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CHAPTEP-3

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The present study on the “Effect of integrated nutrient management on

growth and yield of bottle gourd (Langaneria sciceraria L.)” was carried out

during the year 2008-2010 in the Department of Horticulture, Faculty of

Agriculture, Annamalai University, Annamalai nagar. The details of the

materials and the methods adopted for the experiments are given below.

3. 1. Materials

3.1.1. Experimental site

Field experiments were conducted in the vegetable unit, Department of

Horticulture, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar. The vegetable unit is

located 6 Km west to Bay of Bengal at 11024’ N east longitude and at an

altitude of ± 5.79 m above mean sea level.

3.1.2. Weather and climate

The weather at Annamalainagar is moderately warm with hot summer

months. The mean maximum and minimum temperatures are 27.60c to 37.30C

(with a mean of 31.10C), while the minimum temperature ranges from 19.80C to

26.80c (with a mean of 24.30C). The mean annual rainfall is 1432 mm of which

67 percent is received during the north east monsoon (Oct- Dec) 24 percent

during south west monsoon (July - Sep) and 9 during summer showers.

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3.1.4. Crop and cultivar

The seeds of bottle gourd was collected from Saravana farm service at

Panruti are used for the study.

3.1.5. Sources of organic manures

The organic manures were obtained from various sources as given below.

FYM, Poultry manure and coir pith was obtained from the orchard, Department

of Horticulture, Faculty of agriculture, Annamalai University.

3.1.5.1. Vermiwash

Vermiwash spray solution was prepared by mixing one part of this extract

with 5 parts of water.

3.1.5.5. Humic acid

Humic acid was obtained as the liquid form from the Agroscience

laboratory, Vadalur. It is applied as a foliar spray as per the treatment schedule

to the crop.

Humic acid solution (0.2 %) was prepared by mixing 2 ml of potassium

humate in one litre of water.

3.1.5.6. Panchakavya

Panchakavya was prepared with slightl modifications as mentioned in

virikyasurveda and it was standardized by experiment trail. (Natarajan, 2000).

Three percent concentration of panchakavya was used as foliar spray

which was prepared by mixing 300 ml of panchakavya with 10 litres of water as

and when required.

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3.1.6. Crop husbandry

The experiment was conducted in the vegetable unit, Department of

Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University. Seventy eight pits

of 45 cm2 pit size each with a spacing of 2 X 2 m were formed. The treatments

were randomly arranged in each replication. The seeds (4 per hill) were sown

with the aid of hand hoe. Fifteen days after sowing, thinning was done to

maintain 3 plants per pit. The vines are allowed to spread in the soil surface.

The recommended dose of fertilizers (125:125:250 kg NPK ha-1) was adopted

and 100 g NPK of 6:12:12 mixture as basal and 10 g N per pit in 30 days after

sowing. Urea was used as Nitrogen source along with SSP (single super

phosphate) as phosphorus source and MOP (Muriate of potash) as potassium

source. The fixed quantity of organic amendments for each treatment and 1/3 of

N and full doses of P and K were applied as basal dose and remaining N was

applied in two splits at 30 and 50 days after sowing. Foliar application of

vermiwash (1:5), humic acid (0.2 %) and panchakavya (3 %) were sprayed three

times at fortnight intervals. Regular irrigation and uniform cultural practices

were adopted for all the plots.

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3.2. Methods

3.2.1. Details of the experiment

Design : Randomised Block Design (RBD)

No. of treatments : Thirteen (13)

No. of replications : Three (3)

3.2.2. Treatment details

T1 - RDF + FYM @25t ha-1

T2 - RDF + Poultry manure @ 10 t ha-1

T3 - RDF + Coir pith compost @ 5 t ha-1

T4 - RDF + FYM @ 25t ha-1 + Vermiwash @ 1:5 FS

T5 - RDF + FYM @ 25t ha-1 + Humic acid @ 0.2% FS

T6 - RDF + FYM @ 25t ha-1 + Panchakavya @ 3% FS

T7 - RDF + Poultry Manure @ 10t ha-1 + Vermiwash @1:5 FS

T8 - RDF + Poultry Manure @ 10t ha-1 + Humic acid @ 0.2% FS

T9 - RDF + Poultry Manure @ 10t ha-1 + Panchakavya @ 3% FS

T10 - RDF + Coir pith compost @ 5t ha-1+ Vermiwash @1:5 FS

T11 - RDF + Coir pith compost @ 5t ha-1+ Humic acid @ 0.2% FS

T12 - RDF + Coir pith compost @ 5t ha-1+ Panchakavya @ 3% FS

T13 - Control

RDF- 125:125:250 kg N, P2O5 and K2O ha-1

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3.2.3. Biometric observations

3.2.3.1. Morphological characters

3.2.3.1.1. Vine length

The vine length was measured by using a measuring tape from the soil

level to the meristametic tip and it was expressed in meters.

3.2.3.1.2. Number of laterals per plant

The number of laterals arising from the main stem was counted at final

harvest and expressed in numbers.

3.2.3.1.3 Number of leaves per plant

The number of fully expanded leaves produced in a plant was counted at

30, 60 and 90 days interval starting from 30 days after planting up to 120 days.

3.2.3.1.4. Leaf area

The leaf area of fully expanded fifth leaf from the tip was measured at 60

DAS by using the leaf area meter and expressed in square centimetres.

3.2.3.2. Flowering characters

3.2.3.2.1. Days at first male flower appearance

The number of days taken for the appearance of the first male flower

from the date sowing was counted and expressed in days.

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3.2.3.2.2. Days at first female flower appearance

The number of days taken for the appearance of the first female flower

from the date sowing was counted and expressed in days.

3.2.3.2.3. Number of male flowers per vine

The number of male flowers per vine that appeared during the cropping

period was counted and expressed in numbers.

3.2.3.2.4. Number of female flowers per vine

The number of female flowers per vine that appeared during the cropping

period was counted and expressed in numbers.

3.2.3.2.5. Sex ratio

The sex ratio was counted by the ratio of number of male flowers to the

number of female flowers produced per vine.

3.2.3.2.6. Fruit set percentage

Fruit set percentage was calculated by the ratio of number of fruits to

number of female flower produced per vine and expressed in percentage.

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3.2.3.3. Yield and yield components

3.2.3.3.1. Number of fruits per vine

The number of fruits produced per vine was counted and was recorded in

numbers.

3.2.3.3.2. Fruit length

The length of the individual fruit was measured from the stalk end to the

stigmatic end and expressed in centimetres.

3.2.3.3.3. Fruit girth

The girth of the individual fruit was measured at the broadest point and

expressed in centimetres.

3.2.3.3.4. Single fruit weight

Harvested marketable fruits from each plant were weighed individually

and then mean was worked out and expressed in grams.

3.2.3.3.5. Fruit yield per vine

The total number of fruits harvested from the vine in the tagged plants

was weighed and fruit yield per vine was calculated and expressed in kilograms.

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3.2.3.3.6. Fruit yield per hectare

Fruit yield per hectare was calculated by adding the weight of the fruits

that was harvested during fruiting period and was expressed in tonnes per

hectare.

3.2.3.3.7. Dry matter production

The plants were pulled out without damaging the roots, washed free of

soil, shade dried for one day and then dried in hot air oven at 80 ± 50c till a

constant weight reached and the oven dry weight of sample was recorded as

DMP and expressed in g plant-1.

3.2.3.4. Quality characters

3.2.3.4.1. Crude fibre

The crude fibre content was determined by the method suggested by

A.O.A.C (1975) and expressed in mg g-1.

3.2.3.4.2. Number of seeds per fruit

The total number of seeds per fruit was counted in each experiment and

average was expressed in numbers.

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3.2.3.4.3. Shelf life of fruits

The number of days required from harvest to the development of yellow

colour on the fruit was recorded to determine the shelf life or storage life of

fruits at room temperature.

3.2.4. Plant analysis

The plant samples collected from the individual treatment at the time of

final harvest were dried in an oven at 600C, powdered in a willey mill and

analysed for total nutrient content.

3.2.4.1. Nitrogen uptake

The total nitrogen content in bottle gourd was estimated by the micro

kjeldhal method suggested by Bremmer (1960) and expressed as percentage on

oven dry basis. The total nitrogen uptake was worked out by multiplying the

DMP in nitrogen content and expressed as kg ha-1.

3.2.4.2. Phosphorous uptake

The total phosphorus uptake in the plants was estimated by using triple

acid digestion method described by Jackson (1973) with photoelectric

calorimeter. From the standard curve drawn, the phosphorous content in bottle

gourd was calculated and expressed as kg ha-1.

3.2.4.3. Potassium uptake

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The total potassium uptake of plants was estimated using triple acid

digestion method described by Jackson (1973) with photoelectric calorimeter.

From the standard curve drawn, the potassium content uptake was calculated

and expressed as kg ha-1.

3.2.5. Post harvest soil analysis

Soil samples were collected from the experimental plots at a depth of

15 – 30 cm after the completion of harvest of the crop. The samples were dried

under shade, powdered, sieved and used for analysis.

3.2.5.1. Available nitrogen

The available nitrogen was estimated by alkaline permanganate method

(Subbiah and Asija, 1956) and expressed in kg-1.

3.2.5.2. Available phosphorous

The available phosphorous was estimated by calorimeter method

suggested by Olsen et al., (1954) and expressed in kg-1.

3.2.5.3. Available potassium

The available potassium was estimated by flame photometer using the

neutralized triple acid extract (Piper, 1966).

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3.2.6. Statistical analysis

The experimental data was analysed statistically as per the procedure

given by Panse and Sukhatme (1978). Wherever the results were found

significant, the critical differences were worked out at 5 percent level to draw

statistical conclusions.