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  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Evaluation of ocimum lines for herbage yield oil content and eugenol
    (Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1988) Maya, S Nair; KAU; Sreekandan Nair, G
    Investigations on “Evaluation of Ocimum lines for herbage yield, oil content and eugenol” was carried out at the Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during 1985-86. Twentyfour Ocimum lines collected from different places from the state and the country along with one strain (Clocimum) released from RRL-Jammu were evaluated adapting simple lattice design with the following objectives. 1) To select better types based on leaf colour aroma and flavour, 2) To study the growth and flushing behaviour of each type and to isolate superior ones having better flushing characters; 3) To select a purple coloured O. sanctum line for the Kerala homesteads; 4) To select eugenol rich strains to undertake large scale cultivation of Ocimum for essential oil production; 5) To explore the possibility of growing Clocimum under Vellanikkara conditions. The crop was raised adopting the standard package of practices recommendations. The main growth parameters studied were plant height, spread, height at first branching, total number of branches per plant, number of days to blooming, intervals of flushing and leaf area. The yield parameters studied were herbage yield per plant, herbage yield per hectare, oil content, oil yield per hectare. An attempt was also made to relate leaf colour and aroma with the eugenol content of different Ocimum lines. The results indicated that the plant height increased with the age of plants. The plant spread and total number of branches per plant were maximum during July-August and afterwards a definite pattern was not observed. Clocimum and O. gratissimum lines branched at lower heights compared to O. sanctum lines. In general, all the lines tested took more time to initial flowering after transplanting, than after first or second harvests. Clocimum and O. gratissimum lines exhibited a tendency for quick flushing but took more days for flowering after each harvest compared to O. sanctum lines. O. gratissimum lines including Clocimum have higher leaf area. The studies on yield parameters revealed that Clocimum was most superior with regard to herbage yield, oil content and eugenol followed by O. gratissimum lines. Clocimum produced a herbage yield of 59.36 tonnes/ha/year. While the highest yielder of O. sanctum produced only 22.93 tonnes/ha/year. The different lines in general, produced maximum herbage and oil yield during second harvest, followed by the third and first harvests, whereas the oil content was maximum during the third harvest followed by the second and first harvests. The percentage of eugenol was maximum in Clocimum (71.82 per cent) followed by a purple coloured O. sanctum line (59.05 per cent) collected from Nellankara, near Trichur. Clocimum produced maximum eugenol per hectare followed by O. gratissimum lines. The scoring on leaf colour and aroma with respect to eugenol content revealed that, green leaved lines had better aroma than purple leaved with one purple coloured line as exception. Here also Clocimum proved its superiority. Economics of cultivation and distillation of different ocimum lines revealed that cultivation of Clocimum is more profitable than all other Ocimum lines evaluated. When we consider the various characters of 25 different Ocimum lines, it is very well clear that Clocimum can be groomed as a commercial crop under Kerala conditions. If there is a preference for purple coloured type of O. sanctum (Krishna Thulsi) the line from Nellankara can be recommended especially for the homesteads. Hence, further investigation to probe the possibilities of growing these promising lines as pure and mixed crops in Kerala and techniques for identifying valuable chemical constituents other than eugenol is suggested.
  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Effect of spacing and planting material on the growth, yield and active principle in Plumbago rosea L.
    (Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1990) Subha, S; KAU; Sreekandan Nair, G
    Investigations on "Effect of spacing and planting material on the growth, yield and active principle in Plumbago rosea L." was conducted at the Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during 1987-88, using factorial RBD design for exploiting this valuable medicinal plant with the following objectives: (1). To standardise the size of shoots as planting material for commercial cultivation. (2). To standardise the best spacing for better growth, yield and active principle. (3). To explore the possibility of growing Plumbago rosea L. as a commercial crop. (4). To explore the possibility of grooming this plant as an annual plant.
  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Flower bud differentiation in piper sp.
    (Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1985) Rajan, P S; KAU; Mohanakumaran, N
    Studies were undertaken at the College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during 1983-’84 in Panniyur-1 and Karimunda varieties of pepper to collect information on the factors influencing flower bud differentiation and on the histological aspects of the process. Among the climatic factors maximum and minimum temperature during the preceding summer as well as the monsoon showers exhibited significant positive correlation with flower bud differentiation process. Among the nutritional factors studied, carbohydrates and C/N ratio were found to be high prior to the peak differentiation period. However, these failed to show significant statistical correlation. Significant accumulation of nitrogen was found in the shoots prior to differentiation. Phosphorus and potassium contents were not correlated with the process. Inhibitor content of the shoots prior to differentiation was found to negatively influence the process. Peak period of differentiation was observed from the middle of June to the end of July in Panniyur-1, while it was a little advanced in Karimunda (from the beginning of June to the middle of July). There were no fundamental differences in the histological aspects of flower bud differentiation between the two varieties. The bud which was conical during the vegetative phase changed into a dome shaped structure during the transition. Afterwards, this grew into a cylindrical structure on the sides of which bract and flower primordial developed in aeropetal succession. Differentiation and development of ovary wall, integuments, ovules, pollen sacs, pollen grains etc. followed. The whole process of differentiation was completed within about 25 days of its commencement.
  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Impact of rubber producers societies on rubber plantation industry in Kasargod District
    (Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1991) Jose, M J; KAU; Nazeem, P A
    Rubber Producers Societies were formed among small rubber growers to improve their rubber production, productivity, processing and marketing facilities. The survey was conducted to evaluate the impact of Rubber Producers Society on rubber plantation industry in Kasargod District. 110 Rubber Producers Society members in the district were contacted for this purpose using a structured interview schedule the data were collected from the respondents and analysed by simple statistical producers such as percentage, means and standard deviations. The major findings of the study could be summarised as follows.
  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Evaluation of the incidence of pink disease in rubber plantations in Kanjirapally Taluk, Kerala State
    (Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1991) Jain, P M; KAU; Sreekandan Nair, G
    A survey was conducted to study the intensity of the incidence of pink disease in Rubber Plantations of Kanjirapally Taluk, Kerala State. The clonal susceptibility, percentage of damage, control measures adopted by growers and recovery were also evaluated. Maximum incidence is noticed in RRII 105 and minimum in PB 235. The disease incidence is maximum in the 7th year . Bordeaux paste is the common fungicide used against this disease. But only few growers know the correct method of preparation and application of Bordeaux paste. Careless disposal of infected plant parts provide large inoculum for the spread of the disease. The growers fail to detect the disease sufficiently early to carry out effective control measures. Therefore need for an intensive extension education to create awareness in small growers about the disease and its timely control is evident from this study.
  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Studies on fertility status of rubber growing soils in Kottayan Taluk
    (Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1991) Parameshwaran Nair, K; KAU; Srikantan Nair, G
    To assess the fertility status of the Rubber growing soils of Kottayam Taluk analytical data of five locations in Kottayam Taluk viz, Kooropada, Thiruvanchoor, Meenadam, Kottachira and Amayannur covering 200 small holdings including their case history were studied and the study revealed the following. All the soils tested were lateritic and acidic. Generally organic matter status was medium to high. Phosphorus and pottasium status were very low and Magnesium status medium to high. Tapioca intercropped areas showed depletion of nitrogen status. There was no depreciation of Phosphorus and Pottassium status in intercropped areas. Areas with leguminus ground covers showed better nitrogen status. Response to fertiliser was pronounced in the first four years and response was poor from 5th year onwards. All the small holdings were planted with modern high yielding clones and the trend is to follow Boards recommendation for manuring.