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ThesisItem Open Access Foliar diagnosis, yield and quality of turmeric(Curcuma longa L.) in relation to nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium(Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry,College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1981) Saifudeen, N; KAU; Jose, A IA field experiment was carried out at the Instructional Farm of the College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during 1979-80 to study the effect of graded doses of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium on the growth, nutrient uptake, yield and quality of turmeric and also to develop suitable foliar diagnosis techniques in relation to these nutrient elements. The treatments comprised of three levels each of nitrogen (0, 20 and 40 kg N/ha), phosphorus (0, 20 and 40 kg P2O5/ha) and potassium (0, 40 and 80 kg K2O/ha). The experiment was laid out in a 33 factorial experiment in randomized block design, confounding the effect of interaction NP2K2 totally. Results revealed that among the morphological characters studied, the number of tillers per clump responded to the increasing levels of nitrogen whereas number of leaves per tiller decreased with increasing levels of nitrogen. The height of tiller was not influenced by any of the fertilizer treatment. The fresh and dry weights of rhizome and total dry matter yield remained unaffected by the levels of nitrogen and phosphorus. The total dry matter production was influenced by the levels of potassium and NK interaction. Maximum production of dry matter took place at K1 level which was superior to those at K0 and K2 levels. Levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium and their interaction failed to influence the yield of turmeric at harvest. The uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium was not found influenced by the levels of nitrogen and phosphorus employed. But levels of potassium significantly influenced the uptake of these nutrient elements, the K1 level being superior to K2 and K0. There was a continuous increase in the number of tillers per clump, number of leaves per tiller and height of tiller with advancing period of growth. A period of pronounced and active vegetative growth was observed during the period between 120th and 150th day. Fresh and dry weights of rhizome increased with increasing age of the crop and attained maximum at harvest. Uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium steadily progressed with advancing age of the crop. Maximum uptake of nitrogen and phosphorus took place during the period from 120th day to 150th day whereas the uptake of potassium was maximum during 180th day to 210th day after planting. The contents of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium were highest in the top most leaf and continuously decreased with increasing number of the leaf position when the leaves are numbered from top to bottom of the tiller. In consideration of the stability of the nutrient level with leaf positions and correlation with uptake of nutrients, the third leaf appeared to be the best suited for foliar diagnosis of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium status of the crop. The period between 90th to 120th day after planting was recommended as optimum period for the detection and amendment of the nutrient status of the crop. The graded doses of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium and their interaction failed to influence the percentage of oleoresin content of turmeric.ThesisItem Open Access Foliar diagnosis in coconut (Cocos nucifera, Linn.) in relation to nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium(Department of soil science and agricultural chemistry, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1981) Gopi, C S; KAU; Jose, A IA study was undertaken to standardise the foliar diagnostic technique in coconut palm in relation to nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, making use of the experimental palms of a permanent NPK trial maintained at the Coconut Research Station, Balaramapuram, Trivandrum District. The palms of this experiment received applications of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in three levels each viz., 0, 340 and 680 g nitrogen per palm per year, 0, 225 and 450 g P2O5 per palm per year and 0, 450 and 900 g k2O per palm per year. For the standardization of tissue for foliar diagnosis, samples of leaf lamina and mid-rib were drawn separately from all the leaves of the experimental palms. Attempts were also made to establish critical levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the leaf and also to work out regression models to predict yield based on the tissue content of these nutrients. Observations revealed that the number of leaves retained by the palm was mainly a function of potassium applied. The number of leaves retained by the palm significantly correlated with the yield(r = 0.93**). The potassium content of lamina of the 2nd leaf can be predicted from the number of leaves retained, making use of the regression equation, Y = 5.32 + 8.95 x where x is the potassium per cent of leaf lamina and Y is the number of leaves retained. The number of leaves retained was also found to be significantly correlated with yield (r = 0.708**). The percentage of nitrogen in the leaf lamina increased with increasing age of leaf till leaf number 6 and thereafter steadily declined. The phosphorus and potassium contents of the leaf were maximum in the youngest leaf and declined with increasing age of leaf. Palms receiving higher levels of nitrogen and potassium retained correspondingly higher contents of nitrogen and potassium in leaf lamina. Application of different levels of phosphorus gave only marginal difference in the percentage of phosphorus in leaf lamina. The nitrogen content of leaf lamina of different leaf position was significantly correlated with yield, the highest coefficient of partial correlation of 0.777** being registered for the 10th leaf, followed by 0.699**for the 2nd leaf. The phosphorus content of leaf lamina failed to establish significant correlation with yield, irrespective of leaf positions. The coefficients of partial correlation between yield and potassium per cent of lamina of leaf positions 2, 3, and 6 were significant, the highest value of 0.663** being recorded for the second leaf. Taking the percentage of nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) in the lamina of 2nd leaf and leaf number (L) as independent variables, yield can be predicted with an accuracy of 84 per cent (R2 = 0.84**) by the regression model, Y = -14.956 + 39.215 N – 16.097 N2 + 83.873 K – 37.388 K2 -11.046 L – 0.202 L2 – 44.186 N x K + 5.529 N x L + 6.276 K x L. The yield can also be predicted with an accuracy of 72 per cent by the regression model, Y = -64.29 + 23.356 N + 1.779 L where N is the nitrogen percentage of lamina of 2nd leaf and L is the number of leaves retained. The critical values for nitrogen and potassium in the leaf lamina of 2nd leaf were found to be 3.31 per cent for nitrogen and 2.17 per cent for potassium. The pattern of distribution for nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the leaf mid – ribs was almost similar to the pattern of distribution of those nutrients in the leaf lamina. The coefficients of partial correlation between yield and nitrogen content of leaf mid-rib of leaf positions 6, 14, 15 and 18 were statistically significant, the highest value of 0.677** being recorded for the 14th leaf. The phosphorus content of mid-rib failed to establish significant correlation with yield. The coefficients of partial linear correlation between yield and potassium per cent of mid-ribs were significant for leaf positions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 10, the highest value being recorded for the 4th leaf (r = 0.762**). The multiple correlation coefficient between yield and percentage of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium was highest (R = 0.771**) for the lamina of the second leaf, among all the position and types of tissue examined and hence, this tissue is recommended as the best tissue for the foliar diagnosis of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.