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Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur
The history of agricultural education in Kerala can be traced back to the year 1896 when a scheme was evolved in the erstwhile Travancore State to train a few young men in scientific agriculture at the Demonstration Farm, Karamana, Thiruvananthapuram, presently, the Cropping Systems Research Centre under Kerala Agricultural University. Agriculture was introduced as an optional subject in the middle school classes in the State in 1922 when an Agricultural Middle School was started at Aluva, Ernakulam District. The popularity and usefulness of this school led to the starting of similar institutions at Kottarakkara and Konni in 1928 and 1931 respectively.
Agriculture was later introduced as an optional subject for Intermediate Course in 1953. In 1955, the erstwhile Government of Travancore-Cochin started the Agricultural College and Research Institute at Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram and the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences at Mannuthy, Thrissur for imparting higher education in agricultural and veterinary sciences, respectively. These institutions were brought under the direct administrative control of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Animal Husbandry, respectively. With the formation of Kerala State in 1956, these two colleges were affiliated to the University of Kerala. The post-graduate programmes leading to M.Sc. (Ag), M.V.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees were started in 1961, 1962 and 1965 respectively.
On the recommendation of the Second National Education Commission (1964-66) headed by Dr. D.S. Kothari, the then Chairman of the University Grants Commission, one Agricultural University in each State was established. The State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) were established in India as an integral part of the National Agricultural Research System to give the much needed impetus to Agriculture Education and Research in the Country. As a result the Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) was established on 24th February 1971 by virtue of the Act 33 of 1971 and started functioning on 1st February 1972. The Kerala Agricultural University is the 15th in the series of the SAUs.
In accordance with the provisions of KAU Act of 1971, the Agricultural College and Research Institute at Vellayani, and the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, were brought under the Kerala Agricultural University. In addition, twenty one agricultural and animal husbandry research stations were also transferred to the KAU for taking up research and extension programmes on various crops, animals, birds, etc.
During 2011, Kerala Agricultural University was trifurcated into Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU), Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) and Kerala Agricultural University (KAU).
Now the University has seven colleges (four Agriculture, one Agricultural Engineering, one Forestry, one Co-operation Banking & Management), six RARSs, seven KVKs, 15 Research Stations and 16 Research and Extension Units under the faculties of Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering and Forestry. In addition, one Academy on Climate Change Adaptation and one Institute of Agricultural Technology offering M.Sc. (Integrated) Climate Change Adaptation and Diploma in Agricultural Sciences respectively are also functioning in Kerala Agricultural University.
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ThesisItem Open Access Availability indices for stressed nutrients for coconut (Cocos nucifera L) in an ultisol(Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2003) Priya, P; KAU; Sureshkumar, PThe present study was conducted with an objective to analyse the soil-plant system, the levels and interactions of nutrient ions in soil, soil solution and plant thereby / finding out the contributing factors to yield. The importance of the term relative intensity lies in the fact that the contribution of mineral elements to growth and yield of plants depend much on the relative amount of one element with respect to the others rather than the absolute content of individual elements. To study the ionic interactions and to unravel the role of Net Ionic Equilibrium based on Ratio Law on soil plant system, a sample of fifty phenotypically identical palms varying in yield from 14.4 to 84.4 nuts palm" year"! grown under an Ultisol were selected. Index leaf samples were collected during pre and post monsoon seasons from 25 palms each from high yielding and low yielding groups. Soil samples were also collected from the basins of these palms during the same seasons at 30 cm (surface) arid 60 cm (subsurface) depths. Soil solutions at saturation point were extracted from the surface samples by centrifugation technique. These leaf, soil and solution samples were analysed / . for different nutrient ions, and the NIE ratios in these three phases were worked out with respect to K and Na. The soil samples were acidic in nature and the variation in rhizosphere pH must have definitely influenced the solubility as well as absorption of different nutrient ions. In the case of available nutrients, the micro nutrients showed significant direct relation with yield both for high and low yielding populations. This might be due to their restricted availability due to aerobic oxidised condition where Fe and Mn might have been precipitated and got into unavailable forms. The BaCh exchangeable ions and the CEC derived from summing up of these exchangeable ions influenced yield directly. Exchangeable K had got a significant dominance in deciding the NIE ratio in soil, solution and in index leaves. Exchangeable K controlled the soil solution concentration of K which in turn controlled the NIE ratio in solution and the ratios in plant. Exchangeable K directly controlled the plant K content and plant K was positively and significantly correlated with the NIE ratios in plant and these ratios were positively and significantly correlated with yield. The negative significant correlation of exchangeable K with plant Mn and Zn revealed the antagonistic effect of exchangeable K in restricting the absorption of Mn and Zn by plants. Among the ionic concentrations in soil solution, Fe was positively and significantly correlated with yield in both the seasons. Soil solution concentrations of Ca and Mg were antagonistically and significantly related with plant Mn content. Potassium content and the NIE ratio in index leaves were found to have a significant direct relation with yield in the pre-monsoon season. Potassium, Ca and Mg were the dominant cations in plant deciding the total cation concentration in index leaves. The NIE ratios between the exchangeable ions, the ions in soil solution and the ions in index leaf samples were mutually, .positively and significantly correlated among themselves. This lead to the conclusion that there exists a constancy in the relative proportion of nutrient ions in the entire soil-plant system which followed Ratio Law. The study lead to the conclusion that the soil test values of the individual ions alone or the plant content of individual ions alone can't give a clear picture of optimum nutrient requirements for the plant. The relative concentration of K in soil through the ~ concentration in soil solution was found to govern the relative concentration in plant which in turn influenced the yield.ThesisItem Open Access Utilisation of dairy industry solid waste as an organic source in soil productivity(Department of soil science and agricultural chemistry, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2004) Indu, B; KAU; Usha, MathewAn investigation entitled ‘Utilization of dairy industry solid waste as an organic waste in soil productivity’ was carried out at College of Agriculture, Vellayani to study the feasibility of using dairy industry solid waste (dsw) as an organic source for improving soil productivity. The experiment consisted of four parts viz., characterization of dsw, vermicomposting of dsw, incubation study to monitor the changes in physical property, nutrient availability and microbial population in soil and pot culture experiment to study the influence of cdsw on amaranthus. The dairy waste collected from TRCMPU Ltd. at Ambalathara, Thiruvananthapuram was used in the present study. The physico-chemical and microbial analysis of dsw were done using suitable analytical procedures. Vermicomposting was carried out in pits of size 1 m x 0.5 m x 0.5 m using vegetable wastes, ground dsw and cowdung in the ratio 5:3:1 by the activity of earthworm Eudrillus eugeniae. Vermicompost was prepared according to package of practices recommendations of Kerala Agricultural University. Incubation study was conducted at the laboratory to monitor the nutrient release pattern and changes in physical properties and microbial population in soil. Two kg of soil was taken in plastic containers of uniform size and incubated at 60 per cent field capacity for three months after application of treatments. The experiment was laid out in CRD with seven treatments viz., T0 - absolute control, T1 – soil + 25 g fym, T2 – soil + 25 g dsw, T3 – soil + 12 ½ g fym + 12 ½ g dsw, T4 – soil 12 ½ g fym + 6 ¼ g dsw, T5 – soil + 12 ½ g cdsw, T6 –soil+ 6 ¼ g cdsw. Physico-chemical and microbilogical properties of soil were analysed at an interval of 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 12 weeks. The pot culture experiment was conducted to study the influence of dsw on growth, yield and quality of amaranthus. It was laid out in CRD with a treatments viz., T0 – absolute control, T1 – fertilizers and fym as per POP, T2 – POP fertilizers and 50 t ha-1 cdsw, T3 – POP fertilizers + fym 25 t ha-1 and cdsw 25 t ha-1, T4 – POP fertilizers and fym 25 t ha-1 and cdsw 12 ½ t ha-1, T5 – 2/3 N + full NPK of POP + fym 25 t ha-1 and cdsw 25 t ha-1, T6 – 2/3 N + full PK of POP and fym 25 t ha-1 + cdsw 12 ½ t ha-1, T7 – ½ N + full PK of POP + fym 25 t ha-1 + cdsw 25 t ha-1, T8 – ½ N + full PK of POP and fym 25 t ha-1 and cdsw 12 ½ t ha-1. Observations on various biometric and yield parameters have been recorded and analysis of plant sample were done at three stages of growth of plant viz., 30, 45 and 60 days after transplanting. The nutrient status of soil after the experiment was also analysed. Analysis of physico-chemical and microbial properties of dsw revealed that it had a near neutral pH (6.5) and it contained 37.5 per cent organic carbon, 5.80 per cent N, 2.04 per cent P, 0.71 per cent K, 1.69 per cent Ca, 1.58 per cent Mg, 1.71 per cent Fe, 159 mg kg 1 Mn and 1084 mg kg 1 Zn. Population of bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes in dsw were 13.3 x 106, 11.6 x 104 and 1.3 x 104 respectively. The results of the study revealed that vermicomposting can be successfully done in dsw using Eudrillus eugeniae. Vermicompost with a C : N ratio of 11.12 was obtained after 60 days of composting. The final compost contained 3.12 per cent N, 1.97 per cent P, 1.81 per cent K, 2.05 per cent Ca, 3.55 per cent Mg, 0.80 per cent Fe, 230 mg kg-1 Mn, 408 mg kg-1 Zn and 44 mg kg¬-1 Cu. Number of bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes in the compost at maturity stage were 42.6 x 106, 38.6 x 104 and 21.3 x 104 respectively. From the incubation study, it can be seen that nutrient content of soil increased upto 6-8 weeks in all treatments except T0 followed by a gradual decline. All nutrients except Cu were more on cdsw applied treatment in the initial period. Cu content was more in fym applied treatment. Nutrient availability was more from fym applied treatments during later periods of incubation. Bulk density of soil decreased in all treatments except T0 upto six weeks of incubation followed by a gradual increase in 8 and 12 weeks. Treatment in which cdsw was applied at higher dose showed the lowest bulk density. Upto six weeks the highest water holding capacity was noticed in cdsw applied treatments, after that fym applied treatments showed highest water holding capacity. Bacterial and fungal population reached the peak in sixth week and then declined. Upto eight weeks the effect of treatments was non significant with respect to actinomycete population. The pot culture experiment indicated the influence of cdsw on growth, yield and quality of amaranthus. Biometric and yield observation have proved the superiority of cdsw over fym. Beta-carotene content was more in cdsw applied treatments. Total yield and B:C ratio were the highest when cdsw was used as a partial substitute for fym. Physico-chemical properties of soil after the pot culture experiment revealed that pH, EC, organic carbon and available nutrients increased in all treatment except in T0 compared to the initial soil. pH, EC, organic carbon, available P, Ca and Fe were the highest in T2 which received cdsw at higher dose while the available N, K, Mg, Mn, Zn and Cu were the highest in T1 which received fym. From the results it can be concluded that effective biomanagement of dsw can be carried out using Eudrillus eugeniae. Better availability of nutrients especially nitrogen from cdsw compared to fym immediately after application as evidenced by incubation study is advantageous for short duration leafy vegetables. Use of cdsw can reduce the use of fym partially or fully in amaranthus. Fertilizer N can also be reduced to the extent of 1/3 of POP recommendation.ThesisItem Open Access Soil test crop response studies on coleus (Solenostemon rotundifolius Poir J.K Morton) in the laterite soils of Kerala(Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2003) Nagarajan, M; KAU; Hassan, M AInvestigation entitled" Soil Test crop response studies on coleus in laterite soil of Kerala" consisting of two experiments namely fertility gradient experiment and STCR experiment was conducted during 2002 in the farm attached to the College of Horticulture, Vellan ikkara. Objective of the study was to develop soil test based balanced fertilizer recommendation for specific yield targets of coleus in laterite soils of kerala and provide a basis for fertilizer recommendation for maximum and economic tuber yield at varying soil test values. The fertility gradient experiment was conducted to create desired gradient in soil fertility in one and the same field by applying graded doses ofN, P, and K fertilizers and raising fodder maize var.Co.l. After development of fertility gradient, the STCR experiment was conducted in the same field with the test crop, coleus variety Nidhi.The treatment structure consisted of four levels of N (0,20,40, and 80 kg ha'), three levels of P20S (0,45 and 90 kg ha-I) and five levels of K (0, 25, 50, 100, 200 kg ha-I) along with three levels of FYM (0, 7.5 and 15 t ha-I) The nutrient requirement of coleus, variety Nidhi were estimated to be 9.15,1.38 and16.38 kg ha-I N, P20S and K20 respectively to produce one tonne of tuber. The soil efficiencies worked out as 21,46.85 and 40.85 per cent for N, . , P205 and K20 respectively for coleus in laterite soil. The contribution of nutrients from the fertilizers for coleus was calculated as 61.6,9.57 and 56.60 per cent for N, P205 and K20 respectively. From the above basic data, fertilizer prescription equation for specific yield targets of coleus variety Nidhi in the laterite soil were derived as follows, Without rVM FN =14.85T-0.34SN FP205 =14.42T-l J.21SP FK20 =28.98T-0.87SK FN, F P20S, F K20 - Fertilizer N, P20S and K20 respectively T - Target yield of tuber in t ha-I SN, SP, SK - Soil available N, P and K in' kg ha-I respectively . WithFYM FN 14.85 T - 0.34 SN - 0.34 ON 14.42 T - 11.21 SP - 3.25 OP F K20 = 28.93 T - 0.87 SK - 1.22 OK Where, ON, OP and OK are quantities ofN, P and K supplied through organic manure in kg ha" Multiple regression models calibrated with yield as dependent variable and STVs for available N, P and K and applied nutrients as independent variables had 67.4 per cent predictability. Among the three fertilizer nutrients, FN only showed the normal type (+, -, -) of response. The fertilizer adjustment equation fur v,!rying levels of soil available N for maximum tuber yield (t ha") of coleus in laterite soil was derived as FN= 168 SN, where FN is fertilizer N (kg ha"): SN is available N (kg ha-I) is soil. The behavior of applied p and K was found to produce responses other than normal and hence optimization coula not be done for fertilizer P and K at varying soil test values. Simple correlations coefficient was worked out for Nutrient uptake, soil available nutrients, applied nutrients with yield of coleus. Available nutrients -! showed higher positive correlation" than that of allied nutrients. The uptake of nutrients (N, P and K) also significantly correlated with yield of coleus. This study is useful to adjust fertilizer doses based on the specific objective and available resources of coleus farmers of the state.ThesisItem Open Access Evaluation of latex sludge as a phosphorus source in crop production(Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2004) Simi, Sathyaseelan; KAU; Sumam, GeorgeA detailed investigation entitled ‘Evaluation of latex sludge as a phosphorus source in crop production’ was carried out at College of Agriculture, Vellayani, with chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) as the test crop. Preliminary studies in both India and abroad had shown this waste product of latex concentrate industry to be a rich source of plant nutrients especially P. Initially the basic physico-chemical properties of this sludge material were estimated followed by an incubation study in which its P release pattern was compared with that of two conventional P sources -SSP and RP. Then pot culture experiments were undertaken to study its direct and residual effects on the growth and yield characters of chilli var. Jwalamukhi. Chemically, latex sludge is magnesium ammonium phosphate. Analytical studies revealed it to be near neutral (pH 6.49) in reaction which is mainly due to the pH buffering effect of its magnesium phosphate component. So, no significant variation in soil pH was observed both in the incubation study as well as in the pot culture experiments and in this respect it is comparable with the conventional P sources- SSP and RP. The total P content is 35.98 per cent grading it superior to rock phosphates now popular in market as commercial fertilizers. Of the total P, 13 per cent is water soluble and 36 per cent citrate soluble, together accounting for nearly half of the gross P content. The presence of both fractions gives latex sludge an added advantage over SSP and RP, in that it can provide both readily available and slowly available forms of P, making it suitable for a wide range of crops and soils. Another positive property of latex sludge is the presence of Mg (6.86 per cent) and N (6.05 per cent) in it. Mg has been found to be required by many plants in about the same quantities as P to increase their photosynthetic efficiency. The N is present in readily available form too ie., as ammonium phosphate. The presence of about five per cent organic C is another advantage as it enhances phosphate dissolution capacity of the material. In addition, it can supply minute quantities of K and Ca (less than one per cent). On the basis of its chemical profile, latex sludge can be considered more or less as a complete complex fertilizer. The greatest advantage is its ability to act as a slow release fertilizer, a property bestowed on it by the encapsulation of nutrients by rubber residues present in low concentration. The dynamics of important soil chemical properties on incubation with latex sludge (T1), SSP (T2) and RP (T3) were studied against a control (T4, soil alone) for a period of 120 days. These sources were applied to one kg soil taken in plastic containers, to provide P @ 40 kg ha-1 and the soil was maintained at field capacity. The superiority of latex sludge in increasing the soil organic C content was very much evident from the incubation study, even though there was an initial delay. From the 30th day onwards latex sludge was significantly superior to RP and SSP, the values gradually increasing to a maximum by the 75th day followed by a slow decline. The available N values were the highest for latex sludge applied soil throughout the incubation period except on the 105th day. From 30th to the 90th day these values were significantly superior to those for SSP and RP applied soils. The different P sources exerted significant influence on soil available P contents throughout the incubation period. On the 15th day, the water soluble phosphates of SSP maintained its superiority by recording a value significantly higher than that of all other sources. The next highest value was recorded by latex sludge and was significantly superior to RP. But from the 30th day onwards, P release from latex sludge and SSP became statistically comparable and significantly superior to that from RP. The uniform release pattern of both latex sludge and SSP continued till the 90th day and thereafter the three sources became on par in their P release capacities. The superior effect of latex sludge in maintaining a high soil available P till about 90th day is therefore very much evident and is mainly due to the presence of both water and citrate soluble P fractions in it. The available K levels in soil remained unaffected throughout the incubation period despite P application in different forms. The various P sources could produce significant variations in soil exchangeable Ca and Mg levels only towards the middle period of the incubation. In general, latex sludge was seen on par with RP in increasing soil exchangeable Ca but the Mg release pattern showed high inconsistency. The agronomic efficiency of latex sludge was evaluated by conducting pot culture experiments laid out in CRD with a main and a residue crop of chilli var. Jwalamukhi. The treatments included T1 (full P as LS), T2 (full P as SSP), T3 (full P as RP), T4 (¼ LS + ¾ SSP), T5 (½ LS + ½ SSP), T6 (¾ LS + ¼ SSP), T7 (¼ LS + ¾ RP), T8 (½ LS + ½ RP), T9 (¾ LS + ¼ RP), T10 (No P) and T11 (absolute control). Urea, muriate of potash and FYM were applied uniformly to all treatments except absolute control, as per Package of Practices Recommendations of Kerala Agricultural University. The P fertilizers were applied as per treatment schedule. The growth characters of chilli registered the maximum values when full P was given as SSP (T2). But, the effects were statistically on par with the combination treatment T8 (½ LS + ½ RP). Yield in general was favourably enhanced when latex sludge was applied along with RP. The highest yield was recorded by T7 (¼ LS + ¾ RP) but it was on par with T8 (½ LS + ½ RP). The economic analysis (benefit-cost ratio) also showed the same trend of yield. The quality traits of chilli also testified the suitability of latex sludge as an alternate P source. The treatment combination T8 (½ LS + ½ RP) registered values which were either the highest or on par with the highest. The plant uptake of nutrients, a major yield contributing factor, also showed trends in favour of latex sludge. The uptake of N, P, K, Ca and Mg which were significantly influenced by the treatments were the highest or on par with the highest for the combination treatment, T8. Chemical analysis of soil upon crop harvest indicated that the combination treatment T8 (½ LS + ½ RP) could maintain higher levels of available N, P and exchangeable Mg. Full P as latex sludge (T1) recorded the highest organic C content and was significantly higher than all other treatments. The residual effects of the treatments were studied by raising another crop of same variety of chilli in the same pots using the same soil following all the cultural operations as for the main crop except P addition. The highest residual effect of P was exhibited by the combination treatment T8 (½ LS + ½ RP) manifested by recording the highest fruit yield and thereby the highest returns. The high residual effect of T8 (½ LS + ½ RP) was also evident from its highest P uptake indicating adequate P availability inspite of its lack of application to the current crop. Moreover, the uptake of other nutrients was either the highest or on par with the highest value for the same treatment (T8). The present investigation, therefore, undoubtedly proves that latex sludge can be used as an alternate and cheap source of P in crop production. The combination treatment T8 (½ LS + ½ RP) emerges superior on the basis of its direct and residual effects on growth, yield and quality characters of chilli. Economic analysis substantiates this further. Moreover, use of this apparently ecofriendly material in crop production will be a boon in terms of its disposal also.ThesisItem Open Access Effect of sulphur on yield, quality and uptake of nutrients by Cowpea (vigna unguiculata L. Walp) in a Rhodig Haplustox(Department Of Soil Science And Agricultural Chemistry,College Of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2000) Beena, V I; KAU; Usha, P BThe proposed piece of research work entitled " Effect of sulphur on yield, quality and uptake of nutrients by cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L Walp) in a Rhodic Haplustox" was conducted at Instructional farm,College of Agriculture, Vellayani. The study WHS undertaken to evaluate the effect of different levels and sources of sulphur application on yield, quality and uptake of nutrients by cowpea using the var Kanakamoni. The experiment was laid out in RBD with three replications. Combination of three factors, organic manures (FYM), NPK fertilizers and sulphur constituted the ten treatments. Sulphur was applied through two sources viz gypsum and factamphos. Different levels of S application were I) no sulphur 2) S @ 15 kg ha,l and 3) S @ 30 kg ha,l. All treatments included normal NPK applied through urea,mussooriephos and MOP at the rates of 20:30: 1 0 kg ha". FYM application was also done at two levels i.e.treatrnents with FYM and without rYM. Growth characters like height of the plants, number of branches per plant, number and weight of effective nodules, chlorophyll content and NRA were significantly enhanced as a result of S fertilization.The treatment combination with 30 kg S ha,l along with POP recommendation recorded the maximum value in all these cases. Gypsum was found to be superior in all these cases execpt ip the case of number of branches per plant. Treatment with 30 kg S ha,l as gypsum along with POP recommendation recorded significantly minimum value for days to maximum flowering and N:S ratio. A 42 per cent increaese in yield over control was recorded by 30 kg ha" as gypsum along with POP recommendations. A significant increase in yield attributes and protein content (25.39%) was also noticed through S fertilization. Uptake of N,r, K, Ca, Mg and S was increased due to S fertilization indicating a synergistic effect. All the growth characters and yield attributes were best correlated with yield. Uptake of nutrients showed positive and significant correlation with yield, the best correlation being obtained at MFS. Yield is decided by the uptake of nutrients at MFS. N:S ratio and days to maximum flowering showed significantly negative correlation with yield. Field experiment revealed that S as well as combination of S with organic manures exerted significant effect on most of growth and yield attributing charecters of cowpea. The treatment combination with normal level ofNPK and FYM along with S @ 30 kg ha-I was found significantly superior to other treatments. Gypsum as the source was found to be superior to factamphos,ThesisItem Open Access Synerigistic effect of Na and K on yield and nutrient uptake in Coleus (Coleus praviflorus L)(Department of Soil Science & Agricultural chemistry, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2004) Neenu, S; KAU; Sudharmai Devi, CA field experiment was carried out in College of Agriculture, Vellayani during September 2003 to January 2004 to study the “Synergistic effect of Na and K on yield and nutrient uptake in coleus (Coleus parviflorus L.)”. The treatments included were 50 and 100 per cent of the recommended dose of K alone and in combination with 50, 75 and 100 per cent of Na of common salt to equalize the same amount of recommended dose of K. The experiment was conducted in Randomized Block Design. The plant growth characteristics like plant spread, number of functional leaves and LAI showed significant variation due to treatments. The highest values for these parameters were registered by K and Na at 50:50 proportions, showing the synergistic interaction of the two elements at this combination. Leaf water content varied significantly due to treatments. The 50 per cent K plus 75 per cent Na treated plants showed highest value of RLWC. Even though the chlorophyll content did not show significant difference between treatments, it increased with Na application along with 50 per cent K, revealing a role of Na in chlorophyll biosynthesis Tuber yield did not show any significant difference due to treatments. Even then the 50:50 combinations of Na and K treatment gave the highest tuber yield followed by 100 per cent K plus 50 per cent Na treated plants. The yield attributes like number of tubers, weight of tubers and tuber index did not vary significantly. Among the quality attributes, starch content varied significantly due to treatments. The treatment with 100 per cent K plus 75 per cent Na gave the highest value of starch followed by the 50:50 combinations of Na and K. The cooking quality of treatments T3 (100 per cent K alone), T4 (50 per cent K plus 50 per cent Na) and T5 (50 per cent K plus 75 per cent Na) were similar. The shelf life of 100 per cent K plus 100 per cent Na treated tubers were found to be the highest. There was an increase in the content of N, K, Ca and Mg in the plants when Na was also supplied as treatment. Consequently the uptake of nutrients increased with the application of different levels of Na along with 50 per cent K. This shows that Na has a stimulative effect on uptake of nutrients. Application of Na did not affect any soil properties like pH, EC and organic carbon. The available nutrients like N, P, Ca and Mg increased in Na treated plots Yield of tuber was positively and significantly correlated with the dry matter production and uptake of Ca. Yield was positively correlated with the uptake of all nutrients under study. From the above points, it can be concluded that a combination of 50 per cent K and 50 per cent Na is optimum for getting the maximum yield. From the present study it also became evident that the efficiency of nutrient uptake increased at this combination. By adopting this practice, it was seen that the quality of coleus tubers improved and they became nutritionally more rich. This practice was found to be economically more feasible. Considering all these aspects, this fertilizer practice can be recommended to the farmers for getting a higher profit. From this investigation we can clearly establish a synergistic interaction of the two monovalent nutrient ions, K and Na on the growth and yield of coleus.ThesisItem Open Access Soil properties and produce quality of Cardamom(Elettaria cardamomum Maton) under organic farming(Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2004) Arun, G; KAU; Saifudeen, NAn investigation was conducted at the Upputhara panchayath of Peermede taluk, in Idukki district of Kerala with the objective to compare the soil properties, crop nutrient concentrations and quality of cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum Maton) under organic and conventional farming.' Nine certified organic farms, that follow IMO and Skal International certification standards and eight adjacent conventional cardamom farms following recommendations of Spices Board were selected for investigation. Fifty samples each of soil and cardamom leaves were drawn from both organic and conventional farms. Cured cardamom samples were collected from each farm under study. A proforma was developed in accordance with the standards fixed by IFOAM for documenting farming practices of the study area Biometric parameters and yield attributes of cardamom plants were observed directly and yield data for the organic and conventional cardamom farms were collected from farm records during the survey. The orgaruc farms selected for the study did not follow strict package of practices and there were variations among individual farms, but within the purview of certification procedures. Conventional and organic farming practices of the study area differed mainly on fertilization policy, plant protection strategy, weed control and land management. Soils of the organic cardamom farms were found to have better aeration than conventional farms, evident from the significantly lower bulk density of soils of the organic farrns. Another significant effect of organic agriculture in cardamom was the improvement of soil electrochemical properties. The rich organic soils of the study area resulted in insignificant difference in organic carbon and organic matter content of the soils of the two farming systems. The ranges of major nutrients in soils were medium to high and hence the difference between organic and conventional cardamom farms with respect to major nutrients was also not consistent. Microbes were proliferating in the organic farms resulting in better decomposition of organic matter with concomitant solubility of major nutrients in the soil. But dehydrogenase enzyme activity of the soil didn't differ significantly. Conventional farming with chemical inputs enhanced morphological make up of cardamom plants. Leaf length, leaf breadth, plant height and number of tillers per clump were significantly low in organic cardamom plants. A reverse trend was seen in the case of petiole length. Panicle length, number of panicles per clump, number of racemes per panicle and number of capsules per raceme were significantly lower in organic farms contributing to lower yields, which of course are expected to improve as farming practices stabilize in due course. Since the morphological make up of the cardamom plants in the organic farms was relatively smaller, the minerals taken up were not diluted resulting in higher concentrations of major nutrients in organically managed plants. The effect of high levels of Ca in the exchange complex is also reflected in low uptake of Fe and Mn by organic cardamom plants. Size of fresh cardamom capsules, colour, and litre weight were higher in the organically produced cardamom samples. However, the number of seeds per capsule was lower in organic cardamom. Both oleoresin and volatile oil contents were found significantly superior in the organic to that of conventional cardamom.ThesisItem Open Access Biotic enrichment of organic wastes from ayurvedic preparations(Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2003) Preetha, D; KAU; Sushama, K PThe study on the 'Biotic Enrichment of Organic Wastes from Ayurvedic Preparations' was conducted at College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, during the period 2001-2003 using ayurvedic wastes from' Oushadhi, the Pharmaceutical Corporation (Indian Medicines), a Government of Kerala undertaking. The investigations were undertaken to standardise the substrate controlled' micro-environment as well as to identify the promising bioagents for the cornposting of Oushadhi wastes and to determine the effect of the best selected enriched compost on soil and plant. The standardisation of the best substrate and enrichment techniques were based on the principle of aerobic composting. The collected wastes were grouped into three different size categories such as unsieved, 4 mm sieved and 2 mm sieved. The enrichers used were cowdung, quail manure and their 1: 1 mixtures, each at 5, 10 and 15 percent levels respectively. As the introduced biotic agents, two types of earthworms (Eudrilus eugeniae and Eisenia foetida) and two fungal inoculi (Schizophyllus communae and Pleurotus platypus) were tried. They were compared with native macrofauna and micro flora so as to monitor their respective role in the composting process. Analysis of the alkaloid rich Oushadhi wastes with aromatic odour revealed that it contains the nutrients N, P and K as 2.03, 0.33 and 0.85 percent respectively, Biochemical composition of the same, included crude protein (12.67%), crude fibre (3c,.4%), crude lipid (6.3%), cellulose (35.7%) and lignin (37.9%). The temperature within the tre~tme~ts of compost was recorded daily and the fluctuations of pH were noted at fortnightly intervals. Based on these parameters, three distinct stages of ~omposting as mesophilic (upto 10 days), thermophilic (10-30 days) and maturity (30-60 days) were identified. Dehydrogenase activity was maximum (3119.3 ug TPF s" soil h-I) at thermophilic stage, followed by maturity and mesophilic stages. After the thermophilic stage, the earthworms were introduced and the counts with respect to Eudrilus eugeniae were more than that of Eisenia foetida at the two stages of sampling. Based on the C:N rati~ (11.4) and the least time take (48 days) for maturity the " best treatment was selected, 'which registered manurial contents ofN (3.62%), P (0.85%) and K (0.89%). In the same material, the biochemical constituents of crude fibre (13.9%), crude lipid (0.7%), crude protein (12.68%), lignin (28.2%) and cellulose (18.8%) were determined. The best means of composting involves the use of the unsieved substrate which must be enriched with 5 per cent mixture of cowdung and quail manure (1: 1 ratio) and later vermicomposted with Eisenia foetida. So as to evaluate the effect of the selected enriched compost, the much responsive crop amaranthus was field tested for a period of two months. The selected enriched compost was tested at two rates (5 t ha"1 and 2.5 t ha"I), with and without full and half levels of recommended package of NPK fertilizers, along with FYM and absolute control. Recording of growth and yield parameters, nutrient uptake studies and determination of nutrient removal were undertaken during the period of study, April-May 2003. The results indicated that with higher doses (5 t ha"l) of the selected enriched compost along with 50:50:50 NPK gave the maximum yield followed by the treatment in which 2.5 t ha"1 of selected enriched compost along with 50:50:50 NPK was applied.ThesisItem Open Access Aerobic composting and enrichment of ayurvedic waste(Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2003) Lekshmisree, C S; KAU; Betty BastinThe study on "Aerobic Composting of Ayurvedic Waste" was conducted at College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during the period 2001-2003, to investigate the basic physico-chemical properties of Oushadhi waste material, standardize formulations of enriched compost from the waste material and also to determine the effect of compost on plant and soil. . The waste material for the .study was collected from the manufacturing unit of Oushadhi pharmaceuticals l6c~d at Kuttanelloor, 8 km east of Thrissur. The factory produced nearly 1 tonne of waste per day during the manufacture of various products like Lehyam, Arishtam, Choomam, Kalkam etc. Hence the safe disposal of these wastes was a serious problem. A preliminary study was conducted to confirm the basic physico-chemical properties of the waste material for a period of 6 months by taking composite samples from the factory at an interval of 10 days. Temperature, pH, microbial count, colour, odour and consistency as well as the major nutrient contents of the waste material were analysed during the time period. Then the waste material were categorised into three substrates namely unsieved (01), 4 mm sieved (02) and 2 mm sieved (03) fractions. Then each substrate was enriched with organic and inorganic enrichers at different levels. The organic enrichers used were cowdung, poultry manure and neemcake each at 5, 10 and 15 per cent of substrate and also their mixtures. The study involved aerobic composting of enriched treatment combinations in pots of size 30 x 32 cm2. Temperature was measured daily and other parameters like pH, dehydrogenase activity and C: N ratio were monitored at 10 days interval throughout the composting process. The end phase of the bioprocessing was arrived at through indications on stabilisation of temperature, pH and the quality of material. Nutrient quality of the composted waste material was arrived at by analysing the content of N, P and K at initial and [mal stages of comp 0 sting. The best selected enriched compost was used to study the effect on plant and soil. It was field tested using amaranthus (var. Arun) near the vegetable farm of Department of Olericulture. The selected enriched compost was tried at three levels - 5, 2.5 and 1 t ha". A combination of the selected enriched compost at these three levels along with full doze and half doze of recommended NPK was also tried. For comparing the efficiency of the compost over FYM, FYM @ 5 t ha-I and FYM 5 t ha-I along with full dose of recommended NPK was also tried. An absolute control was also tried in field. The pot experiments on composting revealed that the selected enriched compost was superior in nutrient contents compared to ordinary composts. This enriched compost contained 3.25, 0.36 and 0.68 per cent N, P and K respectively. Apart from its nutrient value compost observed was odourless and fme textured near neutral pH of 6.37. The compost matured within 50 days resulting in a favourable C:N ratio of 12 at maturity. With respect to organic and inorganic enrichers, eventhough the nutrient content was' high in inorganic enrichment the time taken for attaining maturity was low in organic enricher' treatment combinations due to the high temperature registered by these treatment combinations during all periods of composting. . From the field study, it was inferred that with higher doses of selected compost, there was corresponding increase in growth and yield in test crop. However the selected compost at the highest level i.e. 5 t ha-I with full dose of recommended NPK emerged as the best treatment for economic yield return. This treatment also witnessed the increased build of available nutrient status of soil. This treatment could bring down expenditure for raising the crop without affecting the yield. The SEC application also resulted in increased nutrient availability by increasing the CEC and water holding capacity of soil.
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