Journal of Horticultural Sciences

M. Prabhakar ¹, S. S. Hebbar ¹, A. K. Nair ¹

Affiliations
1 Division of Vegetable Crops, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hesaraghatta Lake Post, Bangalore - 560 089, IN

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Bangalore during 2006-2008 to study the effect of fertigation on growth and yield of rabi-summer grown watermelon. Seven treatments comprising varying rates and sources of fertilizers were applied. Application of water soluble fertilizer @ 70:70:70kg N:P₂O₅:K₂O per hectare through fertigation gave significantly higher vine length, number of branches per plant and leaf area index. In general, fertigation treatments recorded higher values for number of fruits per plant, fruit weight and total soluble solids than conventional soilapplication of fertilizers. All the fertigation treatments recorded higher average marketable watermelon yield over conventional soil-application of fertilizers amounting to 7.22 to 26.4% increase. Among fertigation treatments, though recommended dose of fertilizer applied as water soluble fertilizer resulted in highest marketable-fruit yield, highest net income (Rs. 229775) and B:C ratio (3.03) was obtained in treatment with 70% of recommended dose of NPK using conventional fertilizers supplied through fertigation.

Keywords

Watermelon, Fertigation, Rabi, Summer, Growth, Yield, Economics.

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B. Varalakshmi ¹, V. Kesava Rao ², D. V. Sudhakar Rao ³, R. B. Tiwari ³, M. Prabhakar ¹

Affiliations
1 Division of Vegetable Crops, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hessaraghatta Lake Post, Bangalore – 560 089, IN
2 Division of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, IIHR, Bangalore, IN
3 Division of Post Harvest Technology, IIHR, Bangalore, IN

Abstract

Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) is one of the important leafy vegetables having a pleasant aroma. Very little research work has been done on improvement of leafy coriander and only a few local varieties, low-yielding and with low aroma, are available in the market. Research work at Indian Institute of Horticultural Research has resulted in development of a leafy coriander variety, Arka Isha, with a high yield potential and good aroma. It is a multicut variety where the plants are bushy, leaves are broad and leaf lobes are short, and the variety is late flowering. Yield is 3.74t ha^-1 by pulling at 40 days after sowing, and 11.98t ha^-1 by cutting. Leaves have 167.05mg 100g^-1 of Vitamin C, with good aroma and keeping-quality.

Keywords

Leafy Coriander, Variety, Yield.

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M. Prabhakar ¹, S. S. Hebbar ¹, A. K. Nair ¹

Affiliations
1 Division of Vegetable Crops, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hessarghatta Lake Post, Bangalore-560089, IN

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during rabi 2005-2006 at Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore, to study the performance of onion cv. Arka Niketan as influenced by microsprinkler fertigation using different sources and levels of fertilizers. Results indicated that crop growth in terms of leaf production, plant height, radial and equatorial diameter was not significantly influenced by the treatments. Fertigation treatments were superior for marketable bulb yield as compared to soil application of fertilizer. Also bulb yield through soil application of fertilizer increased by changing over from surface-irrigation to microsprinkler irrigation. However, bulb yield did not significantly decrease by applying just 75% of the recommended NPK fertilizers, using common or water soluble fertilizers supplied through fertigation. For achieving maximum yield, however, it is recommended to apply 100% recommended dose of fertilizers through sprinkler fertigation using water soluble fertilizers.

Keywords

Onion, Microsprinkler, Fertigation, Growth and Yield.

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D. Sreenivasa Murthy ¹, B. S. Prabhakar ², S. S. Hebbar ¹, V. Srinivas ³, M. Prabhakar ²

Affiliations
1 Section of Economics and Statistics, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hesarghatta Lake Post, Bangalore – 560 089, IN
2 Division of Vegetable Crops, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Bangalore 560 089, IN
3 Bangalore, IN

Abstract

Polyhouse cultivation of vegetables is emerging as a specialized production technology to overcome biotic and abiotic stresses and to break the seasonal barrier to production. It also ensures round the year production of highvalue vegetables, like capsicum, especially, during off-season. Cost is the major issue in sustaining this technology. The present study examined the economic viability of production of capsicum and tomato in a naturally ventilated polyhouse of medium cost category with drip irrigation system. Data were generated by cost accounting method for estimating the feasibility of production and was analyzed by using project evaluation methods, like Pay Back Period (PBP), Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR), Net Present Value (NPV) and Internal Rate of Return (IRR). Cultivation of capsicum in a polyhouse was found to be highly feasible as reflected in higher values of NPV (Rs.3,23,145/500 m²), BCR (1.80) and IRR (53.7%) with payback period of less than two years. Breakeven price for capsicum production in a polyhouse (Rs.11.80/kg) was lesser than average wholesale price. Production of tomato in a polyhouse was found not feasible, as the breakeven price was more than the average market price and all the project appraisal parameters indicated that it was not feasible. Only at about 48% premium price over the prevailing market price or reduction of cost of polyhouse structure by 60% from Rs.400 to Rs.160 /m², could make the tomato production viable in a poly house.

Keywords

Capsicum, Economics, Polyhouse, Production, Tomato, Vegetables.

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