Influence of off-season land management on maximizing yield and quality of Curcuma longa L. cultivars

The present investigation was carried out to study the effect of off season soil management practices on yield and quality of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) cultivars. The experiment was laid out in a Factorial Randomized Block Design with ten treatments in three replications consisted of five off-season land management treatments viz., fallow (S1), summer ploughing 2 times (S2), summer ploughing 1 time (S3), solarization with transparent polyethylene film of 0.05 mm thick for 40 days (S4) and black polyethylene film for 40 days (S5). It was tested with two popular cultivars viz., Curcuma longa -1 CL-1 (V1) and Curcuma longa-2 CL-2 (V2), collected from Erode and Chidambaram. Various yield components were recorded at the time of harvest and were analysed. The yield attributing characters viz., number, length, girth and weight of mother, primary and secondary rhizomes were recorded. The treatment where solarization with transparent polyethylene film of 0.05 mm thick was tested recorded the highest yield and yield attributing characters when compared to other treatments. The same treatment also exhibited the highest fresh rhizome yield per plant, curing percentage and cured rhizome yield. The quality parameters like curcumin, oleoresin and essential oil content were also showed superior performance in the treatment where solarization with transparent polyethylene film of 0.05 mm thick was applied

INFLUENCE OF WATER SOLUBLE FERTILIZERS ON GROWTH IN BRINJAL HYBRID (Solanum melongena L.)

In the present study, a field investigation was carried out to study the effect of water soluble fertilizers on growth and yield parameters of brinjal hybrids due to application of various levels of water soluble fertilizer. Foliar spray of NPK with 5 and 7 sprays, each starting from 30 DAT at 10 days interval, formed twenty treatments in two hybrids. The results showed that among the two different concentrations of foliar applied nutrients, 7 sprays of 1% NPK (19:19:19) along with 100 per cent recommended dose of fertilizer (200:150:100 kg ha-1) recorded the highest plant height, number of primary branches, secondary branches, stem girth, number of leaves per plant, leaf area

EFFECT OF DIFFERENT LEVELS OF SOLUBLE FERTILIZERS ON NUTRIENT UPTAKE IN SOLANUM MELONGENA L.

Field investigation was carried out to study the influence of quality parameters and nutrient uptake of brinjal hybrids due to application of various levels of water soluble fertilizer. Foliar spray of NPK (19:19:19) at 0.5 per cent and 1% along with 100 and 75% recommended dose of NPK (200:150:100 kg ha-1) with 5 and 7 sprays, each starting from 30 DAT at 10 d interval, formed twenty treatments in two hybrids. Results showed that among the two different concentrations of foliar applied nutrients, 7 sprays of 1% NPK (19:19:19) along with 100 per cent recommended dose of fertilizer (200:150:100 kg ha-1) recorded the ascorbic acid content, total soluble solids (TSS) and total phenol content. Uptake of major nutrients was found to be the highest due to foliar application of 1 per cent water soluble fertilizer (7 sprays) along with 100 per cent recommended dose of fertilizer

Organic nutrient management technique for enhancing growth and physiological parameters in radish (Raphanus sativus L.)

Among the various technologies that boost the production of crop, nutrient management has got an important impact in maximizing the yield. Application of balanced fertilizers alone is not only the solution for this problem, application of residue free nutrients that protects the soil health and environment is very important. Here comes the concept of organic farming. Hence, a field experiment was conducted in the Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar to study the effect of organic nutrients on growth and physiological parameters of radish. The experiment was conducted with eighteen treatments in three replications and laid out in FRBD design. The treatment includes various sources of organic manures viz., FYM, vermicompost, enriched manure along with and without use of consortium biofertilizer. Biostimulants viz., buttermilk solution and EMI were given as foliar spray at 15 days interval as 2 sprays. The intercultural operations and plant protection measures were carried out as per the recommendation. The results of the experiment revealed that application of farm yard manure @ 25 t ha-1 along with consortium biofertilizer @ 2 Kg ha-1 and EMI @ 1:1000 dilution ha-1 as foliar application recorded the highest growth parameters viz., shoot length, number of leaves and shoot weight. The physiological parameters viz., leaf area and chlorophyll content were recorded the highest in the same treatment T6

Genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance for yield and yield components in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus Thunb.)

Field investigation was carried out to study the genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance and the variability studies showed significant differences among the thirty genotypes for all the thirteen characters. Yield per plant was maximum in CL 4 genotype collected from Atchirupakkam in Villupuram district. The characters viz., number of vines per plant, sex ratio, days to first female flowers, node number of first female flower, days to fruit maturity and number of fruits per plant were recorded the maximum in the same genotype. Genetic analysis indicated maximum phenotypic and genotypic coefficient of variation for single fruit weight and 100 seed weight. The characters viz., fruits diameter, flesh thickness, number of fruits per plant and yield per plant, recorded highest estimate of PCV and moderate estimation of GCV. The characters viz., number of seeds per fruits, flesh thickness, number of primary branches and fruit diameter recorded moderate estimate of PCV and GCV. Lower estimation of GCV was observed for sex ratio, fruit length and number of male and female flowers. High heritability (broad sense) was observed for 100 seed weight, number of seeds per fruit, single fruit weight, vine length, fruit diameter, fruit length, flesh thickness, number of male flowers,sex ratio, yield per plant, number of primary branches per plant, number of female flowers and number of fruits per plant. Based on mean performance, CL 4 followed by CL 22 and CL 10 were selected as the best genotypes in watermelon for the costal ecosystem, by virtue of their higher yield combined with desirable component characters