 % vermiwash. This treatment also improved vegetative characters like number of leaves per plant, number of leafy shoots, girth of shoots and internodal length. Plants which received only NPK 30:10:10 @ 0.2% along with FYM (1:10) came to flowering early. Number of spikes per plant, colour, and size of the flower and longevity of spike on plant were not found to be influenced by fertilizer application. Significant incidence of pests and diseases were not noticed during the period of study. From this trial conducted, an indication was obtained that, vermiwash application increased the growth parameters in orchid plants. The treatment T8, receiving 3 % vermiwash and 3 % panchagavya along with inorganic fertilizers (0.1 %) and FYM produced more large flowers than others. Maximum numbers of flowers per spike was also obtained for T8. Longest spike (21.58 cm & 20.05 cm) were obtained for the treatment receiving 30:10:10 NPK @ 0.1 % along with 3 % vermiwash and FYM in both Earsakul and Shavin White varieties. Nutrient contents in plants were found to be influenced by organic manure application. The plants treated with 50% recommended dose + 3 % vermiwash + 3 % panchagavya recorded higher values for nutrients analysed Tags from this library:
Open Access
Identification of promising segregants in F4 and F5 generations of the cross abelmoschus caillel (A. Cher) Steveis x A.esculentus (L.) Moench
(College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2008) Jaseena, P; KAU; Suresh, Babu K V
Yellow Vein Mosaic (YVM) is a devastating disease infecting okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.)Moench), which affects all stages of crop growth, causing 50 to 90 per cent crop loss. The best way to tackle this disease is the use of resistant varieties. Hence a study was undertaken in the Department of Olericulture, College of Horticulture, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, Thrissur during 2007-2008 for the evaluation of the F4 and F5 generations of the cross between Abelmoschus caillei variety Susthira (a semi wild yellow vein mosaic resistant variety) and Abelmoschus esculentus variety Salkeerthi (a high yielding widely adapted, but Yellow Vein Mosaic Virus (YVMV) susceptible variety), obtained from the earlier studies with the objective of identifying high yielding and YVM disease resistant lines from the segregating generations. Okra germplasm consisting of 14 F4 selections along with their parents was evaluated simultaneously for YVMV resistance and yield traits in RBD with two replications during April to September 2007. The F4 segregants were morphologically more similar to semi wild parent Abelmoschus caillei and were highly resistant to YVMV. However, seven F4 selections viz., F4-2, F4-5, F4-8, F4-13, F4-15, F4-16, and F4-20 having more fruit length and desirable number of ridges per fruit were selected. These selections also showed considerably good amount of pollen fertility. So these selections were further advanced to F5 generation and were also subjected to detailed testing programmes for reaction to YVMV and yield traits. The F5 generation plants in general exhibited high level of resistance to YVMV throughout the crop phase. During the evaluation of yield traits in the F4 generation, significant variation among the genotypes was observed for the traits, plant height, petiole length, days to first flowering, days to first harvest, length of fruit, number of fruits per plant, crop duration, yield per plant and pollen sterility. The maximum values for both PCV and GCV were noticed for pollen sterility, number of fruits per plant, length of fruits, internodal length and length and width of epicalyx segments. Most of the traits possessed high heritability especially for days to first flowering, length of fruit, locules per pod and yield per plant. High genetic advance could be noticed for majority of the traits, the highest being for yield per plant and plant height. Correlation analysis indicated that most of the character combinations had higher genotypic coefficients of correlation than phenotypic though both had the same direction. Fruit yield displayed positive genotypic association with length of fruit and number of fruits per plant. Among the 17 component traits which had high association with fruit yield the maximum positive and negative direct effects were exerted by number of fruits per plant and days to first flowering respectively. During the evaluation of yield traits in the F5 generation, significant variation among the genotypes was observed for the traits plant height, petiole length, days to first flowering, days to first harvest, first fruiting node, length of fruit, number of fruits per plant, crop duration, yield per plant and pollen sterility. The maximum values for both PCV and GCV were noticed for coefficient of infection of YVMV, pollen sterility, number of fruits per plant, length of fruits, internodal length and length and width of epicalyx segment. Correlation analysis indicated that most of the character combinations had higher genotypic coefficients of correlation than phenotypic though both had the same direction. Fruit yield displayed positive genotypic association with length of fruit and number of fruits per plant. Most of the traits possessed high heritability especially for coefficient of infection of YVMV, pollen sterility, crop duration and days to first flowering. High genetic advance could be noticed for majority of the traits, the highest being for CI of YVMV, crop duration, yield per plant and plant height. High variation noted for /YVMV disease incidence offers more scope for selection based on disease incidence, in the process of selection for high yielding disease resistant lines. Some of the F5 segregants showed characters similar to the cultivated species A. esculentus variety Salkeerthi such as less number of ridges per pod, longer fruit length, reduced width of epicalyx segment etc. The segregants such as F5-1, F5-3, F5-7, F5-9, F5-20 and F5-26 were selected based on its promising fruit characters tending towards A.esculentus. These selections also showed considerably good amount of pollen fertility and high level of resistance to YVMV. So these selections can be further advanced to develop YVMV resistance varieties with desirable plant and fruit characters in the future.
Open Access
Response of tuberose (polianthes tuberosa L.) to organic manures and growth promoting microorganisms
(College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2008) Mini, Sankar; KAU; Radha, T
Tuberose is one of the most important bulbous plants, much adored for its colour, elegance and fragrance. Among the commercially cultivated flowers in India tuberose occupies a prime position due to its popularity as cut flower as well as loose flower. It has got great potential in perfume industry also owing to the presence of much valued essential oil. The flower spikes are largely used for vase decoration and bouquet preparation and loose flowers for making garlands and in floral ornaments. The mineral nutrition status can affect the yield and quality of any crop. Tuberose being rich in nutritional status, extracts high amount of nutrients from the soil. Application of huge quantities of fertilizers in the same field becomes essential for taking the ratoon crops and this may lead to destruction of soil properties in addition to increased cost of production. It is now imperative to find an integrated nutrient management schedule for tuberose for an optimum and economic use of plant nutrients to reduce the cost of production and to improve the yield and quality of the flowers. The study consisted of three experiments. Experiment 1 included sixteen different treatments which were the combinations of organic manures and growth promoting microorganisms along with inorganic fertilizers. In Experiment 2, effect of different organic manures alone on growth and yield of tuberose was studied. Single variety Prajwal was used for both the trials. Three superior treatments from Experiment 1 and two from Experiment 2 were selected for conducting the third experiment using single variety Prajwal and double variety Vaibhav. In Experiment 1, the treatments 100:50:50 kg ha–1 NPK + poultry manure 22.2 t ha-1 (T3), 50:50:50 kg ha–1 NPK + poultry manure 22.2 t ha-1 (T14) and 50:50:50 kg ha1 NPK+ coirpith compost 85.71 t ha-1 (T16) exhibited superiority in terms of vegetative and floral characters. In experiment with different organic manures (Experiment 2) treatment with poultry manure alone (T4) and biogas slurry alone had positive influence on both growth and yield attributes. In third experiment it could be observed that all the vegetative parameters were significantly improved by the application of 100:50:50 kg ha-1 NPK + poultry manure 22.2 t ha-1 (T1) in Prajwal and 50:50:50 kg ha-1 NPK+ poultry manure 22.2 t ha-1 (T2) in Vaibhav. Yield attributes like days to first spike emergence, field life of the spike, number of spikes per hill and quality parameters like length and girth of the spike, length of rachis and number of flowers per hill were positively influenced by treatment with poultry manure alone (29.63 t ha-1) in Prajwal. In Vaibhav also treatment with poultry manure alone (29.63 t ha-1) produced highest number of spikes per hill, where as quality parameters of the spike were improved by the application of poultry manure along with inorganic fertilizers. (100:50:50 kg ha-1 NPK + poultry manure 22.2 t ha-1). Concrete content of flowers (which indicates the percentage of essential oil) improved in T5 (biogas slurry alone) in both the varieties. The superiority of the treatment with poultry manure was also reflected in post harvest studies. From plant nutrient analysis, it could be observed that poultry manure either alone (29.63 t ha-1) or in combination with chemical fertilizers (100:50:50 kg ha-1 NPK + poultry manure 22.2 t ha-1 and 50:50:50 kg ha-1 NPK + poultry manure 22.2 t ha-1) recorded highest N and P content of leaves and tubers in both the varieties, where as treatment of coir pith compost along with inorganic fertilizers exhibited maximum K content. Soil properties like pH, organic carbon, available N, P and K were found to be improved by the treatment consisting of poultry manure. Regarding the economics of cultivation, treatment with poultry manure alone (29.63 t ha-1) recorded maximum net income and highest B/C ratio in both the varieties (3.2 in Prajwal and 2.5 in Vaibhav) followed by 100:50:50 kg ha–1 NPK + Poultry manure 22.2 t ha-1and 50:50:50 kg ha-1 NPK + poultry manure 22.2 t ha-1 . Considering overall performance, application of poultry manure at the rate of 29.63 t ha-1 as basal dose was proved to be highly beneficial for growth and yield improvement in tuberose.
Open Access
Influence of micro meteorological factors on flowering in vanilla (Vanila Planifolia Andrews)
(College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2008) Ramya, R; KAU; Shylaja, M R
Investigations on “Influence of micro meteorological factors on flowering in vanilla” were carried out at the Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Kerala Agricultural University during 2005-2007. The objective of the study was to find out the effect of soil moisture stress and micro - meteorological factors on flowering in vanilla. The studies were carried out in five year old vanilla plants maintained in Department of Plantation Crops and Spices farm and in a selected farmer’s field at Thrissur district. Moisture stress was induced in vanilla gardens by withholding irrigation at four levels viz. one month, 1½ month, two months and 2½ months. The influence of soil moisture stress on flowering in vanilla and the changes in physiological and biochemical parameters in vanilla due to moisture stress and influence of micro meteorological parameters on flowering in vanilla were studied in the present investigations. Soil moisture stress induced flowering in vanilla. Maximum flowering of 80 per cent was observed in plants stressed for moisture for a period of one month followed by 60 per cent flowering in 1½ month stress period. Hence soil moisture stress for a period of 1-1½ month during November-December is sufficient to induce flowering in vanilla. Soil moisture stress altered various physiological and biochemical parameters in vanilla. Leaf thickness, relative leaf water content, membrane stability, soluble protein and total chlorophyll content decreased due to soil moisture stress. The content of epicuticular wax, total free amino acids, accumulation of proline, activity of peroxidase enzyme, total sugar content and K concentration in tissues increased due to stress. The changes in physiological and biochemical parameters were more pronounced as the intensity of stress increased. The micro-meteorological parameters of the garden also influenced flowering in vanilla. Flower opening in vanilla was found positively correlated with maximum temperature and negatively with relative humidity and minimum temperature. Flower opening showed highly significant positive correlation with light received from North and South directions and percentage of light infiltration. Soil moisture stress for a period of 1-1 ½ month during November- December is sufficient to induce flowering in vanilla. Changes in physiological parameters due to moisture stress could be used to visually assess the extent of moisture stress in the garden. The biochemical parameters recorded at ideal stress period could be used as indices to assess the extent of moisture stress in plants more precisely in high tech / precision farming systems. Manipulation of microclimate with respect to temperature, light and relative humidity is essential for getting proper flowering in vanilla.
Open Access
Evaluation of ecotypes of long pepper (Piper longum L)
(College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2008) Riya, Joseph; KAU; Suma, B
Investigations on “Evaluation of ecotypes of long pepper (Piper longum L.) was undertaken at the Department of Plantation Crops and Spices at College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during the period 2005-2007.The major objective of the study was to evaluate various ecotypes of Piper longum available at the Department of Plantation Crops and Spices for their variability in yield, morphological and biochemical characters so as to identify the superior types. Twenty accessions genetically catalogued and studied for their variability in vegetative, reproductive and biochemical characters and found that all the accessions varied with respect to these characters. The vegetative, reproductive and biochemical characters were compared with the characters of the released variety; Viswam and the accessions, which performed on par with Viswam, were identified. Correlations of the various vegetative and reproductive characters were worked out with the dry spike yield and significant positive correlations were observed for nine characters like number of vegetative branches per stem, number of spike bearing branches per stem, total number of leaves per hill, number of spikes per spike bearing branch, length of spike, girth of spike, fresh weight of spike, dry weight of spike and fresh yield per plant Based on the above studies a few accessions which were statistically on par with the check variety Viswam could be identified. This preliminary evaluation gives only an indication and evaluation of the accessions has to be 3-4 years for obtaining confirmatory result.

Theses

Browse

Thesis Type

Type

Author

Date

Subject

Search Results