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  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Studies on the performance of two groundnut varieties, TMV-2 and TMV-9, under graded doses of phosphorus and potassium.
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1978) Purushothaman Nair, N; KAU; Sadanandan, N
  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Study on adoption of soil conservation measures by farmers in scheme areas of Trivandrum District
    (Department of Agricultural Extension, College Of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1978) Balakrishna Pillai, G; KAU; Nair, G T
    The magnitude of the problem of soil erosion is so high in Kerala mainly due to the undulating topography and high intensity of rainfall. More than 10 lakhs hectares of undulating land have to be protected from the hazards of erosion by effective soil conservation measures . The results of studies conducted on the soil loss by the soil conservation station. Konni has shown that the soil loss where slope was 30 per cent was 241.56 tonnes per acre per year. Attempts are made to control the serious loss of top soil by the Department of Agriculture (Soil Coservation Unit) by implementing integrated soil conservation schemes. But the progress of coverage was poor. Even in scheme areas, many farmers are non -adopters of the required soil conservation works. Many farmers have not taken up the required Agronomy and Agrostology works eventhough theycompleted the contour bunding works. A detailed study was essential to understand all those aspects of adoption . This study was an effort in that direction.
  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Morphological studies and quality evaluation of ginger (zingiber officinale rosco) types
    (Department of Horticulture (Plantation Crops), College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1978) Nybe, E V; KAU; Sivaraman Nair, P C
    A detailed study of 25 ginger types was conducted during the period from April 1977 to June 1978 at the College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara with a view to find out the feasibility of fixing up specific morphological characters to identify different types, to screen out ginger types with high yield, high quality and resistant or tolerant to pests and diseases and to study the quality variations at different periods of maturity. The study revealed that morphological characters are not reliable to classify the ginger types, although some of them can be identified by rhizome characters. The morphological characters such as length of leaf, leaf area index and number, length and girth of primary and secondary fingers were found to be positively correlated with yield. All the types studied are susceptible to the incidence of soft-rot, leaf –spot and shoot-borer. The type Maran was relatively tolerant to soft-rot whereas Rio-de-Janeiro was found to be the most susceptible type. Yield was found to vary significantly among the types studied. Maximum yield was recorded in Nadia followed by Bajpai, Maran and Narasapattom. Maximum oleoresin percentage was in Rio-de-Janeiro and highest percentage of oil recovery in Karakal. But the maximum yield per hectare of oleoresin and oil was in the type Maran. Fibre content was minimum in China and maximum in Kuruppampady closely followed by Maran. The yield, dryage and percentage of oleoresin, oil and crude fibre varied significantly among the different maturity periods studied. The percentage of oleoresin, oil and fibre was maximum at 165 days after planting. But the maximum yield per hectare of oleoresin and oil were found at 270, 195, 225 and 225 days after planting in Rio-de-Janeiro, Maran, Kuruppampady and Wynad Local respectively. Cultivation of the types Nadia, Bajpai and Maran is recommended for higher total yield of dry ginger for the plains of Kerala. Considering the low incidence of soft – rot and higher yield of oleoresin and ginger oil the type Maran is preferred
  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Morphological studies and quality evaluation of turmeric types
    (Department of Horticulture (Plantation Crops), College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1978) Joseph, Philip; KAU; Sivaraman Nair, P C
    A study using 19 turmeric types was conducted during the period from April 1977 to June 1978 at the College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara with a view to find out the possibility of distinguishing different types based on morphological parameters, to screen out the types with high yield and quality, to evaluate their relative susceptibility or tolerance to important pests and diseases and to study the yield and quality variations at different periods of maturity. The study revealed that morphological characters are not reliable to classify the turmeric types, although some of them can be distinguished by rhizome characters. The morphological characters such as the height of plant, length and breadth of leaf, leaf area index, petiole length, number of leaves per tiller, number of roots per plant, length of root, length of primary fingers and girth of mother rhizome were positively correlated with yield, whereas the intensity of shoot borer attack was negatively correlated with yield. All the types were susceptible to the incidence of ‘leaf spot’, ‘leaf blotch’ and shoot borer infection. The type VK5 (Mannuthy Local) showed the minimum incidence of pest and diseases. The yield of turmeric showed significant variation among the types. Maximum yield of green turmeric was noticed in the type VKI (Chayapasupa) whereas the type VK5 (Mannuthy Local) recorded the maximum yield of cured produce. Significant variation was noticed among the types with regards to the oleoresin and curcumin content. The oleoresin content varied between 12.1 and 21.1 per cent and the variation in curcumin content was from 2.33 to 6.55 per cent. The uncured turmeric samples had a higher content of oleoresin and curcumin than that of cured samples. The yield, percentage recovery of dry produce, oleoresin and curcumin varied significantly among the different periods of maturity in case of the types VK4 (G.L.Puram-II), VK5 (Mannuthy Local), VK17 (Armoor Cll-324) and VKII (Vontimitta). The dry yield, curcumin and oleoresin per hectare were maximum on 270th day whereas the maximum percentage recovery of oleoresin was on 180th and 270th day after planting. The types VK5 (Mannuthy Local), VK1 (Chayapasupa), VK2 (Kuchupudi) and VK3 (Kodur) can be recommended for large scale cultivation in the plains of Kerala as these types are found to be superior in yield of dry produce, oleoresin and curcumin per hectare. Of these VK5 (Mannuthy Local) and VKl (Chayapasupa) are preferred because of the low incidence of pest and diseases. The optimum time of harvesting turmeric is found to be on 270th day after planting under Vellanikkara conditions.
  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Genetic variability and correlation studies in snake gourd (crichosanthos anguina L.)
    (Department of Olericulture, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1978) Joseph Pynadath, S; KAU; Gopalakrishnan, P K
    Studies were undertaken with 25 diverse snake gourd types in the Department of Horticulture (Olericulture), College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, to estimate the genetic variability, correlation coefficients and path coefficients in the crop, during 1977-78. The results have shown that the differences between the types were highly significant for all the 21 characters studied. The estimates of variance components and coefficients of variation have indicated that the major portion of total variability in most of the characters was due to genetic causes, heritabllity in the broad sense was found to be quite high for most of the characters but the heritabllity estimate of yield was only 45.90 per cent. The estimate of genetic gain has shown that by selecting five per cent superior plants from the available population, yield can be improved upto 35.66 per cent over the mean. Characters such as per cent ash content, crude protein per cent, percentage P, number of female flowers per plant, weight of individual fruit and vitamin C content which exhibited parallelism in the high estimates of heritabillty and genetic gain may be suggested to be due to the action of additive genes and can be straightly improved through selection. The type T.A.19 was found to be the highest yielder. Yield per plant was found to be highly associated with number of primary branches, days for opening of first female flower, weight of individual fruit, length of fruit and girth of fruit. The correlation coefficients among these yield components were also significant. Path coefficient analysis has shown that weight of individual fruit, girth of fruit, number of fruits per plant and node at which first female flower appeared are the more important characters contributing to yield, on account of their high direct effects. Number of female flowers per plant and length of fruit are also important characters as their direct effects were moderate and indirect effects substantial.
  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Studies on mastitis in goats
    (Department of Medicine, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1978) Venugopal, K; KAU; Paily, E P
    In the present investigation, milk samples from 56 clinical and 379 apparently normal goats were examined. Staphaurous was isolated from 52 percent of clinical cases. The other organisms isolated were, starph. Epidermidis, str, agalactiae, C.pyogenes, K.pneumoniae, Esch. Coli, Ent.aerogenes and P.aeruginosa. The samples examined from apparently normal goats revealed an incidence of 47 percent subclinical mastitis. Mastaid Test conducted on milk samples from apparently normal goats revealed that this test was 96.5 percent efficient in detecting subclinical mastitis. From the somatic cell counts performed on milk samples, it was observed that normal milk (CMT Zero) had a mean cell count of 0.9 lakhs per ml. The cell counts of 5 to 10 lakhs (CMT + ) represented subclinical mastitis. When a comparative study was conducted study was conducted with mastrid test, whiteside test and tcepol mastitic test it was observed that mastaid reagent could only be relied upon in detecting subclinical mastitis. Chloramphenicol was found to be the drug of choice in goat mastitis, as evidenced by the in vitro sensitivity tests. Erythromycin, Ampicillin, Terramycin and Pencillin were moderately efficient. Results of the treatment with sensitive drugs on 40 selected clinical cases have been discussed.
  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Evaluation of productive performance of desi ducks reared in vconfinment
    (Department of Poultry Sciences, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1978) Andrews, C V; KAU; Venugopalan, C K
    This thesis embodies the results of an evaluation of the productive performance of Desi ducks reared in confinement. One hundred ducks of 135 days old were reared in two groups of 50 each under intensive and semi intensive system of management. The results revealed that the ducks reared under intensive system returned better hen-day egg production and also consumed less feed than those under semi intensive system. The efficiency of feed conversion did not differ, between treatments. The pattern of the body weight maintenance was similar in both the systems and the survival rates were excellent in both systems. The two systems of rearing did not appear to exert any influence on the egg size or egg quality in terms of albumen, yolk and shell percentages. Fertility and hatchability of eggs were better in the semi intensive system. It was concluded from the above results that the intensive system of rearing Desi ducks may be adopted for table egg production while for breeding purposes, semi intensive system may be better choice.
  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Studies on the efficiency of intra - uterine administratuion of antibiotics to improve breeding efficiency in cows
    (Department of Animal Reproduction, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1978) Ramadas, K; KAU; Surendra Varma Raja, C K
    The object of the study was to investigate the usefulness of intra – uterine antibiotic therapy at the very first breeding in bovines so as to improve the chances of conception. The experiment was conducted on animals brought for insemination at the artificial insemination centre, Trichur attached to the Kerala Agricultural University, Mannuthy. The animals were divided into two experimental groups and one control group. The first group of 166 cows and 56 heifers was given one vial each of Dicrysticin – S in 30 ml of distilled water after 24 hours of insemination. The second group of 47 cows and 31 heifers was treated with Mastalone – U in the say way. The control group of animals (300) did not receive any treatment either before of after insemination. The conception rate of the animals treated with antibiotics was significantly higher than that in control group. Dicrysticin - S–and Mastalone – U did not show any specific advantage over the other in improving the conception rate. The rate of conception increased on repeating the therapy at the subsequent heat. The overall conception rate in heifers was significantly lower than that in cows. Also the conception rate in dry animals was lower than that of lactating ones. To sum up, it may be stated that antibiotic infusion of uterus 24 hours after insemination could be considered as a routine measure under field condition for the overall improvement of breeding efficiency in cows.
  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Studies on the metabolic activity of the productive system of chicken
    (Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1978) Ramakrishna Pillai, M G; KAU; Nirmalan, G
    Information on the specific role of onzymes in controlling the various biochemical events leading to formation of an egg in the avian oviduct is scanty. Hence, it was considered worth while to investigate the onzyme pattern in the plasma and in the reproductive organs in white Leghorn and white Plymouth Rock breeds of fowls, and to studyt the tissue localization of acid and alkaline phosphatases by histochemical techniques. The influences of various oxogenous sex hormones on the development and onzyne pattern of the female reproductive organs was also studied. The blood plasma and tissue homogenatee of the reproductive organs were assayed for alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, glutamate oxaloacetate transaainace , acid phosphatase, glutante pyruvate transaminases and glucose-6- phosphatase. Many of the enzymes studied were present in the plasma and tissue homogenates without any significant breed difference. Acid phosphatase activity could not be detected in he blood [plasma of one-to-two-months-old white Leghorn and White Plymouth rock birds. In the white plymouth rock chicken,ma glutanate pyruvate transaminase activity also could not be detected. Alkaline activity was higher in the ovary of White Leghorn breed of fowls. phosphatase In the two-to-three-month-old pullets, White Plymouth rock bird showed higher concentration of glucose-6-phosphatase in their oviducts. Five-to six-month-old folwle of both the breed did not show any plasma acid phosphatase activity. But in the infundibulue, activities of both the transminaces were higher in the White Leghorn fowle. Glutamate pyruvate tranminance activity in white Plyouth rock oviducvt was conficed to the megaum and isthmue. While there was not significant difference in the morophological development of the oviduet in immature chicken under the influences of different combination of stilbestrol diprepienate and testoateronar propionate or stilbestrol dipropionate and progeetrone compared to chickens on stil bestrol dipropionate alone the White Leghorn chickens receiving stilbostrol dipropinate and testoaterins propicnate showed higher ovariam levels of acid phosphatase and glutamate transminase. pyruvate Oviducal contents of acid phosphatase, glutamate oxalocetate and glutamate pyruvate transminases were also high. In the white Plymouth rock ehicken, on the other hand, lower concentration of plasma glutnate pyruvate transmainase and lower levels of oviducal alkaline phosphatase, acid phophatase and glutanate oxalocetate transminace were evident. In between the two experimental groups, the white Plymouth rock chickens had higher content of acid phosphatase in the iethmus and glucose-6-phosphatase in the varina. But, among the control groups higher contents of plasma glutamae pyruvate transaminase and oviducak alkaline phosphatase were seen in he whit plymouth rock chicks. Stilbestrol dipropionate and progreaterone administation resulted in higher oviducal concentraion of glutamate oxalocacetate tamsmionase in white plymouth rock chicks. Glutamate pyruvate tranmnase activity could tissues studied. In white Leghorn experimental chicks the ovarian acid phosphatase content was less than their corresponding control chicks. Histochemical localisation of alkline phosphatase was seen in all the region of the female reproductive organs in both the breeds. Ovarian localization of the enzyme was in the follicular optithelium and strima with strong reaction for the enzyme in many of the blood veacole. The reaction was of stronger intensity in magmm and gvagina coupared to other regionsof the oviduct. Localization of acid phosphatase was similar to that of alkaline phosphatase. The histochemical localization of acid and alkaline phosphatase in the various regions of the female reproductive organs developed under the influence of different sex hormones were similar to those seen in adult fowls. However, the intensity of the staining reaction for the ensyme in the reproductive organs of chicks developed under the influence of stilbestrol dipropionate was more compared to that of the other two experimental groups.