T Rajavarshini

In the Rabi season of 2024, a field experiment was conducted in the village of Ahilandapuram to identify the effects of integrated plant nutrition system (IPNS) and foliar nutrition on maize growth, yield and quality parameters. Using maize as the test crop, the experiment was conducted using a randomized block design with 13 treatments and 3 replications. The treatments included the control (T1), 100 % soil test crop response- integrated plant nutrition system (STCR-IPNS) alone, 75 % STCR-IPNS alone and foliar application products: TNAU Maize Maxim, TNAU PPFM, Aloe vera leaf extract and amino acids. The treatment T12, which received 100 % STCR-IPNS along with foliar application of TNAU Maize Maxim, TNAU PPFM, Aloe vera leaf extract and amino acids, recorded the maximum leaf area index. Noticeably, the same treatment (T12) also recorded the best performance in 100-grain weight, cob weight, number of grains per cob and number of grains per row. Interestingly, the same treatment (T12) showed the greatest increase in quality parameters such as crude protein and crude fibre. Based on these findings, the combined use of STCR-IPNS along with a foliar spray of TNAU Maize Maxim + TNAU PPFM+ A. vera leaf extract + amino acid (T12) can be considered one of the most efficient methods for improving the growth, yield and quality characteristics of maize.

A comprehensive study was conducted at block level in Salem District, Tamil Nadu, India, to evaluate the major ionic chemistry and to assess the suitability of ground water for irrigation purpose. A total of 200 groundwater samples were systematically collected through grid survey and analyzed for major ionic constituents and irrigation water quality parameters. The resulting water quality parameters were interpreted based on established hydrochemical guidelines. The classification of groundwater samples under various quality categories based on pH, electrical conductivity (EC), residual sodium carbonate (RSC) and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) indicates that many blocks (70 %) in the study area exhibit good-quality groundwater suitable for irrigation. However, exceptions (30 %) were observed in the blocks of Omalur, Mecheri, Kolathur and Pethanaickenpalayam having been observed with saline and alkali water quality. This might be due to the underlying metamorphic and crystalline rocks carrying the element calcium and sodium rich minerals are responsible for the development of saline/alkali groundwater. It was observed that mushrooming of industrial complexes in these blocks might also be the reasons for the development of saline or alkali groundwater. The need for this work is to evaluate groundwater quality for irrigation in Salem District and identify areas affected by saline and alkali contamination due to natural and industrial influences.