Browsing by Author "Kesavan Nampoothiri, C."

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    Leaf-eating caterpillar (Opisina arenosella)-induced yield loss in coconut palm
    (2010) Chandrika Mohan; Radhakrishnan Nair, C.P.; Kesavan Nampoothiri, C.; Rajan, P.
    Coconut is one of the major crops of commercial importance among the palms. The leaf-eating caterpillar Opisina arenosella Walker is the most important lepidopteran pest of coconut palm in India and Sri Lanka. Assessment of crop loss is essential for a realistic planning for research and developmental policies. Information on the yield loss in coconut due to O. arenosella attack is very meagre. In the present study, results of investigations carried out on leaf-eating caterpillar-induced yield loss in coconut palms in Kerala, India, for a period of 4 years (2002–2005) are presented. A maximum crop loss of 45.4% in terms of nut yield was recorded from infested palms in the succeeding year of severe pest incidence. The infested palms also showed reduction in bunch and leaf production to the tune of 21.0 and 13.8%, respectively. The pest-attacked palms regained their normal yield potential by the fourth year after heavy pest infestation.
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    Seasonal Variation In Oil Palm Yield Under Rainfed Conditions
    (1996) Jacob Mathew; Nampoothiri, K.U.K.; Pillai, R.S.N.; Kesavan Nampoothiri, C.
    Month-wise compilation of the harvest data available from a large oil palm plantation at Palode revealed considerable variation in yield and associated characters between months. Weight of FFB harvested during March to July was found to be generally high. In general, about 45% of the total yield was obtained during the period March to May, and nearly 23% was the share of June- July. The remaining 325 was harvested during the seven months period from August to February. The maximum quantity harvested was during April (18.1% of the total annual production) and lowest share of 3.15 was in December. In real terms, the mean weight of FFB harvested per hectare in a month was 2.0 tons during March to May, compared to 1.5 tons during June-July and 0.6 tons for the rest of the period. The increased share in production during the summer and early monsoon periods was due to the more number of palms and bunches harvested during this period. Mean bunch weight was also comparatively high during this period. In younger palms the seasonal variations were more conspicuous, and as palms grew older, the seasonal differences in yield and yield attributes narrowed down. In the years of bumper yield, the proportion of total yield obtained during yield, the proportion of total yield obtained during March to May was over 53%. The significance of seasonal variation in FFB production in relation to processing requirement is also discussed.
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    Trend In Oil Palm Yield During The Early Years Of Bearing Under Rained Conditions
    (1993) Jacob Mathew; Nampoothiri, K.U.K.; Pillai, R.S.N.; Kesavan Nampoothiri, C.
    Long term trends in oil palm yield and other associated characters were examined for the first 15 years after planting, in a population of 798 palms planted in 1976 and grown under uniform management at CPCRI Research Centre, Palode, Trivandrum Dist., Kerala. Thirty four percent of the palms came to harvest by the fourth year. Yield of FFB/ha showed an increasing trend from 0.125 ton in 1980 to 21 tons in 1990, with peak yield in 1986 and 1990. Similar trend was observed in the case of the number of bunches also. Mean bunch weight showed a steady increase from 1.6 kg to 18.7 kg during this period, with mean annual growth rate of 1.6 kg. The peak yields obtained during 1986 and 1990 were found to be more due to the increased production of bunches. Regression studies showed that 96% of the changes in annual yield is explained by the variations in bunch number and mean bunch weight.