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Open Access
Studies on fertility status of rubber growing soils of Palakkad district
(Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1991) Mohanan, V; KAU; Nazeem, P A
Open Access
Development of a suitable model for ascertaining the growth and egg production in quails
(Department of Agricultural Statistics, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1991) John Thomas, M; KAU; George, K C
An investigation was carried out into the growth and egg production aspect of Japanese quails at the Kerala Agricultural University Poultry Farm, Mannuthy on 1st February, 1989 with the following objectives. 1. to find a suitable relationship between age and body weight. 2. to investigate the" trend of egg production in quails through suitable mathematical models. ,3. to study the impact of climate parameters (temperature, ; , humidity) on egg production in quails. The birds were reared under uniform feed formula and ^identical management practices (recommended by Kerala Agricul tural University Package of Practices). The investigation mainly depended on' data consisting of weekly body weights of -ii^-dividual birds, daily egg production of birds (beginning from age at sexual maturity) and daily climatological para meters (temperature and humidity) from beginning till the end of experiment of 30th September, 1989. Mathematical models such as linear, quadratic, exponential, .Von-Bertalanffy, modified exponential, logistic and Gompertz were fitted for the purpose using body weights of ) individual birds as well as average body weights over twelve weeks and the fitted models were compared using coefficient of 2 determination (r ) and standard error of estimate(s). Mathematical models such as linear, exponentialf parabolic exponential, inverse polynomial. Gamma function. Gamma-type functic^n, quadratic function, quadratic function in logari'thmic scale, quadratic-cum-log, emperical and linear hyperbolic functions were fitted for the development of suitable models for ascertaining egg production using total weekly, fortnightly egg production, hen housed and hen day egg production and fitted models were compared using Furnival index, r^ and s. Multiple linear regression equation was fitted using average weekly egg production per bird as dependent variable and weekly temperature and humidity as explanatory variable to study the impact of climatological parameters on egg production in quails. The investigation has the following, salient features. (i) The hatching weight of Japanese quails were 7.1369 g. (ii) The females weighed more than the males during the entire period of experiment and the body weights have shown an increasing trend. At the end of 12th week the average body weights of males and females were 157.6552 g and 179.2500 g respectively. (iii) Rao's method justified that initial body weights • had no significant effect on growth rate. • (iv) Gompertz curve = a exp [-b exp(-kt)'] was most , suitable for , ascertaining growth in quails on individual basis as well as on the basis of • average body weights over twelve weeks. (v) Average age at sexual maturity (females) was found to be approximately 10 weeks and on an average the eggs weighed 12.20 g. (vi) Quadratic function in logarithmic scale ; = a f b(logJ^) + c(log^)^ was most suitable , for ascertaining egg production in quails (weekly, , fortnightly, hen housed and hen day production • basis). (vii) Climatic parameters had significant impact on egg production in quails.
Open Access
Fungal diseases of selected medicinal plants of Kerala
(Department of Plant Pathology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1991) Sukumara, Varma A; KAU; ; Abi, Cheeran
Open Access
Induced chemical mutagenesis in Rose under in vitro culture
(Department of Agricultural Botany, College of Agriculture,Vellayani, 1991) Uma, B; KAU; Krishnan Nair, N
The present investigation entitled “Induced chemical mutagenesis in rose (Rosa chinensis) under in vitro culture” was carried out in the Tissue Culture Laboratory attached to the Horticultural Department, College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 1989-90. The main objectives of the experiment were to standardize a suitable culture medium for the growth and development of axillary buds and to standardize a successful method of chemical mutagenesis in rose under in vitro culture using the most potent chemical mutagen, ethyl methane sulphonate. The standardization of hormone levels in the culture medium (ms) was done at three stages of explant development viz. culture establishment, axillary bud proliferation and in vitro rooting. Surface sterilization of axillary buds were standardized by using mercuric chloride selecting out three concentrations 0.06, 0.08 and 0.1 per cent and 3 periods of treatment 5, 10 and 15 minutes. The axillary buds used were of 4 maturity stages ie. Axillary buds at the time of flower harvest and 2, 4 and 6 days after flower harvest. The various concentrations of ethyl methane sulphonate tested include 0.125, 0.25, 0.375 and 0.5 per cent. Two methods of mutagen treatments were tried ie. direct treatment and cotton swab method. In the direct treatment the axillary buds were subjected to EMS treatment at different periods treating the buds at the time of culturing, 2 days after culturing, 4 days after culturing and 6 days after culturing. In the cotton swab method buds were treated with EMS in the plant itself at various stages ie. at the time of flower harvest and 2,4 and 6 days after flower harvest. Surface sterilization of axillary buds was found to be most successful with mercuric chloride at 0.08 per cent for 15 minutes of the various levels of hormonal combinations tested BAP 2 mg/1 +2.4-D 1 mg/1 was found to be the best for culture establishment and BAP 2 mg /1 +GA 1mg/1 for shoot proliferation. Maximum rooting was obtained in full strength MS medium supplemented with IAA 2 mg/1 of the two methods of mutagen treatments tried direct treatment of axillary buds with EMS was not found to be effective as the buds turned brown and no further development occurred. In the cotton swab method, lower concentrations of EMS (0.125 and 0.25 per cent) gave a better performance based on days taken for bud take multiple shoot production and rooting percentage. A decrease in survival percentage was noted with increase in mutagen concentration. Higher concentration of EMS (0.375 and 0.5 per cent) curbed multiple shoot production in buds excised at the time of flower harvest and delayed multiple shoot production in other stages. The percentage cultures showing rooting and the number of roots/shoot also decreased with increase in concentration of EMS. Increase in maturity of buds also delayed multiple shoot production and decreased rooting percentage of the 4 stages of buds used for in vitro culture, buds excised at the time of flower harvest was found to be the best. But mutagen treatment retarded their performance. For mutagen treatment buds excised 4 days after flower harvest was found to be best followed by buds excised 2 days after flower harvest. Buds excised 6 days after flower harvest showed a poor performance in the normal and treated populations. The experiment clearly demonstrated that induced mutagenesis in rose can be successfully done adopting in vitro culture techniques.
Open Access
Genetic analysis of productivity in relation to maturity in bunch groundnut
(Department of Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1991) Ramakrishnan, M; KAU; Gopinathan Nair, V
A preliminary evaluation of 63 bunch type of groundnut revealed that the genotypic coefficient of variation was highest for number of immature pods per plant which indicated the maximum genetic variability for the trait and lowest for oil content which indicated low variability for the trait. High heritability along with moderate genetic advance was obtained for shelling percentage and 100 kernel weight which showed the importance of additive genes in their control. A maturity index was formulated and on its basis the 63 types were classified in to three groups namely, extra early, early and medium. In the extra early group, 100 pod weight and 100 kernel weight were important components for pod yield. In the early group. Number of mature pods per plant, shelling percentage and 100 kernel weight were important components for pod yield. In the medium group, number of mature pods per plant, shelling percentage and 100 kernel weight were important components for pod yield. For oil yield in all the three groups, pod yield and shelling percentage were the important components. Line x Tester analysis with six extra early types as lines and three high productive types as testers indicated predominance of sca variance over gca variance indicating pre ponderance of non – additive gene action over additive for the traits studied. Chico was the best general combiner for earliness and TMV 2 was the best general combiner for pod yield. High yielding extra early recombinants were selected at 80 days after sowing from the 18 Fz populations for further testing and selection.
Open Access
Effect of chitin synthesis inhibitors on rice swarming caterpillar spodoptera mauritia and rice moth corcyra cephalonica and a larval parasitoid bracon brevicornis
(Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1991) Prathapan, K D; KAU; Dale, D
Effects of four chitin synthesis inhibitors viz. diflubenzuron, chlorfluazuron, PH 70-23 and BASF LAB 153 959 I were assessed on two insect pests, the rice swarming caterpillar Spodoptera mauritia ( Boisduval) and rice moth Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton) and on its larval parasitoid Bracon brevicornis (Wesmael). Ovicidal action was assessed by treating one and two-day old eggs of S. mauritia in aqueous and mathanilic media. It was low in aqueous medium. But in methanolic medium diflubenzuron and the highest doses of the other three compounds showed enhanced action. In general, high ovicidal action was observed in methanolic medium. There was no significant difference between one and two-day old eggs in their susceptibility to chitin synthesis inhibitors. Chlorfluazuron was the most toxic causing cent per cent mortality at doses as low as 2 x 10 -5% when treated on second and fifth instar larvae of S. mauritia. Diflubenzuron, PH 70-23 and BASF LAB 153 959 I were also highly effective. Second instar larvae were more susceptible than fifth instar ones. Besides stomach action, a high degree of contact action was also observed. Final instar larvae of S. mauritia when treated with the test chemicals, produced larval-pupal intermediates and caused pupal mortality and emergence of deformed adults. All the four moult inhibitors were highly active during larval – pupal transformations. Pupae were less susceptible to chitin synthesis inhibitors. Yet, some treatments caused mortality and emergence of deformed adults. Chlorfluazuron was the most toxic to pupae. Fecundity, hatchability of eggs and longevity were reduced when the male moths of S. mauritia were fed on sugar solution containing the moult inhibitors. Antifeedant action of the chitin synthesis inhibitors was found to be less pronounced. Residual effect of all the four compounds persisted on the treated rice foliage throughout a study period of 36 days. But the efficacy of residues exposed to sunlight and rain was very low. Ovicidal action of the moult inhibitors was low to moderate on one and four-day old eggs of C. cephalonica in aqueous medium. In methanolic medium diflubenzuron at 2 x 10 -1 %, 2 x 10 -2 % and 2 x 10 -3 % and PH 70-23 and BASF LAB 153 959 I at 2 x 10 -1 % caused enhanced ovicidal action. In general there was no significant difference between the susceptibility of one and four-day old eggs. Chlorfluazuron was found to be the most toxic compound against larvae of C. cephalonica followed by BASF LAB 153 959 I. Diflubenzuron and PH 70-23 were less effective. Early larval instars were more susceptible. Contact action of compounds other than chlorfluazuron was low. Larval – pupal intermediates, pupal mortality and emergence of deformed adults were resulted when the last instar larvae of C. cephalonica were treated with the chemicals. Chlorfluazuron was found to be the most toxic compound. Prepupal treatment also caused the above juvenomimetic effects. But treatments other than chlorfluazuron 2 x 10 – 2% were less effective. Treatment of pupae of C. cephalonica resulted in pupal mortality and emergence of deformed adults. But pupae were less susceptible to the moult inhibitors as compared to the larval stages. External application of Chitin synthesis inhibitors to moths of C. cephalonica had no adverse had no adverse effect on fecundity, hatchability of eggs and longevity of the treated moths. Chlorfluazuron was found to inhibit the emergence of adult parasites from treated hosts and adversely affect the progeny production of B. brevicornis. Diflubenzuron, PH 70-23 and BASF LAB 153 959 I were non-toxic or only slightly toxic to the parasite.
Open Access
Managerial efficiency of cassava farmers
(Department Of Agricultural Extension, College Of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1991) Asnantharaman, M; KAU; Thyagarajan Nair, G
The study aimed at analyzing the managerial efficiency of cassava farmers. It was conducted in four districts namely, Thiruvananthapuram (low productivity), and Pathanamthitta (high productivity) in Kerala State and Kanyakumari (low productivity) and Selem (high productivity) in Tamil Nadu state. The first three districts were considered as non- industrial district and Selem district was considered as industrial district also. A total of 240 cassava farmers were selected, 60 from each district following stratified random sampling. The managerial efficiency was measured with the help of a scale consisting of 30 items developed for the study. The data on the managerial efficiency of farmers and on the fifteen socio- psychological and situational factors of the farmers were collected using an interview schedule. The components of managerial efficiency identified empirically were ‘planning’, ‘labour management’, ‘information management’, ‘financial management’ ‘production management (variety)’, ‘production management (practices)’ and ‘marketing management’. The managerial efficiency of cassava farmers as the whole was somewhat better as little more than half of the farmers had high managerial efficiency. While the farmers exhibited high efficiency in the managerial components namely, ‘planning’, ‘labour management’, ‘financial management’ and marketing management’, they were not efficient in the components of ‘Information management’, ‘production management (variety)’ and ‘production management (practices)’. The farmers of industrial district were found to have significantly higher efficiency in the overall managerial efficiency as well as in the managerial components viz., ‘planning’, ‘information management’, ‘financial management’, ‘production management (variety)’, and ‘production management (practices)’ when compared to farmers of non- industrial district. The component- wise performance of farmers on the whole was in the order of ‘labour management’, ‘marketing management’, ‘planning’, ‘financial management’, ‘production management (practices)’, ‘information management’, and ‘production management (variety)’. While farmers of industrial district relatively performed well in ‘production management (variety)’, ‘production management (practices)’ and ‘planning’ when compared to other components, non-industrial district farmers performance was good at ‘labour management’, ‘marketing management’ and ‘financial management’. The managerial components namely, ‘planning’, ‘information management’ and ‘financial management’ were found to be relatively more important than other components with regard to their contribution towards the profit from cassava cultivation. The socio-psychological and situational factors namely, closeness with agricultural support system, market perception, achievement motivation, economic motivation, attitude towards scientific management in crop enterprise, knowledge on scientific management in crop enterprise, cultivated holding, cassava area and irrigation potential were found to be significantly contributing to the managerial efficiency. The major managerial constraints faced by the farmers were lack of awareness, knowledge, conviction, timely information and planting materials; limited resources, uncertainty and shortage of labourers.
Open Access
Growth response of penaeus monodon fabricus to pelleted feeds of different protein sources
(Department of Aquaculture, College of Fisheries, Panangad, 1991) Josekkutty, P A; KAU; Susheela, Jose
The efficiency and keeping quality of the five pelleted feeds formulated from different protein sources viz. clarm meal, prawn meal, slaughter house waste meal, soybean meal, single protein (marine yeast) were tested with a view to develop a suitable supplementary feed for Penaeus monodon The feeds were isonitrogeneous , crude protein content ranged from 39.76 to 40.3%) and isocaloric (Caloric value between 3.34-3.72 K.cal/g). The quality of the feeds over a period of four months of storage remained good, eventhough a slight reduction in nutritive value has occurred. P. monodon juvenile were reared for 6 weeks in experimental tanks with different artificial feeds the highest growth and survival were recorded in those fed with diet based on animal protein sources. Among the feeds tested, the clam meal based diet was found to be superior followed by diet based on slaughter house waste meal. The diet based on marine yeast was found to give better performance than those based on prawn meal or soybean meal. The food conversion ratios obtained with different feeds ranged from 2.18 to 3.26. The lowest FCR was recorded in diet based on clam meal (2.18) and the highest (3.26) in diet based on marine yeast. Protein efficiency ratios and protein digestability values were found to be higher in prawns fed with diet based on clam meal followed by diet based on slaughter house waste meal. Significant variations in the biochemical composition of prawns fed with diet based on different protein sources were recorded. Significant variation in oxygen consumption, ammonia, excretion and O:N ratios were recorded in prawns reared on different protein based diets. Highest oxygen consumption rate and lowest ammonia excretion rate were observed for diets based on animal protein sources than plant or single cell protein source. Among the different diets tested, diet based on clam meal recorded highest oxygen consumption, lowest ammonia excretion and highest O:N ratio values. The optimum food ration for P.mondon juveniles was found to be at 6% of the body weight while maintenance and maximum rations were 1.8% and 15% respectively for clam meal based diet. Food consumption, growth and survival of P.monodon increased, as feeding frequency was raised, however these parameters increased only upto an increase of 3 meal/day and there after they showed a declining trend.
Open Access
Production potential of amaranthus under irrigation and nitrogen levels
(Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1991) Rajan, S; KAU; Oomen, M
An experiment was conducted at the Instructional Farm, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, during the summer seasons of 1989 and 1990 to study the response of amaranthus to different water management practices and nitrogen doses. The trial was laid out in split-plot design with three replications. The main plot treatments consisted of a combination of two varieties (red and green ) and four irrigation treatments. (Irrigation at IW/CPE ratio of 0.75, 1.00 and 1.25 and the farmer’s practice of daily irrigation). Sub plot treatments consisted of four levels of nitrogen (50, 75,100 and 125 kg N/ha). The study revealed that amaranthus responded well to frequent irrigations and higher levels of nitrogen. Red variety of amaranthus was superior to green variety in most of the growth and yield attributing characters studied. Biometric characters like height, girth of stem, number of branches, number of leaves, LAI, and dry weights of leaves, stem and roots were favourably influenced by frequent irrigations and higher nitrogen levels. Total yields were also higher in more frequently irrigated treatments and at higher nitrogen levels. The moisture content of leaves was not influenced by irrigation and nitrogen treatments. However nitrogen exerted, significant influence on the moisture content of stem. Protein content of red variety was maximum and as the frequency of irrigation and levels of nitrogen were increased, protein content of plant increased and the maximum was recorded at daily irrigation treatment and at 125 kg N/ha. A relatively higher fibre content was noted in red variety. The effect of irrigation treatments on the fibre content of plants were not conclusive but the nitrogen fertilization tended to decrease the fibre content of plants. The red variety recorded a comparatively higher uptake of nutrients. The uptake of N, P and K were enhanced by frequent irrigations and nitrogen application upto 125 kg/ha. Available N, P, K status of the soil after the experiment was reduced by red variety. Higher irrigation treatments reduced the N and k content of soil after the experiment. But the nitrogen fertilization increased the nitrogen content and reduce the potassium content of the soil after completing the experiment. However the effects of different irrigation and nitrogen treatments on available phosphorus content of the soil after the experiments were found to be inconsistent during the two seasons. The red variety showed maximum water use efficiency then the green variety. Field water use efficiency was higher in the less frequently irrigated treatments (IW/CPE) of 0.75 and 1.00) and at higher nitrogen fertilizations (125 and 100kg N/ha). The results of economic analysis revealed that net income and benefit cost ratio were maximum for red variety and these were increased by more frequent irrigations and Nitrogen fertilizations up to 125 kg N/ha.

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