Journal of Spices and Aromatic Crops
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Earliness, yield and bulb parameters of hardneck garlic (Allium sativum L.) as influenced by leaf knotting and scape removal in north Indian plains
Get PDFThe present study was conducted during Rabi 2012–13 and 2013–14 to estimate the effect of scape removal, leaf knotting 4 weeks before harvest and leaf knotting 2 weeks before harvest on earliness, yield and bulb parameters of hardneck garlic cultivar ‘PG-17’ in north western plains of India. The removal of scapes has no effect on reduction in days to maturity, equatorial diameter of bulb, bulb weight, number of cloves per bulb and cured bulb yield as compared to control. The knotting of leaves 4 and 2 weeks before harvest advanced maturity by 12 and 6 days, respectively, over control. Leaf knotting 4 weeks before harvest significantly decreased equatorial diameter of bulb, bulb weight and cured bulb yield, whereas, leaf knotting 2 weeks before harvest caused non-significant reduction in equatorial diameter of bulb, bulb weight, number of cloves per bulb, 50-clove weight and cured bulb yield as compared to control. It is therefore advisable that the practice of leaf knotting may be omitted to save labour charges, whereas the practice of scape removal in hardneck garlic cultivars should be exercised only after studying the response of that particular cultivar to scape removal.
 
Garlic nutrient management in Ethiopia - a review
Get PDFThe main aim of this review is to provide an overview of the garlic crop productivity and its production management requirements like soil, climate and fertilization in general and specifically in Ethiopia, comparing them with current research trends and to indicate future benefits of soil nutrient management investigations. The application of balanced nutrients under optimum moisture availability in different soil types is an important crop management strategy, which may help maximizing crop yield and quality. Also, lack of optimum nutrients and moisture in the soil has been the major bottlenecks of garlic production and productivity; since the crop has a very shallow root system that requires frequent irrigation and fertilization with different types of fertilizers under various soil types. Low soil fertility is one of the principal and pervasive constraints to garlic production in Ethiopia; thus, there are differences among soil types in yielding ability under different nutrients and soil characteristics. Most smallholder farmers in Ethiopia appreciate the value of fertilizers, but they seldom apply them at the recommended rates and at the appropriate time according to the soil characteristics. These are because of high cost, lack of credit, delivery delays, and low and variable returns. In addition, the traditional organic inputs, like crop residues and animal manures, it cannot meet crop nutrient demand over large areas because of the limited quantities available, the low nutrient content of the materials, and the high labor demands for processing and application. However, it is possible to increase garlic crop yields through identification/selection of soil type and balanced nutrients application or searching for other nutrients sources beyond Urea and Diammonium phosphate especially in Ethiopian condition. Therefore, the integrated use of both the organic and inorganic fertilizers was felt as the best option to increase both yield potential and quality of garlic crop.
 
Evaluation of coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) cultivars for yield and yield contributing characters in Gujarat
Get PDFNineteen cultivars of coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) from diverse sources were evaluated in semi-arid conditions of Gujarat for observing the various morphological and yield characters. The highest plant height was found in Pant Haritama (97.27 cm) which was at par with RCr 435, ACr 209, JD 1, Co 4, RCr 20 and Sadhana. There were no significant differences in number of primary and secondary branches in all the cultivars. Highest seed yield plant-1 were observed in JD 1 (10.78 g) which was at par with Sudha, Sindhu and RCr 41.The lowest yield plant-1 were observed in RCr 20 (1.81gm). The minimum time taken for 50% flowering was observed in Sudha and RCr 41 (42.67 days) which were at par with that of Sindhu. The maximum time taken for 50% flowering was by RCr 20 (68.67 days). It was also observed that the time taken for days to full flowering in an umbel ranges between 8-14 days and the days to complete complete fruit formation in an umbel ranges from 14-20 days. It might be concluded from the study that the cultivars differed significantly in most of the parameters and offer a good scope of selection of cultivars for desired traits.
 
Biennial harvest reduces rhizome multiplication rate and provides no yield advantage in ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe.)
Get PDFA study was conducted during 2009–10 and 2010–11 under rainfed condition to observe the sprout emergence, tiller production and yield when the ginger was allowed to grow in the second season/year without harvest in first year/season. First generation ginger was not harvested and allowed to emerge on the same container and harvested in subsequent year in second generation in the month of January 2011. After harvesting, fresh rhizome was cleaned and sorted into first year produce and second year produce based on their appearance and texture and weighed separately, their proportion was estimated and multiplication rate from first generation crop to second generation crop was calculated. The mean shoot emergence and tiller production were five and 19, respectively. Average yield in first, second years and total yield were 209, 566 and 775 g plant-1, respectively. The share between first and second year yield were 27.8 and 72.2%, respectively and mean multiplication rate was 3.5 times. Although, yield levels tend to increase in second season, the multiplication rate was much reduced. Hence, the practice of biennial harvest may not have clear yield advantage over regular annual harvest.
 
Efficacy of sulphur on growth, yield and bulb quality in onion (Allium cepa L.)
Get PDFSulphur has been recognised as an important nutrient for higher yield and quality of onion (Allium cepa L.) bulbs. Field experiment was conducted during rabi, 2010–11 to 2012–13 to study the efficacy of sulphur nutrition in onion. The treatment combination consisted of two sources of sulphur (gypsum and elemental sulphur) and four levels of sulphur (0, 15, 30 and 45 kg ha-1) in Factorial RBD with three replications. The pooled results over three years revealed significantly higher efficacy of gypsum over elemental sulphur for polar diameter (3.13 cm), bulb weight (48.37 g) and marketable bulb yield (101.39 q ha-1). Similarly, irrespective of sources, sulphur @ 30 kg ha-1 recorded significantly higher plant height (55.78 cm), number of leaves plant-1 (11.08), bulb weight (67.34 g), bulb yield (marketable, 160.71 q ha-1 and total, 224.52 q ha-1) and TSS (12.03%) with higher BC ratio (1.47) as well as better shelf life. Application of sulphur @ 30 kg ha-1 as gypsum may be recommended in onion crop for obtaining higher bulb yield with higher BC ratio and better keeping quality.
 
Effect of varying levels of nitrogen on growth, yield, quality and profitability of transplanted fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.)
Get PDFField experiments were conducted at two adjoining farmer’s field in tribal area of district Sirohi (Rajasthan) during two successive seasons from July 2012 to March 2013 and July 2013 to March 2014 to study the impact of varied levels of nitrogen (60, 90, 120 & 150 kg N ha-1) on production, quality and profitability of transplanted fennel (Foeniculum vulgare). Application of nitrogen @120 kg ha-1 recorded the highest stem girth, number of roots plant-1, root length, fresh weight of root and root: shoot ratio. The maximum value of number of umbels plant-1, umbellate umbel-1, number of seeds umbel-1, test weight, seed yield, straw yield, harvesting index was also reported in same treatment. Similarly, volatile and total oil content, soluble sugar, total carbohydrate and overall quality of seeds were also higher with application of 120 kg N ha-1, whereas, disease incidence significantly increased with application of higher dose of nitrogen (150 kg N ha-1). The maximum net return and highest benefit: cost ratio was also recorded with application of 120 kg N ha-1. However, some of the growth parameters (plant height, number of primary and secondary branches plant-1, number of leaves, fresh weight of shoot and duration of flowering, protein and nitrogen content in seed were more with 150 kg N ha-1.
 
Genotype x environment interaction and stability analysis for yield and its attributes in garlic (Allium sativum L.)
Get PDFGenotype environment interaction is very important to the plant breeder in developing improved varieties. The present investigation was carried out at National Horticultural Research and Development Foundation, Karnal to identify the suitable and stable genotypes for Rabi season with higher yield and others horticultural attributes. It is concluded from present investigation that the genotype G-384, G-324, G-378, G-376 and check YamunaSafed-3 (G-282) performed well in favorable environment for gross as well as marketable yield and considered as most stable and responsive genotype as it possesses higher yield along with the bi=one or near one and nonsignificant S2di values and hence could be recommended for adoptability. These above genotypes can be further exploited in breeding programme for increasing the production of garlic.
 
Influence of plant growth regulators on growth, seed yield, quality and economics of coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) cv. Sudha
Get PDFA field experiment was conducted to study the effect of plant growth regulators (PGRs) on growth, seed yield, quality and economics of coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) cv. Sudha. The seven treatments included in the experiment are two concentrations each of GA3 (50 and 75 ppm), NAA (10 and 25 ppm), Cycocel (100 and 250 ppm) and control (water spray), as presoaking, foliar spray at 30 and 60 DAS. Among different PGRs applied, spray of 75 ppm GA3 resulted in significant maximum plant height. However, maximum number of primary branches and secondary branches plant-1, number of umbels plant-1, number of umbellets umbel-1, number of seeds umbel-1, seed yield and B:C ratio was maximum with 250 ppm Cycocel. Minimum number of days to 50% flowering and maturity and maximum carbohydrate content and protein content were noticed with 75 ppm GA3. Similarly, lowest moisture content in seeds was also observed with 75 ppm GA3, while, the essential oil content in seeds was maximum with 50 ppm GA3.
 
Cross species amplification of microsatellite loci from Phytophthora spp to assess genetic diversity among the Phytophthora isolates from black pepper
Get PDFPhytophthora capsici is one of the most destructive pathogens of black pepper in India and the world over. Diversity of 114 Phytophthora isolates obtained from leaf, stem, root and soil of different agro climatic areas was studied using 25 SSR primers that were previously described. twenty primers were successfully amplified. Of these, 15 were polymorphic among the Phytophthora isolates and altogether 37 loci were detected. Of the 37 bands generated from 20 primers, 75.67% were polymorphic. Cluster analysis using the unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic averages divided the isolates into seven major groups. The dendrogram generated showed that all the isolates were separated at similarity coefficient between 57-95%. Group 7 with a single isolate stood as an out group. Clustering did not follow the pattern of geographical origin or plant part from where the isolates were obtained.
 
IISR Keralashree - a high yielding and high quality nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt.)
Get PDFAn accession of nutmeg IC-537218 derived from an open pollinated seedling progeny of a high yielding tree from Burliar, Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, was evaluated under a farmer participatory mode at three locations in two states, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, for yield characters, for 13 years and this accession was found superior for mace and nutmeg yield over the existing variety, IISR Vishwashree, in all the yield parameters studied. The tree is a pure female which flowers profusly and bears oblong shaped yellow fruits. The aril is thick and covers the entire seed and is dark red in colour. The nut is bold and brownish black in colour. The mace and nut of the new variety is rich in sabinene.