Swaminathan Chitraputhirapillai
Verified email at yahoo.com
Professor , Agronomy, Agricultural College and Res.Institute, Madurai- 625104, India
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University
EDUCATION
Ph.D. in Forestry
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Agroforestry
Low Budget Naturalway Farming (Vrikshayurvedic farming)
Dryland Agriculture
Organic cultivation
Scopus Publications
Scholar Citations
Scholar h-index
Scholar i10-index
Scopus Publications
Kannan P., Paramasivan M., Marimuthu S., Swaminathan C., and Jayakumar Bose
Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, ISSN: 01678809, Volume: 308, Published: 1 March 2021
Elsevier BV
Abstract Rainfed black gram (Vigna mungo L.) production in low pH alfisol is severely hampered by the sporadic and greater intensity of rainfall as well as low availability of soil phosphorous. Developing suitable management practices is critical to mitigating the ill effects of rainfall variability and low phosphorous availability. Applying biochar, a soil conditioner produced from various bio-waste has been suggested to improve soil moisture content and carbon level. Similarly applying phosphobacteria, a bio-inoculant can enhance P availability to black gram crops. However, the interaction between biochar and phosphobacteria application in low pH Alfisol under rainfed conditions is not fully explored. To fill this knowledge gap, field experiments were conducted to assess the effect of biochar and Bacillus megaterium var phosphaticum (Pb-1) on the availability of phosphorous, black gram growth, and yield. The factors tested were redgram stalk biochar and Australian acacia biochar, enriched farmyard manure, phosphobacteria, and phosphorus fertilizer and their various combinations. Biochar application at 5 t ha−1 increased soil moisture retention and reduced the penetration resistance. The addition of biochar with phosphobacteria positively enhanced the plant physiological parameters such as leaf area, stomatal conductance, SPAD, and reduced the leaf temperature. Application of redgram stalk biochar at 5 t ha−1 with phosphobacteria 2 kg ha−1 recorded higher organic carbon (4.7 g kg−1), soil available P (30.9 kg ha−1) and P uptake (4.6 kg ha−1), by 27, 28 and 45 percent respectively over P fertilizer alone applied treatment. The same treatment combination also recorded the highest seed yield (262 kg ha−1) implying the combined application of biochar and phosphobacteria has the potential to enhance black gram production in rain-fed low pH Alfisols.
P. Kannan, S. Ponmani, G. Prabukumar, and C. Swaminathan
Soil Use and Management, ISSN: 02660032, eISSN: 14752743, Published: 2020
Wiley
Indian Journal of Ecology, ISSN: 03045250, Pages: 11-18, Published: March 2018
P. Kannan, C. Swaminathan, and S. Ponmani
Journal of Plant Nutrition, ISSN: 01904167, eISSN: 15324087, Pages: 828-840, Published: 3 April 2017
Informa UK Limited
ABSTRACT The field experiments were conducted for three consecutive years from 2011 to 2014 to evaluate the influence of graded levels of gypsum as a source of sulfur and different times of application on soil fertility and yield parameters and yield of groundnut (TMV 7) under rainfed condition at Dryland Agricultural Research Station, Chettinad, Tamil Nadu, India. It is observed that sulfur nutrition significantly influenced growth, yield attributing characters and yield over control. Sulfur nutrition through gypsum as a source 400 kg ha−1 in split mode viz., 200 kg as basal and 200 kg as top dressing during receipt of rains recorded highest plant height, more number of filled pods per plant, higher values for 100 pod weight, 100 kernel weight, pod yield and haulm yield. Split application of gypsum 400 kg ha−1 has increased pod yield to the tune of 31, 21 and 36 percent during 2011, 2012 and 2013 respectively.
Kannan Pandian, Ponmani Subramaniayan, Prabukumar Gnasekaran, and Swaminathan Chitraputhirapillai
Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science, ISSN: 03650340, eISSN: 14763567, Pages: 1293-1310, Published: 1 September 2016
Informa UK Limited
ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of biochar and organic soil amendments on soil physicochemical and microbial load, carbon sequestration potential, nutrient uptake and yield of groundnut in acidic red soil under rainfed condition. Biochar was prepared from red gram, cotton, maize stalk and mesquite wood using pilot scale slow pyrolysis biochar unit. The above sources of biochar at the rate of 2.5 and 5 t ha−1 and enriched farmyard manure 0.75 t ha−1, composted coir pith 10 t ha−1 and arbuscular mycorrhizae 100 kg ha−1 were applied as basal with required nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium fertilizer. Biochar amendment at the rate of 5 t ha−1 reduced the bulk density from 1.41 to 1.36 g cm−3 and increased the soil moisture 2.5%. With respect to soil chemical changes, it raised soil pH from 5.7 to 6.3; increased the cation exchange capacity 1.4 cmol+ kg−1 and enhanced the carbon buildup 4.4 t ha−1. The significant differences in bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes population were observed between biochar and control. The nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium were better utilized under biochar and composted coir pith, which was 21, 5 and 20 kg ha−1 higher than control. The experimental results suggested that application of biochar to acidic red soil favoured good soil physical, chemical and biological environment, and these positive changes influenced growth and yield attributes and enhanced pod yield 29% over control.
C. Swaminathan and V. M. Srinivasan
Journal of Sustainable Forestry, ISSN: 10549811, eISSN: 1540756X, Issue: 3-4, Pages: 63-76, Published: 20 July 2006
Informa UK Limited
Abstract An experiment was conducted in forest college campus, Mettupalayam, India with an objective of studying the influence of microbial inoculants on seedling growth of teak. The fruits were collected from the seed production area in top slip (Tamil Nadu) from 63-year mother trees. The microbial inoculants viz., Azospirillum, Azotobacter, phosphobacteria, AMF, Azospirillum + AMF, Azotobacter+ AMF, phosphobacteria + AMF and an uninoculated control formed the treatments. The inoculants were mixed sand and red soil at 1:1:3 ratio, respectively, for preparing nursery mixture for filling the poly pots. The seeds were sown into the poly pots @ two seeds per pot. The experiment was set up in a randomized Block Design with three replications. Biometric observations on various growth attributes were recorded six months after treatment and also their survival in the main field-tested for one year. Azotobacter gave best performance with respect to shoot length, shoot weight and leaf area and combined inoculation of phosphobacteria and AMF gave higher root length and biomass, dry matter production and fine root weight. The survival was better in seedlings that were inoculated with phosphobacteria and AMF. However, below ground biomass and out planting survival during early phase are critical in any tree species. Hence it is concluded that inoculation of phosphobacteria and AMF conjointly be done for better survival and growth of teak seedlings.
Tropical Agriculture, ISSN: 00413216, Pages: 121-126, Published: April 2004
Journal of Tropical Forest Science, ISSN: 01281283, Pages: 364-368, Published: April 2001
C. Swaminathan
Biological Agriculture and Horticulture, ISSN: 01448765, Pages: 259-268, Published: 1 January 2001
Informa UK Limited
ABSTRACT A five year field experiment was conducted to obtain information which will facilitate the scientific development of tree mixtures in an agroforestry system with two fruit trees, mango (Mangifera indica L.) and sapota (Achrus sapota L.) and three fast growing forest trees eucalyptus (Eucalyptus tereticornis L.), casuarina (Casuarina equisetifolia J.R. & G. Forst) and leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala (Lam) de Wit). Observations on biometrics and edaphic parameters were recorded. The results revealed that growth of sapota can be enhanced by 17% when grown in mixture with leucaena while co-planting of casuarina had no influence on sapota. A reduction of 12% in the growth of mango was observed when co-planted with casuarina or leucaena. Eucalyptus was incompatible with mango and sapota, which were suppressed by the former. The present investigation identified two tree mixtures sapota + leucaena and sapota + casuarina for raising in tropical alfisol for a sustainable income.
Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences, ISSN: 00195022, Pages: 38-40, Published: 2001
Journal of Tropical Forest Science, ISSN: 01281283, Pages: 109-115, Published: January 2001
Tropical Agriculture, ISSN: 00413216, Pages: 232-235, Published: October 1999
Allelopathy Journal, ISSN: 09714693, Pages: 251-260, Published: July 1999
C. Swaminathan, C. V. Dhanakodi, and S. Mariappan
Journal of Sustainable Forestry, ISSN: 10549811, eISSN: 1540756X, Pages: 15-26, Published: 1 June 1998
Informa UK Limited
Abstract A five year field experiment was conducted to get information which will facilitate the scientific development of tree mixtures in an agroforestry system with two fruit trees viz., mango (Mangifera indica L.) and cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) and four tropical nitrogen fixers viz., Acacia auriculiformis, Acacia holosericea, Casua-rina equisetifolia and Leucaena leucocephala. Observations on biometrics and edaphic parameters were recorded. Enhanced growth of cashew and mango was observed when coplanted with casuarina and leucaena, respectively. The enhanced height growth of cashew by 25% is recorded when interplanted with casuarina and plant girth (10.8 cm) was maximum when interplanted with leucaena. About 11% increase in height growth of mango was registered when interplanted with leucaena. The investigation identified two nitrogen fixers namely casuarina and leucaena for coplanting in cashew and mango orchards, respectively in the initial establishment Stage.
Journal of Tropical Forest Science, ISSN: 01281283, Pages: 310-316, Published: March 1996
Allelopathy Journal, ISSN: 09714693, Pages: 77-80, Published: January 1996
Journal of Tropical Forest Science, ISSN: 01281283, Pages: 152-158, Published: 1993
Myforest, Pages: 192-194, Published: 1991
C. SWAMINATHAN, R. S. VINAYA RAI, and K. K. SURESH
International Tree Crops Journal, ISSN: 01435698, Issue: 2-3, Pages: 143-150, Published: 1990
Informa UK Limited
SUMMARY The allelopathic influence of Parthenium hysterphorus, a gregarious and ubiquitous weed, on four multi-purpose tree species – Acacia leucophloea, Casuarina equisetifolia, Eucalyptus tereticornis and Leucaena leucocephala and three agricultural crops – cowpea, sorghum and sunflower – were tested by germinating seeds of these species in composite leachate obtained from the leaves, stem and flowers of the weed species. Germination of seeds of all test species, arboreal and arable, was severely inhibited by the leachate. In the tree crops, the magnitude of injury was the same under extracts prepared from 2 or 4 ml of distilled water per g of plant tissue. Among the arable crops, sunflower was affected to a greater extent. While radicle and plumule elongation were unaffected in the tree crops and in sunflower, plumule was curbed to a greater extent than radicle in cowpea. In sorghum, only radicle growth was impaired. The inhibition of germination and seedling growth is attributed to parthenin, an unsat...