EFFECT OF OFF SEASON SOIL MANAGEMENT ON MAXIMIZING GROWTH

PARAMETERS OF GREEN LEAFY VEGETABLES

K.MUTHUMANICKAM AND A. ANBURANI

Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University,

Annamalai Nagar-608 002, Tamilnadu, muthusai121@gmail.com

Abstract
Off-season land management through soil solarization is a technique, for the

management of weed and plant pathogens by raising the temperature of soil.Hence an

investigation was conducted to study the effect of off season soil management on weed and

soil born disease management to maximize growth of green leafy vegetables was carried out

during 2018 at Varagurpettai Village at Annamalai Nagar Chidambaram in Cuddalore District.

The experiment was conducted in seven treatments viz., T1 – Control T2 - Summer ploughing

1 time (30 days) T3- Summer ploughing 2 times (30 days) T4- Summer ploughing 1 time (45

days) T5- Application of transparent polyethylene sheet, T6- Summer ploughing 2 times (45

days), T7- Application bioplastic polyethylene sheet in three replications and were laid out in

Randomized Block Design. The results revealed that the observations on various growth

parameters were recorded and subjected to statistical analysis. The results obtained showed

that application of transparent polyethylene sheet recorded the highest Plant height, Number of

sprouts per plant, Length of sprout, Leaf area, Leaves per plant, Weight of stem, Leaf stem :

ratio, Length of leaf and Width of leaf.

Key words: Off season land management, weed, soil born disease and Growth parameters
 INFLUENCE OF VARIOUS TECHNIQUES OF SOIL SOLARIZATION ON LEAF
PRODUCTION IN LEAFY VEGETABLES

K.MUTHUMANICKAM AND A. ANBURANI

Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University,

Annamalai Nagar-608 002, Tamilnadu, muthusai121@gmail.com

Green leafy vegetables represent an excellent component of the habitual diet and a
daily intake of at least 100g of fresh green leafy vegetable has been recommended by the
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR, 1999). Leafy vegetables contain many typical
plant nutrients, but since they are photosynthetic tissues, their vitamin K levels in relation to
those of other fruits and vegetables, as well as other types of foods, are particularly notable
Plant foods are sources of energy, micronutrients and nutrients essential to health, in addition
to phytochemicals with further health benefits including glycemic control, immune
stimulation or antioxidant activity. Soil solarization suppresses weed growth and pest
development, leading to improvement of crop yield. Hence an investigation was conducted
to study the influence of various techniques of soil solarization on yield parameters in leafy
vegetables during 2018 at Varagurpettai Village at Annamalai Nagar Chidambaram in
Cuddalore District. The experiment was conducted in seven treatments viz., T1 – Control T2
- Summer ploughing 1 time (30 days) T3- Summer ploughing 2 times (30 days) T4- Summer
ploughing 1 time (45 days) T5- Application of transparent polyethylene sheet, T6- Summer
ploughing 2 times (45 days), T7- Application bioplastic polyethylene sheet in three
replications and were laid out in Randomized Block Design in three types of leafy vegetables
viz., Amaranthus dubius, Amaranthus tristis and Beta vulgaris var. bengalensis.
Observations on various yield parameters were recorded and analyzed. The results revealed
that application of transparent polyethylene treatment significantly influenced the yield
parameters in leafy vegetables when compared to the control.

Key words: soil solarization, weed, soil born disease and yield parameters.