Characterization and mapping irrigation water quality of coconut groves in Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts of Tamil Nadu, India

It is essential to characterize and map the irrigation water quality to foresee its adverse effect on soil health and productivity. A study was undertaken to generate irrigation water quality maps of coconut land cover in Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts of Tamil Nadu, India using geographic information system (GIS). Samples were collected from 110 geo-referenced collection sites. The irrigation water quality was assessed and thematic maps were developed. From the maps it was found that nearly 12 per cent area had poor quality irrigation water with respect to pH. Majority of the samples were safe and only around 10 per cent samples showed salinity hazard. Based on sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) the irrigation water of major area were in fair (53%) and poor (50%) classes. Irrigation water quality in terms of residual sodium carbonate (RSC) in nearly 42 per cent of the coconut land cover was under unsuitable class. The soluble sodium percentage (SSP) based classification showed good quality irrigation water in most of the area (97%). Around 51 per cent of the area was having irrigation water of unsatisfactory quality based on potential salinity. The permeability index (PI) of the irrigation water of 14 per cent area was found to be unsatisfactory

Mapping soil constraints for coconut using RS and GIS for the major coconut growing region of Tamil Nadu

A study was conducted to generate soil constraint maps for coconut using RS and GIS techniques. The study area covered Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts of Tamil Nadu state. A survey was conducted to collect soil samples and other basic data from 110 coconut plantations. Relationships of yield to soil properties were studied through correlation coefficient. Highest, positive and significant correlation was observed between soil depth and coconut yield. Among the physical properties studied viz., clay, silt, sand, bulk density, particle density and porespace, significant and negative correlation was obtained between sand content and yield. Based on these strong correlations, the constraints of soil parameters like soil depth, drainage, soil reaction and soil texture of the soil series were mapped for the coconut land cover of this study area. Under soil series wise constraints mapping, 3.9, 64.4 and 31.5 per cent of the total coconut land cover was found to be moderately suitable, marginally suitable and not suitable class respectively based on the most limiting constraint of the studied soil properties

Identifying and mapping leaf nutrient based constraints for coconut productivity in Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts of Tamil Nadu state, India

In the existing perennial plantations like coconut, leaf nutrient testing will be a promising tool to identify the existing crop nutrition related constraints and for formulating the suitable management options to improve the crop productivity. Therefore this study was conducted with the objectives of identifying the nutrient deficiency and mapping the spatial distribution of leaf based nutrient deficiency for site specific nutrient management. The study area was coconut land cover of Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts of Tamil Nadu state, India. Leaf samples and yield data were collected from 110 geo-referenced sites. Leaf samples were analysed for macro and micronutrients. The nutrient deficiency maps were developed for macro and micronutrient management. Thematic maps showed that N status was deficient in 95.99 per cent, P in 86.19 per cent, K in 1.42 per cent and Mg in 0.81 per cent area of the coconut land cover area. Ca and S were observed to be sufficient. Fe was found to be deficient in 0.64 per cent, Mn in 0.84, Zn in 0.54 per cent, Cu status in 2.62 per cent and B in 10.72 per cent of the coconut land cover area

Identifying and mapping soil fertility constraints for coconut in Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts of Tamil Nadu state, India

The plantation crops like coconut being perennial in nature mine nutrients from limited volume of soil for a long time and hence, to sustain the high productivity, soil nutrients status should be monitored and have to be replenished. The present study was carried out to identify and map the soil fertility constraints for enabling site-specific nutrient management to enhance the productivity of soil. Study area was the coconut land cover of Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts of Tamil Nadu state. In this study, survey was carried out in the coconut plantations of these districts (73 sites in Coimbatore and 37 sites in Tiruppur) and soil samples were collected and analyzed for their physico-chemical and chemical properties. Using the analytical results thematic maps on soil fertility constraints were prepared. The developed maps showed that 62 and 30 per cent of soils of coconut land cover found to be in moderately alkaline and alkaline condition respectively. Around 96 per cent area was in non-saline condition. Organic carbon status was low in 65 per cent of the coconut land cover. Available N, P, and K were low in 65, 0.8 and 0.02 per cent area respectively and S was deficient in 0.05 per cent area. Fe deficiency was recorded in 7 per cent of the area and there was no Mn deficiency in the study area. Available Zn, Cu and B were deficient in 89, 62 and 5 per cent area respectively

Evaluating the primary yield limiting leaf nutrient deficiency of coconut (Cocos nucifera Linn.) in a major coconut growing zone of Tamil Nadu

The present study was conducted to evaluate the yield relationship of leaf nutrient status in two major coconut growing districts (Coimbatore and Tiruppur) of Tamil Nadu. Leaf samples and yield data were collected from coconut gardens and the nutrient contents were analysed. Leaf nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium status in the study area ranged between 0.71 to 2.63, 0.05 to 0.15 and 0.51 to 1.76 per cent with a means of 1.42, 0.11 and 0.99 per cent, respectively. The leaf calcium, magnesium and sulphur contents were in the range of 0.54 to 1.92, 0.11 to 1.51 and 0.16 to 2.14 per cent with the mean values of 0.88, 0.48 and 0.62 per cent, respectively. The leaf micronutrient status were in the range between 37 to 392 mg kg-1 of Fe, 158 to 634 mg kg-1 of Mn, 6.6 to 40.7 mg kg-1 of Zn, 2.0 to 54.8 mg kg-1 of Cu and 3.2 to 23.8 mg kg-1 of B. The mean values of Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu and B were 230.7, 315, 19.3, 10.8 and 12.6 mg kg-1 respectively. Significant and positive correlation coefficient was observed between yield with leaf magnesium (0.269**), nitrogen (0.260**) and potassium (0.200**). Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that leaf potassium, nitrogen and magnesium are the most important yield influencing leaf nutrients in the study area. &nbsp

Inorganic phosphorus fractions and phosphorus availability in long term fertilizer cum manurial trials under coconut cultivation

Phosphorus is one of the major nutrients required for coconut production. The information about the fate of native and applied phosphorus in soil is essential for better management of the nutrient. The changes on inorganic P fractions and P availability in soil after 43 years of coconut cultivation were studied from a long term fertilizer cum manurial experiment at CPCRI, Kasaragod. There were 6 treatments viz. tillage with organic and inorganic fertilizer, tillage with inorganic fertilizer, inorganic fertilizers with basin forking, tillage alone, herbicide application without tillage and fertilizer and the control. Soil samples were taken at two depths (0-30 and 30-60 cm) from coconut basin for analysis. Phosphorus was fractionated into Easily Soluble P (ES-P), Aluminium P (AI-P), Iron P (Fe-P), Calcium P (Ca-P) and Reductant Soluble P (RS-P) through sequential extraction. The dominant phosphorus fraction in the coconut basin at 0-30 cm depth was Ca-P and the trend is as follows: Ca-P> Fe-P> RS-P>Al-P>ES-P. However, at 30-60 cm depth, Fe-P became the dominant fraction and the trend is Fe-P>Ca-P>RS-P>Al-P>ES-P. Long-term phosphorus fertilization would facilitate the accumulation of soil Ca-P, and thus improve soil P availability. In the interspaces, Fe-P was the dominating fraction in both the depths followed by Ca-P and RS-P. The difference in P fractions in fertilized and non-fertilized plots clearly showed that the fertilized plots have high content of all the inorganic phosphorus fractions in both the depths. Application of mineral P along with forking in basin showed a high concentration of all the inorganic P fractions compared to other fertilizer applied treatments

Capparis sepiaria Linn - Pharmacognostical standardization and toxicity profile with chemical compounds identification (GC-MS)

The present study was intended to evaluate the various pharmacognostical procedures in the leaves of Capparis sepiaria Linn., (Capparidaceae). The various pharmacognostical parameters were carried out as per WHO guidelines procedure i.e., bitterness, fineness, microscopical sections, loss on drying, water and alcoholic extractive values, water insoluble ash, acid soluble ash, total ash, swelling index, foaming index, heavy metal analysis, phytochemical analysis and toxicity studies (acute, subacute and chronic toxicity). The study was extended with analyzing the chemical compounds identification in the EECS (ethanolic extract of Capparis sepiaria by using GC-MS. The presence of various phytoconstituents such as glycosides, reducing sugars, flavonoids, saponins, starch and terpenoids is evidenced in EECS & AECS. The results showed that acid insoluble ash (1.70%), total ash (8.68%), water soluble ash (3.42%), water extractive (31.55%), alcohol extractive (5.06%), foaming index (105.26 Unit), loss on drying (9.84%), swelling index (4.16%), acute toxicity (nil), sub-acute toxicity (nil), chronic toxicity (nil). The study was concluded with the plant has standardized as per the World Health Organization procedures. The result of the pharmacognostical standardization of this plant serves as a reference piece and helps in future identification and authentication of this plant specimen. Might be the plant C. sepiaria has potential property by the standardization and it can be included in the normal flora of the plant kingdom.Keywords: C. sepiaria; Microscopical; Macroscopical standardization

Capparis sepiaria Linn - Pharmacognostical standardization and toxicity profile with chemical compounds identification (GC-MS)

The present study was intended to evaluate the various pharmacognostical procedures in the leaves of Capparis sepiaria Linn., (Capparidaceae). The various pharmacognostical parameters were carried out as per WHO guidelines procedure i.e., bitterness, fineness, microscopical sections, loss on drying, water and alcoholic extractive values, water insoluble ash, acid soluble ash, total ash, swelling index, foaming index, heavy metal analysis, phytochemical analysis and toxicity studies (acute, subacute and chronic toxicity). The study was extended with analyzing the chemical compounds identification in the EECS (ethanolic extract of Capparis sepiaria by using GC-MS. The presence of various phytoconstituents such as glycosides, reducing sugars, flavonoids, saponins, starch and terpenoids is evidenced in EECS & AECS. The results showed that acid insoluble ash (1.70%), total ash (8.68%), water soluble ash (3.42%), water extractive (31.55%), alcohol extractive (5.06%), foaming index (105.26 Unit), loss on drying (9.84%), swelling index (4.16%), acute toxicity (nil), sub-acute toxicity (nil), chronic toxicity (nil). The study was concluded with the plant has standardized as per the World Health Organization procedures. The result of the pharmacognostical standardization of this plant serves as a reference piece and helps in future identification and authentication of this plant specimen. Might be the plant C. sepiaria has potential property by the standardization and it can be included in the normal flora of the plant kingdom.Keywords: C. sepiaria; Microscopical; Macroscopical standardization

Performance of black pepper in coconut based high density multi-species cropping system under different nutrient managements

Coconut based high density multi-species cropping system (HDMSCS) is recommended to obtain maximum income and better utilization of resources. The crops grown under HDMSCS include fruits, vegetables, spices etc. Black pepper (Piper nigrum L.), an important spice crop, is generally a component  under coconut based cropping systems. In the present study, the performance of black pepper under coconut based HDMSCS involving banana, nutmeg, cinnamon, and other annuals viz., turmeric, ginger and elephant foot yam as intercrops, was evaluated, in terms of yield and quality of black pepper. The observations, recorded for four years (2009-10 to 2012-13) under three different nutrient management practices, indicated no significant difference in yield and quality parameters of black pepper. The pooled data of four years indicated a mean pepper yield of 2.4 kg vine-1, and quality parameters viz., per cent of oil, oleoresin, piperine and bulk density (g L-1) were 2.3, 9.8, 3.1 and 500.7, respectively. Under different nutrient management practices, the yield of both black pepper and coconut increased by 166 and 9 per cent, respectively, compared to the pre-treatment period (2005-07). The present study indicated that there was no reduction in yield of coconut when black pepper was grown in the basin and depending upon the availability of resources, farmers can follow the nutrient management practices

Role of International Universities in Generating Green Technologies

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the participatory role of universities in generating green patent in the transport segment. The study utilizes the World Intellectual Property Organizations (WIPO) product International Patent Classification (IPC) green inventory patent and patent scope database for the period from 1970 to 2018 for 152 contracting states. We found that patent applications had been growing around the world, but at a slower phase. At present 756 universities are actively generating green patents particularly universities from China. In aggregate Universities applied 6108 PCT applications and national patents in the category of transport environmentally sound technologies. This research contributes to the evidence on the role of universities in sustainable development