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199212
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Subject: Soil Science and Agriculture Chemistry × End date: 1992 × Start date: 1992 × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Management of acidity by combined application of lime and gypsum in a low activity clay soil of Kerala
    (Department of soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of agriculture, Vellanikkara, 1992) Jessy, Jacob K; Venugopal, V K
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Status, availability and transformation of magnesium in acid soils of Kerala
    (Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1992) Prema, D; KAU; Jose, A I
    The investigation consisted of four parts, namely (1) magnesium status of soils in Kerala (2) evaluation of laboratory indices of Mg availability (3) transformation of applied Mg in soil and (4) pattern of Mg uptake by banana from different sources at different levels. In Part I, one hundred and fifty surface samples were collected from all over the State of Kerala, to study the status of Mg as well as properties in relation to the behaviour of Mg in these soils. In part 2, some selected chemical agents were tried in twenty selected soils in order to evolve a suitable extractant for available Mg. In Part 3, two acid rice soils of Kerala namely, Karappadam and laterite were incubated at field capacity for a period of 180 days with and without the addition of magnesium sulphate, magnesite and dolomite at the rate of 1250, 2500 and 3750 kg MgO ha-1, to monitor the pattern of release of Mg from applied sources . Soil samples were drawn regularly at 15 days interval for the determination of available Mq and at 60 days interval for the determination of other important chemical properties. In Part 4, a field experiment of banana was conducted to study the response to applied Mg.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Response of rice to application of micronutrients
    (Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1992) Muralidharan, P; KAU; Jose, A I
    A field experiment was conducted to study the response of rice to application of secondary and micronutrients during the first and second crop seasons of 1991. The experiment was conducted at the agricultural Research Station, Mannuthy using rice variety Jyothi and the soil was sandy clay loam in texture. The treatments consisted of the different micronutrients (Zn, Cu, Mn, B and Mo), magnesium, sulphur, a combination of the above said nutrients and stanes Microfood, a micronutrient formulation, in addition to the control with no micronutrients. Application of N, P and K was done uniformly in all the treatments. Soil and plant samples were collected at the maximum tillering, flowering and harvesting stages of the crop for the determination of uptake and availability of nutrients, pH and specific conductance. The continued effect of the application of micronutrient was studied by repeating the experiment in the second crop season with the same set of treatments applied to the same plots. Observations on the morphological and yield characters and yields of grain and straw were recorded in both the seasons of crop growth.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Suitability of magnesite as a source of magnesium in acid rice soils of Kerala
    (Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1992) Susan Varughese; KAU; Jose, A I
    An incubation study and a potculture experiment were conducted to assess the suitability of magnesite in comparison with that of magnesium sulphate and dominate in karappadam (Moncompu, Alappuzha district) and laterite (Vellanikkara, Thrissur district) soils of Kerala. In the incubation study, these three Mg sources were added to the two soils at the rate of 25 and 50 kg MgO ha-1 and their transformations under submergence were studied for 180 days drawing samples at regular intervals of 15 days. The samples were analysed for Mg fractions, available Ca and K, pH and EC. In the potculture experiment using rice (Annapoorna) as the test crop, the direct and residual effectof magnesite, dolomite and magnesium sulphate were studied. The soils and levels of Mg application were the same as in the incubation study. Application of N, P and K was done uniformly in all the treatments . Soil and plant samples were taken at 15 days interval for the determination of uptake and avilability of nutrients , pH and EC. The residual effect of Mg fertilizers was assessed by continuing the experiment for the second season without the addition of Mg fertilizers.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Management of acidity by combined application of lime and gypsum in a low activity clay soil of Kerala
    (Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry,College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1992) Tessy Jacob, K; KAU; Venugopal, V K
    An investigation was conducted at the College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara in the period 1989-'91, with a view to identify the most appropriate and economic lime recommendation method and the most suitable combination of lime and gypsum for profitable management of upland latent e (LAC) soils. The first study was to characterise the low activity clay soils of Kerala m respect of acidity contribution factors. Another laboratory experiment was also conducted with PVC columns to study the mobility of Ca and Mg using different liming materials m combination with gypsum. A potculture experiment was also carried out using soybean to study the effect of liming in combination with gypsum on the growth, yield and uptake of various nutrients. The characterisation study revealed that the soils in the Vellanikkara series come under the textural class ranging from silty loam to silty clay loam. The soils m general were acidic in reaction with fairly high content of exchangeable Al and low CaO and MgO contents. Sesquioxide, and Al2O3 contents were high. The soils were low m organic carbon and CEC. The leaching experiment revealed that CaCO3 and MgCO3 can be used as an ameliorant for acid surface soils as it neutralised exchangeable Al and increased pH in the surface layer only. CaS0.2H20, however can be used as an ameliorant for acid subsoils as it neutralised exchangeable Al and supplied Ca throughout the length of the profile. The combination treatment with MgCO3 + 75 per cent CaSO4 2H2O can be suggested as an ameliorant for acid surface as well as subsoils as it resulted in uniform distribution of exchangeable Ca and Mg throughout the length of the column and neutralised exchangeable Al in the whole length of the profile. Liming resulted m significant increase in plant height, nodule number, dry weight of pod, g r a m yield, haulm yield, total dry weight and N, P, K uptake. , Soil pH, effective CEC, total Ca, exchangeable Ca and available N were increased significantly due to liming. However significant reduction in total Mg, exchangeable Al, Al saturation and available P and K resulted due to liming. Liming at the rate of 1.5 times exchangeable Al content of soil was found to be the most appropriate and economic lime recommendation method for the highly weathered and leached acid soils of Kerala.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Fractionation of organic and inorganic nitrogen in important soil types of Kerala
    (Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry,College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1992) Mini, E R; KAU; Sumam Susan, Varghese
    In order to study the distribution of various organic and inorganic fractions of soil nitrogen in different soil types of Kerala, 100 surface soil samples belonging to five types were selected from various places of the state. The five soil types were laterite, forest, brown hydromorphic, coastal alluvium and Kuttanad alluvium . Observations on the general characteristics of soil revealed that total nitrogen and organic carbon was highest for forest soil and was least m the case of coastal alluvium . In general all the soil types were acidic in reaction. Electrical conductivity was highest in the case of Kuttanad alluvial soil Fractionation of nitrogen showed that the most dominant fraction in the case of laterite and brown hydromorphic soils a-e AaN and that for forest, coastal alluvium and Kuttanad alluvium is NHyN. Mean total nitrogen content for laterite soils is 0.174 per cent. Of this, 27 59 percent was AaN, 20.69 per cent FAN, 16.67 per cent NHyN, 14.94 per cent HyAN, 11.67 per cent UHyN, 3.85 per cent NH4-N, 2. 64 per cent NO3-N and 1. 95 per cent HyAN. The mean value of total nitrogen content of the forest soil was 0 304 per cent. Of this 41. 45 per cent was NHyN, 1 / 86 per cent AaN, 12.24 per cent HaN, 10.63 per cent FAN, 10.36 per cent UHyN 3.36 per cent NH4-N, 2. 37 per cent HyAN and 1. 74 per cent NO3-N The mean total nitrogen content of the brown hydromorphic soil was 0 180 per cent Of this, 21.60 per cent was AaN, 21 25 per cent UHyN, 18.20 per cen4, NHyN,17.20 per cent FAN, 13.76 per cent HaN, 3.16 per cent HyAN, 3.11per cent NH4-N and 1.67 per cent NO3-N. The mean content of total nitrogen of the coastal alluvial soil was 0.161 per cent. Of this,27.65 per cent NHyN, 22.26 per cent AaN, 19.96 per cent UHyN, 12.40 per cent FAN, 6.51 per cent HaN, 6.26 per cent HyAN, 3.10 per cent NH4-N and 1.74 per cent NO3-N. The mean content of total nitrogen of the Kuttanad alluvial soil was 0.2705 per cent. Of this, 37.04 per cent was NHyN, 15 16 per cent AaN, 14.94 per cent FAN, 11.42 per cent HaN, 10.76 per cent UHyN, 3.99 per cent NO3-N, 3 70 per cent NH4-N and 2.96 per cent HyAN In all the five soil types there was significant positive correlation between cation exchange capacity and FAN On studying the relationship of various nitrogen fractions to organic carbon on the selected soil types of Kerala revealed that 75 per cent variation of organic carbon in laterite soil, 87 per cent Variation of organic carbon in forest soil and 70 per cent variation of organic carbon in brown hydromorphic soil can be explained by the nitrogen fractions of the soils The significant relationship obtained between AaN and alkaline KMnO4 -N, considers alkaline KMn04-N as a reliable method of available nitrogen estimation, in the laterite soils of Kerala. In the three soil types, viz., crown hydromorphic, coastal alluvium and Kuttanad alluvium , a significant relationship between the alkaline i KMnO4-N and nitrogen fraction could not be established. So for these types of soil, a better analytical method of available nitrogen than that of alkaline KMnO4-N has to be taken up.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Effect of long term application of manures and fertilisers on soil properties, utilization efficiency of nutrients and quality of rice
    (Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry,College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1992) Padmam, M K; KAU; Chinnamma, N P
    A study was conducted during the first crop season of 1990to assess the effect of long term application of manures and fertilizers on soil properties, utilization efficiency of nutrients and quality of rice making use of the soil and plant samples taken from the existing permanent manurial trial (dwarf indica) at the Regional Agricultural Research Station, Pattambi. This experiment was started at Pattambi during the first crop season of 1973. The soil of the experimental site is laterite. The experiment is laid out in randomised block design with four replications and eight treatments. The treatments consisted of application of entire quantity of N - 90 kg ha 1, as organic alone (cattle manure alone, .green manure alone and cattle manure + green manure) , inorganic alone (ammonium sulphate alone and NPK fertilizers) and a combination of organics with inorganics (cattle manure + NPK fertilizers, green manure + NPK fertilizers and cattle manure + green leaves + NPK fertilizers). Soil samples were collected from all the replications of the various treatments before planting, at different stages of crop growth viz., tillering, panicle initiation, 50 per cent flowering and harvest. Plant samples were also collected at the above growth stages. Data on yield of grain and straw were collected from the Regional Agricultural Research Station, Pattambi. Soil and plant samples were analysed in the laboratory to find out the effect of long term application of manures and fertilizers on physical and chemical properties of soil, uptake of nutrients and utilization efficiency of nutrients and quality of grain and straw. Results of analysis of soil samples collected before planting revealed the beneficial effect of organic matter addition on bulk density, water holding capacity and aggregate stability of soil. Long term application of manures and fertilizers singly and in combination had no significant influence on the soil reaction and CEC of the soil. The application of ammonium sulphate alone to supply 90 kg N ha continuously for the last 17 years has not changed the soil reaction considerably. Addition of organic manures at a high dose of 18 t ha for a long period of 17 years failed to increase the CEC of the soil. Results clearly indicated the favourable influence of cattle manure addition in increasing the content of organic carbon.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Evaluation and suitability rating of ten major soil series of the command area of Kallada Irrigation project
    (Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Agriculture, Tavanur, 1992) Premachandran, P N; KAU; Aiyer, R S (Guide)
    The present study was undertaken covering the ten identified important soil series of the command area of Kallada Irrigation Project, with the objective of evaluating the soils based on their morphological and physico chemical characteristics. The soil series selected are Mannar, Adoor, Sooranad, Palamel, Mylom, Erath, Bharanikavu Kallada, Pooyappally and Kunnamkara. Profile pits were dug in the typical areas identified and the morphological features observed were recorded as per soil Survey Manual (1970). The salient features of the area in respect of location, physiography, drainage, vegetation and land use were also recorded. The physical and chemical properties of the soil samples collected were determined by standard analytical procedures. These soil series have been evaluated on the basis of land evaluation and rating of productivity parameters The productivity parameters considered in the present study include soil texture, depth, soil reaction, drainage, cation exchange capacity, base saturation, electrical conductivity, coarse fragments, slope and nutrient status. For each parameter, a range of scale is prepared, and numerical values assigned based on principles of land evaluation. Productivity of the soil has been calculated by multiplying the ratings of the individual parameters and expressed as percentage. The ten soil series selected for study have been classified as per the comprehensive soil classification system – Soil Taxonomy. Five soil series namely Kallada, Mannar, Erath, Pooyappally and Kunnamkara are grouped under Entisol. four series namely Bharanikavu, Palamel, Mylom and Sooranad under Inceptisol and Adoor series under Ultisol. The land capability classification of these soils shows that the Kallada soil series comes under class IIe, Sooranad, Mylom, Erath, Pooyappally and Kunnamkara series under class IIw, Palamel, Bharanikavu, major part of Adoor and a portion of Kallada under class IIIe and Mannar serious under class IIIsc. A portion of Adoor series is grouped under class IVe. The irrigability classification of these soils revealed that the Mannar series comes under class 2s, Kallada under class 2t, Sooranad, Mylom, Erath, Pooyappally and Kunnamkara under class 2d, Adoor, Palamel, Bharanikavu and a portion of Kallada series under class 3t. A portion of Adoor series in grouped under the irrigability class 4t. The productivity rating of these soil series gives the following results. The Kunnamkara soil series with a rating of 38.7 percent rank first for paddy. The study shows that the Earth soil series is the least productive for paddy. Coconut, tapioca and banana. The Palamel series having a rating of 31.4 percent, with good rating class is the most suitable for coconut. The kallada soil series ranks top both for tapioca and banana with rating of 27.6 and 38.8 percent respectively.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Growth and nutrition of black pepper as influenced by decaying litter materials in soil
    (Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1992) Sivakumar, C; KAU; Wahid, P A
    An investigation on the growth and nutrition of black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) as influenced by decaying litter materials in soil was conducted at the College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara. The black pepper variety Panniyur – 1 was invariably used for the study. Biomass production in black pepper was significantly increased following the incorporation of organic materials into the soil compared to the control vines. When the different levels of organic sources were compared, total biomass production of the vine decreased at highest level (3 per cent) of application of coffee and black pepper leaves. This was attributed to allelopathic effect of the decaying material. There was a steady increase in biomass production with increasing level of garuga leaf application. Significant increase were noticed in the N ,P and K concentrations of leaf and stem, Mg concentration of leaf, S concentration of leaf and stem, Fe content of stem and foliar Mn content of the vine following the organic matter treatments as compared to control vines. The vine removed significantly higher quantities of N, p, K, Ca, Mg, S, Fe and Mn following the soil application of leaf materials as compared to the control vines. The average nutrient removal by a six – month – old black pepper vine to produce 11.19 g of shoot dry matter was 200.19 mg N, 18.92 mg P, 432.53 mg K, 155.89 mg Ca, 19.44 mg Mg, 12.33 mg S, 1517 µg Fe and 3546 µg Mn. The contribution of leaf to the total nutrient removal was more compared to that of stem. Significant increases in major and micronutrient availability in soil were noticed following the incorporation of leaf materials. On an average, the rate of organic carbon loss in laboratory incubation was the slowest in soil with coffee or silver oak leaves as the organic source and was fastest when the garuga was the organic source. The half – life values for organic carbon was the organic source. The half – life values for organic carbon loss varied from 91 – 193 days. The half – life values obtained for coffee, erythrina and black pepper leaves in field decomposition study were 40, 44 and 53 days respectively.