Field experiments were conducted to study the effect of foliar spray and fertilizer levels on growth and yield of vegetable cowpea (PKM 1) during kharif season of the years 2015 and 2016 at Western block, Horticultural College and Research Institute, Periyakulam. Results revealed that in general vegetable cowpea responded well to the increased dose of fertilizers along with foliar spraying of 2 % DAP and pulse wonder during flowering and pod formation stages. Application of 125 % RDF along with 2 % DAP spray at flowering and pod formation stages recorded significantly higher plant height (59.3 cm), more number of branches per plant (10.8), increased root bio mass per plant (0.85 g) and shoot bio mass per plant (7.8 g) and more number of flowers per plant (58) resulted in increased green pod yield of 17.40 t /ha as compared to 100 % RDF. Lowest yield and economics was recorded with 75 % RDF. Application of 125 % RDF along with 2 % DAP spray at flowering and pod formation stages recorded higher net returns and BC ratio of Rs.117120/-and 3.06 respectively followed by 125 % RDF + Pulse wonder @ 5 kg ha -1 at flowering. The available nutrient status of the post harvest soil sample viz., N (287 kg/ha), P (10.6 kg/ha) and K (217 kg/ha) also increased significantly with the application of 125 % RDF along with 2 % DAP spray at flowering and pod formation stages.

Research study on effect of foliar application of biostimulants on yield and quality of annual moringa for leaf production was conducted at Horticultural College and Research Institute, Periyakulam between October 2014 to September 2016. Annual moringa Var PKM -1 seeds were sown @ 40 cm x 20 cm spacing. Foliar application of different concentrations of humic acid, Vermiwash and sea weed extract were given as per the treatment schedule. Harvesting of moringa leaves was done starting from 60 days after sowing leaving 45 cm stem from the ground level at every 45 days interval. Fresh and dry leaf yield per plot was recorded in each harvest and the data were analyzed statistically. Cost benefit ratio for each treatment was calculated. Among the different treatment combinations, application of humic acid 0.2% + vermiwash 4% + sea weed extract 4% @ 10 days after each harvest recorded the highest dry leaf yield of 18.24 t/ha followed by the application of humic acid 2 ml/lit + vermiwash 4% + sea weed extract 4% @ 10 and 25 days after each harvest along with recommended dose of fertilizer. The highest benefit cost ratio of 1:2.45 was observed in the treatment of foliar application of humic acid 2 ml/lit + vermiwash 4% + sea weed extract 4% @ 10 days after each harvest along with recommended dose of fertilizers.

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An investigation was carried out to evaluate the growth and the flowering of some of the commercial annual flower crops as intercrop in coconut ecosystem. Commercial annual flower crops viz., African marigold, French marigold, celosia, gomphrena and China aster were grown as an intercrop in coconut plantation and also under open condition for comparison. The results of the experiment showed that all of the crops performed to its optimum in the coconut shade, but less well than the open condition. The parameters viz., Plant height, internodal length, number of lateral branches, days taken for first flowering, flower diameter and yield were recorded. The yield was relatively higher in the open condition. The morphological characters were higher in the open condition and the earliness to flower bud initiation and flowering were observed in the open condition.

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