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1990 - 19984
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Author: Latha, A ×

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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Growth and yield of cashew in relation to foliar and soil nutrient levels
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1992) Latha, A; KAU; John, P S
    An experiment on the growth and yield of cashew in relation to foliar and soil nutrient levels was conducted during 1990-'92 by making use of seedling progenies of BLA-39-4 with three levels each of N (250, 500 and 1000 g /tree /year), P (125, 250 and 500 g P205 /tree /year) and K (250, 500 and 1000 g K2O /tree /year) and one absolute control (with out NPK application ). Significant response in increasing height and number of flushes was observed only for N (500 g /tree /year) and P (250 g P205 /tree / year). Leaf N and K content at flushing , flowering and fruiting were enhanced by application on of a ll the three nutrients with maximum values at flowering . Leaf P content was enhanced by N, P and K application only at flushing and fruiting . N, P and K application also increased the chlorophyll ‘ b 1 and total chlorophyll. There was increase In N and P content of soil by N, P and K application , while K content of s oil was increased only with higher levels of K. 2 The number of panicles/m and test weight of nuts and yield were increased by the application of N, P and K. A positive significant relationship was obtained between leaf N and P contents at flowering and fruiting stages and yield . There was progressive increase in nut volume , protein content of kernels and fruit characters such as fruit weight, fruit volume and TSS of apple by N, P and K application .
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Utilization of biogas technology by the farmers of Palakkad
    (Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1990) Latha, A; KAU; Muraleedhara Prasad, R
    A - study \/as undertaken to analyse the extent of utilization of biogas technology by the farmers of Palakkad district of Kerala State in relation to their attitude, perception and motivational pattern in the adoption of biogas technology. The respondents selected for study included both users (n = 80) and non-users (n - 80) of biogas technology. The study revealed that there was no significant difference in the attitude of users and non-users towards, biogas technology. Among the six attributes of biogas technology studied in relation to perception, simplicity obtained the highest rank -followed by fuel efficiency, profitability, fertilizer efficiency, need compatibility and lot; cost in that order. 'Safety' was indicated as the most important motive governing the adoption of biogas technology and prestige motive, the least important. Among the selected.independent variables, utilization of interpersonal sources of information, perception about the efficiency of biogas technology, indebtedness, utilization of ether sources of fuel and innovation proneness were found .significant in predicting the maximum variation in attitude of users towards biogas technology, while utilization of interpersonal sources of information, family educational status,social participation; availability of other sources of fuel and educational status were important in predicting the attitude of non-users. Utilization of interpersonal sources of information, utilization of other sources of fuel, indebtedness, livestock possession and educational status were found significant in predicting the perception of users about the efficiency of biogas technology. 'Mixing slurry everyday is a botheration' was expressed by users as the most important constraint in utilization of biogas technology followed by low gas production during monsoon' and 'need for constant care of the plant. Most of the non-users had not adopted the technology due to the botheration for maintenance of the plant, availability of plenty of firewood and high installation cost of the plant.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Varietal reaction to nutrient and moisture stress in Cashew (Aracardium occidentale L.)
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture, Vellenikkara, 1998) Latha, A; KAU; Abdul Salam, M
    Five experiments were conducted at Cashew Research Station, Kerala Agricultural University, Madakkathara during 1996-98 to identify drought tolerant varieties of cashew, to study the response of cashew to applied N at different levels of drip irrigation and to assess the tolerance of cashew varieties to N, P and K deficiency in soil. The abstract of the experiments is given below. Exp. I. Varietal variation in drought tolerance The varieties H-1591, M-26/2, V-5 and M-44/3 are drought tolerant and K-22-1 is drought sensitive. Exp. II. Response of cashew to applied N at different levels of irrigation (drip) N application @ 1500 g per tree per year along with irrigation @ 80 litres per tree per day (through drip) is essential in the state of Kerala for obtaining best results from cashew. Exp . lIl. Tolerance of cashew varieties to N dificient soils The varieties H-1591 and M-2612 are efficient for N deficient soils. The N use efficiency of cashew seedlings grown under pot culture was 24.7 per cent. Exp. IV. Tolerance of cashew varieties to P deficient soils H-1591 is an efficient variety for P deficient soils. The P use efficiency of cashew seedlings grown under pot culture was 8.02 per cent. Exp. V. Tolerance of cashew varieties to K deficient soils The varieties H-1591, M-26/2 and H-1598 are efficient for K deficient soils. The K use efficiency of cashew seedlings grown under pot culture was 12.17 per cent. N, P and K absorption of a six month old cashew seedling was in the order of 151.95 mg N, 21.58 mg P and 49.48 mg K per plant with a nutrient absorption ratio of7: 1:2 (approximately). The variety H-1591 is a super variety capable of tolerating not only drought but also N, P and K deficient soils. The variety M-26/2 is capable of tolerating drought as well as N and K deficiency in soils. The variety K-22-1 is drought sensitive.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Consequences of conversion of marginal homesteads for planting rubber in Kottayam district
    (Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1997) Latha, A; KAU; Ranjan S, Karippai
    A study was conducted in Kottayam district to find out the causes and consequences with respect to the nature, extent and conversion (composite index developed from nature and extent) of marginal homesteads for planting rubber. The respondents included 200 convertors and 100 non-convertors. The study revealed that outmigration of hired labour, availability of hired labour, farming experience and perception about attributes of rubber cultivation could explain the maximum discrimination between convertors and non-convertors. Among the eighteen independent variables selected, availability of family labour and number of crops emerged as the most important factors influencing conversion. Gross cropped area and number of crops could explain the maximum variability of conversion. Net area under rubber was the factor which exerted maximum influence on other variables effecting conversion. The most important consequences of conversion expressed by convertors were outmigration of hired labour, outmigration of family labour, soil loss (erosion) based on magnitude and decrease in water availability, increase in social status and decrease in water table based on directionality. Community based land use strategy which involved production and sharing of farm produce among groups of individual homesteads based on similarity of topography, soil type, water resource dependence, local needs may become inevitable to sustain and maintain the diverse requirements of local communities in place of conversion of homesteads to monocrops like rubber alone. Rubber could only become a part of such land use systems.