Thumbnail Image

Theses

Browse

19953
Reset filters
Author: Kau × End date: 1995 × Start date: 1995 ×
Reset filters

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Seasonal fertility of billy goats
    (Department of Animal Reproduction, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1995) Ibraheem Kutty, C; KAU; Sudarsanan, V
    Biweekly data on body weight, scrotal circumference, testicular length and diameter and weekly data on semen parameters as volume, colour, pH, consistency, density, sperm concentration, mass activity, initial motility, sperm abnormality, vitality, metabolism and resistance to hyperosmotic medium of seven billy goats were pertaining to four seasons arrived at on the basis of a simultaneously kept daily record of maximum-minimum temperature, humidity and day length. It was statistically analysed to find out that the differences between seasons were significant to be attributed to the environmental variables. Mean body weight, scrotal circumference and testicular length and diameter were 43.62 ± 1.11 kg, 25.08 ± 0.12 cm, 8.57 ± 0.07 cm and 5.32 ± 0.03 cm respectively. There was no significant difference between the seasons except in testicular diameter and they were found to maintain an inverse relationship with day length and humidity. Mean volume, pH, initial motility, sperm concentration, total number of sperm per ejaculate, live sperm per cent, abnormal sperm per cent, MBR time and R value were 0.75 ± 0.04 ml, 6.25 ± 0.02, 73.51 ± 0.98 per cent, 3600 ± 144 millions/ml, 2660.6 ± 133.96 millions, 83.44 ± 0.76, 4.33 ± 0.43, 277.1 ± 14.27 seconds and 84.75 ± 12.39 ml respectively. There was no significant difference between seasons in these parameters except, pH, initial motility, live sperm per cent and R value. They were found to have a significant difference between seasons and were found to maintain either direct or indirect relationship with humidity and day length. Semen on extension with milk antibiotic extender and on storage under refrigeration was found to fast deteriorate rendering it unusable in 24 h. Semen on the day of collection and extension, was used for artificial insemination and result of insemination was found to be independent of the significant or nonsignificant seasonal differences of semen parameters. But, during the period of study, there were two peaks in conception and two peaks in birth corresponding to it. The pattern appeared to be an adjustment of reproduction by the female to the varying food availability and climate with little involvement of the male.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Influence of storage on the quality of selected pulses
    (Department of Home Science, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1995) Bhanu Lekha, T; KAU; Prema, L
    Blackgram, greengram, horsegram and cowpea were the pulses commonly cultivated in Kerala. Area under cultivation was in the range of 21 cents to 1 acre and 10 to 90 kg of pulses were harvested every time. Pre harvest loss of crops were mainly due to insect attack. Conventional methods of pretreatments such as sundrying and sand mixing were administered. Prior to storage, for seed material, fungicide and insecticide were also used. Quantitative, qualitative and organoleptic changes such as weight loss, colour change texture change, inferior taste and discolouration due to storage were reported by the farmers. Forty five godowns were selected for the large scale storage study. Space facilities of the godown decided the number of pulses stored and duration of storage. Every month pulses were procured from Tamilnadu, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. Prior to storage, pretreatments such as sparying DDVP, sweeping and dusting DT were administered. Infected pulses were sold as cattle feed and as manure or sold at subsidredrate for human consumption. Decrease in protein content, and volume expansion in all the pulses stored under large scale as well as farm level storage were noticed. While increase in no-protein-nitrogen, uric acid, moisture, cooking time, water uptake, percent hydration coefficient, damaged fraction, percent weight loss fungal contamination and bacterial contamination were observed in all the pulses irrespective of storage containers, storage period and level of storage.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Vertical movement of nitrogen in major rice soils of Kerala
    (Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1995) George Abraham, T; Kau; Pushkala, S
    An experiment was conducted at the College of Agriculture, Vellayani, to assess the leaching and runoff losses of applied fertilizer nitrogen in typical, major rice growing soils of kerala, with varying physical and chemical properties. Undisturbed vertical columns were used for the leaching study. The runoff study was conducted as a pot experiment using surface soil samples. The study revealed that the Onattukara soil recorded the highest leaching loss of applied nitrogen (56.10%). Kayal soil showed the lowest leaching percentage of 24.21. The quantity of leachate collected per unit time was also found to be the maximum in the case of Onattukara soil (185.51 ml/hr) and least in the case of Kayal soil (155.60 ml/hr). Correlation studies revealed that the leaching loss of nitrogen was negatively correlated with organic matter (-0.5593), cation exchange capacity (-0.4560), clay (-0.5864), bulk density (-0.3213) and water holding capacity (-0.5544). The leaching loss was positively correlated with the quantity of leachate collected per unit time (+0.8876). In the case of Onattukara and kole soils, the loss of nitrogen through leaching was observed till the fifth day. For Kari soils, the loss stopped completely by the 10th day. The Karappadam and Pattambi soils showed leaching till the 15th day. However, in the case of Kayal soils, the leaching loss continued through the whole period of the study. In all cases, maximum amount of leaching occurred during the first five days after fertilizer application and after that the loss was in negligible quantities. In the case of runoff study also, Onattukara soil showed the highest runoff loss of applied nitrogen (40.41). The least loss was shown by karappadam soil (15.70%). The runoff loss was found to decrease with increase in number of days. Even though, Karappadam soils showed the lowest runoff loss of applied nitrogen, it had the highest percentage difference in runoff loss (77.8%) and the least was shown by Onattukara and Pattambi soils (63.5%). Correlation studies revealed that the runoff loss of fertilizer nitrogen was found to be negatively correlated with the oprganic matter (-0.1248), cation exchange capacity (-0.0324), clay (-0.4135), water holding capacity 9-0.6723) and bulk density (-o.4659).