Journal of Spices and Aromatic Crops
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Absorption of soil-applied carbofuran by black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) plants in laterite soil
Get PDFThe effect of organic matter on availability of soil-applied carbofuran and its absorption by black pepper (Piper nigrum) plants were studied in a pot culture experiment employing 14C_labelled carbofuran. Absorption of carbofuran from soil was inversely related to the organic matter content of the soil. This was attributed to the enhanced degradation of the insecticide with increasing soil organic matter resulting in its reduced availability, rather than its adsorption in the soil. The absorbed carbofuran was mainly translocated to the leaf (64.0%) and stem (33.5%) and to a lesser extent to the berries (1.5%). The results also indicated that carbofuran had no phytotonic effect on black pepper plants but retarded root production.
 
Genetic variability, correlation and path analysis in fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.)
Get PDFGenetic variability was studied in a population of 22 genotypes of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) at Sriniketan (West Bengal). Phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variability were high for stem weight; moderate for plant height, branches plant-1, days to flowering, duration of flowering, shelling per cent and test weight; and low for pod length. High to moderate estimates of heritability coupled with moderate to high genetic advance were recorded for plant height, days to flowering, duration of flowering, shelling per cent and test weight indicating the predominance of additive gene action. Grain yield was positively correlated with branches plant-1 pods plant-1, pod length, seeds pod-1, pod weight, biological yield, shelling per cent and harvest index at both phenotypic and genotypic levels. Results of path analysis revealed that days to flowering, pods plant-1, pod length and seeds podol are the important characters determining seed yield in fenugreek.
 
A comparative study on direct planted and transplanted menthol mint (Mentha arvensis L.) under integrated nutrient management
Get PDFAn experiment was conducted at Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) to assess crop productivity and economics of direct planted and transplanted menthol mint (Mentha arvensis) in sandy loam soil, under integrated nutrient management. The treatments consisted of five different combinations of farmyard manure (FYM) and inorganic fertilizers (NPK). Herb and essential oil yield was maximum with application of 133:40:40 kg NPK ha-tand 6.7 t FYM ha-t in both the methods of planting. However, the crop established with direct planting of suckers was more profitable than the transplanted crop. Net returns were 269% and 213% higher over control, with combined application of 133:40:40 kg NPK ha·t and 6.7 t FYM ha-t in direct and transplanted crop, respectively, during the first year of experimentation and 305% and 232%, respectively, during the second year. Dry matter production and NPK uptake were also maximum in the same treatment in both the methods of planting. Maximum Nand P uptake was recorded in sole application of inorganic fertilizers (200:60:60 kg NPK ha-t) and maximum K uptake was observed under application of 100:30:30 kg NPK ha-t and 10 t FYM ha-t in direct planted crop during the first year. Post-harvest soil characteristics like organic carbon, available NPK, Fe and Zn were higher during the second year, while a reverse trend was observed for soil pH.
 
Production potential of Plumbago zeylanica L. under different harvest schedules and crop geometry
Get PDFA field experiment on Plumbago zeylanica with three plant densities, namely, 4.9 m-2, 2.7 m-2 and 1.2 m-2 and three harvesting schedules, namely, after first year, second year and third year, was conducted during 1999-2001 at Jorhat (Assam). Plant density significantly influenced number of branches plant-1, shoot and root biomass plant-1 and total yield of roots ha-1. Plant height was found to reduce with the age of the plant. The total dry'root yield was maximum in the plant density 2.7 m-' (5.2 t ha-1). The yield attributing characters, namely, number of branches plant-1 (25.6), shoot biomass plant-1 (408.2 g), root biomass plant-1 (607.4 g) and total root yield (7.1 t ha-1) were maximum when harvested at third year. Maximum phenol, carbohydrate and protein contents were recorded in roots (5.06%, 31.70% and 13.04%, respectively) and leaves (3.40%, 10.60% and 7.84 %, respectively) of plants harvested during the third year.
 
Assessment of S1 progenies in two diverse populations of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.)
Get PDFAn investigation was conducted at Jobner (Rajasthan) to estimate variability, heritability and expected selection gain among S, progenies generated from RF-125 and UF-143 populations of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare). The inter-family variance was higher in comparison to intra-family variance in both the populations for most of the characters studied. The estimates of heritability (narrow sense) were high only for plant height in RF-125. For rest of the characters, the heritability was medium to low. The expected genetic gain was medium to low in both the populations and was highest in umbels plant-1 in RF-125. The study suggests that significant inter family variance is still present in these populations which can be exploited.
 
Intercropping of menthol mint (Mentha arvensis L.) and spearmint (Mentha spicata L.) with sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.)
Get PDFField experiments were conducted at Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh), to study the effect of two sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) cultivars namely, Co-S 767 (early, profuse tillering) and Co-Lk 8001 (late, shy tillering) and two planting geometries namely, 90 cm interval regular rows and 75 cm (row-to-row distance within the pair) x 120 cm (distance between two pairs of rows) paired rows for maximizing productivity, land use efficiency and income benefits through raising of menthol mint (Mentha arvensis) or spearmint (Mentha spicata) as intercrops in main as well as rata on crop of sugarcane. As a sale crop, the two sugarcane cultivars were equally productive during the main crop cycle but during'the rata on crop cycle cv. Co-S 767 yielded 15.3% more cane than cv. Co-Lk 8001. Sugarcane cv. Co-S 767 in paired row planting showed no reduction in cane yield by mint intercropping compared to 16.2% to 28.1% reduction in regular row planting during both main and rata on crop cycles. Sugarcane cv.Co-Lk 8001, however, did not suffer yield reduction by mint intercropping, irrespective of methods of sugarcane planting and crop cycles. However, menthol mint and spearmint suffered yield reduction (52% to 75%) as intercrops compared to their respective sale crop yields. In general; mint oil yield reductions were more during the ratoon crop cycle and when the companion crop was cv. Co-S 767. Mint intercropping with sugarcane cv. Co-Lk 8001 significantly improved land use efficiency (23% to 35%), gross (29% to 46%) and net returns (90% to 137%) and benefit-cost ratio (44% to 63%). Interplanting spearmint with sugarcane cv. Co-Lk 8001 resulted in maximum profits.
 
Influence of planting methods, spacing and farmyard manure on growth, yield and nutrient content of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.)
Get PDFInvestigations carried out at Ludhiana (Punjab), with different methods of planting (flat and ridge), spacings (60 em x 10 cm and 60 cm x 15 cm) and farmyard manure levels (0, 30 and 60.t ha-1) on turmeric (Curcuma longa) revealed that fresh rhizome yield was significantly higher in ridge method of planting than flat method of planting with significantly taller plants and more number and weight of primary and secondary rhizomes. Farmyard manure application significantly improved plant height, number and weight of mother, primary and secondary rhizomes and fresh rhizome yield. Plant spacing did not influen~e growth and yield. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium contents in leaf and rhizome improved with farmyard manure application.
 
Effect of weed control and nitrogen on yield, nutrient removal and quality parameters of cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.)
Get PDFA field experiment was conducted at Jobner (Rajasthan), to evaluate the effect of different weed control measures and levels of nitrogen on yield, nutrient uptake and quality parameters of cumin (Cuminum cyminum). The results showed that two hand weedings at 25 and 50 days after sowing was the most effective treatment that increased the seed yield by 292.9% over weedy check. Among the herbicides, pre-plant trifluralin @ 1.08 kg ha-1 was the best treatment (4.94 q ha-1) that was comparable to trifluralin @ 2.16 kg ha-1 and pendimethalin @ 1.00 kg ha-1. Nitrogen content in seed and straw of cumin and uptake of nitrogen and phosphorus also significantly improved by different weed control treatments. Maximum protein content (17.60%) was recorded with trifluralin @ 1.08 kg ha-1 and essential oil content (2.52%) with pendimethalin @ 1.00 kg ha-1. The study also revealed that application of nitrogen @ 30 kg ha-1 which was on par with 45 kg ha-1 significantly increased seed and straw yield, nutrient uptake and protein content in cumin in comparison to application of nitrogen @ 15 kg ha-1.
 
Threshold level of soil zine for optimum production of ginger (Zingiber officinale Rose.)
Get PDFA field experiment was conducted at Peruvannamuzhi (Kerala), for two years to evaluate the optimum level of zinc (Zn) content in soils for maximizing production of ginger (Zingiber officinale) on an Ustic Humitropept with varying levels of Zn fertilizer. The mean rhizome yield of two years was higher in plots where Zn @ 5 kg ha-1 was applied. A cubic model described satisfactorily the relationship between mean rhizome yield and fertilizer application rate. The optimum fertilizer dose for obtaining maximum rhizome yield was determined as 6 kg ha-1 of Zn. The maximum limit of soil DTPA-Zn for obtaining higher rhizome yield was 3.4 mg kg-1.
 
Biochemical changes in agarwood tree (Aquilaria malaccensis Lamk.) during pathogenesis
Get PDFPost-infection changes in sugars, ascorbic acid, phenols and protein of agarwood tree (Aquilaria malaccensis) were investigated after inoculation with fungi such as Chaetomium globosum and Fusarium oxysporum. In healthy trees, the biochemical constituents increased, whereas in infected trees they decreased after inoculation with fungi.