Studies on suitability of existing climbing devices for palmyrah palm (Borassus flabellifer L.)

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Productivity and economic benefits of coconut based vegetable cropping systems under central dry zone of Karnataka

Coconut based cropping systems with vegetables i.e., okra-fallow (2012-13) and tomato-fallow (2013-14), green manure-cucumber,baby corn-gherkin and coconut monocropping as control with four integrated nutrient management (INM) practices viz., inorganicfertilizer alone (100%), 5 ton farm yard mannure (FYM)+75% NPK+25% N by vermicompost (VC), 5 ton FYM+50% NPK+25%N by vermicompost+25% N by composted coir pith (CCP)+ Indian Institute of Horticulture Research (IIHR) micronutrient sprayand 5 ton FYM+50% N by vermicompost+50% N by CCP+vermiwash spray+Azatobacter were evaluated at HRS, Arsikere,Karnataka during the year 2012 to 2014 by adopting factorial RBD with five replications. All the vegetable crops gave the highestyield under integration of organic and inorganic manure treatments, viz., 5 tonne FYM+74% NPK +25% N by VC and 5 tonFYM+50% NPK+25% N by vermicompost+25% N by CCP+IIHR micronutrient spray, whereas the lowest vegetables yield wasnoticed with 5 ton FYM+50% N by vermicompost+50% N by CCP + vermiwash spray + Azatobacter. Cropping sequence, babycorn-gherkin resulted in the highest coconut equivalent yield of intercrops and cropping system (33,548 nuts ha-1 and 44,414 nutsha-1, respectively). Pooled economic analysis indicated that, okra-fallow and tomato-fallow sequence resulted in significantlyhigher net income (` 4,03,551 ha-1) compared to other sequences and it was on par with baby corn-gherkin sequence(` 3,60,365 ha-1)

Integrated nutrient management in COD x WCT hybrid coconut under alluvial clay-loam soil of Assam

A field experiment was conducted in alluvial clay-loam soil at the Horticultural Research Station, Kahikuchi of Assam Agricultural University under All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Palms from 2003 to 2007 to study the effect of integrated nutrient management treatments on COD x WCT hybrid coconut taking 27 treatment combinations with three levels each of N (0, 500, 1000 g/palm/year, where 50% N was substituted by vermicompost on N equal nutrient basis), P2O5 (0, 250, 500 g/palm/year) and K2O (0, 1000, 2000 g/palm/year). The results revealed significant influence of the integrated nutrient treatments on number of functional leaves in the crown, number of female flowers, nut setting, nut yield per palm per year and copra content per nut. The highest values for all these characters were obtained under higher level of K application. However, the highest average nut yield of 111nuts/palm/year and benefit cost ratio of 2.02 were recorded in the treatment N1P2K2 (500 g N wherein 50% N substituted by vermicompost, 500 g P2O5 and 2000 g K2O/palm/year), while the lowest nut yield (44 nuts/palm/year) and benefit cost ratio of 0.20 were recorded in the treatment N0P0K0 and N2P2K0, respectively. The integrated nutrient treatments also improved the soil pH, organic carbon content, available N, P and K content of the soil and the leaf NPK contents of the palms under study

Characterization of Lasiodiplodia theobromae causing leaf blight disease of coconut

Coconut leaf blight pathogen Lasiodiplodia theobromae (Pat.) was characterized based on morphological, cultural characters and Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) sequences. Pathogen isolates collected from various coconut growing areas of Tamil Nadu, India showed significant differences in the colony morphology, colour, spore dimensions and fruiting bodies. Molecular characterization by partial sequencing of ITS region confirmed the identity of pathogen as L. theobromae. Among the several methods of inoculation employed to establish the pathogenicity, pinprick method with spraying of conidial suspension (105 spores mL-1) and spot application of mycelial mat (5 mm disc) at the inoculation site produced typical necrotic spots and lesions on coconut leaves of West Coast Tall, Arasampatti Tall, Chowghat Orange Dwarf and Chowghat Green Dwarf. Koch’s postulates were established to confirm pathogenicity. The result of the study helps to streamline the existing management strategies

Management of rhinoceros beetle (Oryctes rhinoceros L.) by biological suppression with Oryctes baculovirus in Andhra Pradesh

The large scale demonstrations on efficacy of Oryctes baculovirus in managing coconut rhinoceros beetle, Oryctes rhinoceros was carried out in 50 acres each at Borivanka, Kuttuma and Bhiripuram, villages in Srikakulam district and Nagullanka and Atreyapuram villages in East Godavari district of coastal Andhra Pradesh. The release of the virus infected beetles was initiated in April 2012 and continued up to June 2013 and the leaf and spindle damage were recorded at three months interval up to twelve months. Before the release of baculovirus infected beetles, per cent of leaf damage due to beetles ranged from 12.5 to 35.5 and spindle damage ranged from 33.3 per cent to 45 per cent. After one year of release of baculovirus infected beetles, leaf damage decreased and ranged from 6.8 to 18.5 per cent and the spindle damage also reduced and ranged from 7.5 to 13 per cent in the mass demonstration villages. In plantations of coconut where application of insecticides is hazardous, biological control with baculovirus infected beetles holds importance

Sustainability of soil health and system productivity through arecanut based cropping system in the NE Region of India

The North-Eastern part of India contains seven states out of which, Assam is the major producer of arecanut. An attempt was made to study the impact of arecanut based multiple cropping system with proper utilization of recyclable resources on the long-term sustainability of acid soil at Kahikuchi. A long term arecanut based High-Density Multispecies Cropping System garden comprised of two models viz., Model-1 (M1): arecanut (Areca catechu), black pepper (Piper nigrum), banana (Musa spp.), citrus (Citrus limon) and clove (Syzygium aromaticum) and Model-2 (M2): arecanut, black pepper, banana, citrus and nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) as component crops was used. Both the models were sub-divided into three treatments viz., Full dose of recommended fertiliser (T1), 2/3rd of the recommended dose (T2) and 1/3rd of the recommended dose (T3) combined with treatment-wise recycling available biomass in the form of vermicompost and each treatment was replicated thrice. The results indicated that the quantity of recyclable biomass generated ranged between 8.27 to 12.23 t ha-1 year-1 and 8.11 to 12.38 t ha-1 year-1 in model-1 and model-2, respectively and revealed that the T2 treatment in both models improved the soil properties with respect to soil pH, organic carbon, available N, P and K status. Economics of the cropping system revealed that the maximum return was obtained from both Models under T2. The average benefit:cost ratio of T1, T2 & T3 was 3.38, 4.42 & 3.47 under model-1 and 3.34, 4.08 and 3.40 under model-2, respectively. Sustenance of soil pH above 5.0 over the years in the arecanut rhizosphere in both the models were found under T2, but T1 and T3 treatments showed a slow declining of pH towards increasing soil acidity

Performance of different varieties/hybrids of black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) as mixed crop in coconut garden

A field experiment was conducted at Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kasaragod during 2001 to 2010 for studying the performance of black pepper varieties/hybrids when grown as mixed crop in 36 years old WCT coconut garden. Varieties such as Panniyur-1, Panniyur-2, Panniyur-3, Panniyur-4, Panniyur-5, Sreekara, Subhakara, Panchami, Kottanadan, OPKM, Collection 1041(Thevam) and hybrids such as HP-780, HP-105, HP-1411, HP-813 and HP-34 were grown in three replications. Among the varieties, Thevam, Panniyur- 4, Panniyur- 5, Sreekara, Subhakara and Panchami produced higher number of laterals with more spread (at five years age) compared to the other varieties. Thevam recorded significantly higher number of spikes (202.5), whereas the lowest was recorded in HP 780 (21.5). The spike length was the highest in Panniyur- 5 (15.4 cm), but was on par with varieties such as Panniyur-1, Panniyur-2, HP-1411 and OPKM. Sreekara recorded the lowest spike length of 8.7 cm. Six years mean dry spike yield indicated that, the yield was significantly higher with Thevam (1.81 kg/vine) followed by Panniyur- 5, which had recorded a yield of 1.12 kg/vine and differed significantly over other varieties. Panchami recorded higher oil (5.6 %) and oleoresin content (12.6%) and was on par with Panniyur-4, Kottanadan and OPKM. Due to the mixed cropping of black pepper in coconut garden an improvement in the coconut yield was noticed (132.2 nuts/palm/yr) during 2009-10 compared to the coconut monocrop (101.3 nuts/palm/yr) during 1999 to 2001