Agricultural Research Station, Perumallapalle

About the Centre

Agricultural Research Station was started in the year 1964 at Perumallapalle, on Tirupati – Srinivasamangapuram road at a distance of 10 km from Tirupati. Perumallapalle is located at an altitude of 182.90 m above the mean sea level, 13°N latitude and 79°E latitude. Mean temperatures range from 22.4 0C to 38.9 reaching 45 0C during May. Average decennial rainfall is 890 mm. The Research Station was formed to meet the research requirements of sugarcane crop in Southern and Scarce rainfall zones of Andhra Pradesh. For many years, since inception till 2002, this station worked as adaptive testing centre for sugarcane varietal evaluation. Breeding work was initiated in 2002 and the varieties developed are being tested in ZVTs. At present only 5 out of 11 sugar factories are functioning in these zones and nearly 30-35% of the total cane produced is being utilized for jaggery production. Improved sugarcane clones, production and protection technologies evolved by the station are under adoption in all the sugar factory operational areas of the zones and in farmers’ fields. Furthermore the research station is also conducting zonal varietal trials on voluntary basis under AICRP on sugarcane. The best time of visit to the research station is September.

Officials and their contacts

Sl No Name of Official & Designation Contact No. & Email Centre Name with Address Photograph
1. Dr.R. P. Vasanthi Principal Scientist & Head E: ars.perumallapalle@angrau.ac.in Phone no.: 9440069501 Agricultural Research Station, Perumallapalle, Tirupati (AP) - 517505  
2. Dr. K.R.Tagore, Scientist (Plant Breeding) E: kr.tagore@angrau.ac.in
Phone no.: 9393601311 		Agricultural Research Station, Perumallapalle, Tirupati (AP) - 517505

Achievements

  • Co T 8201 (Co 740 X Co 775), a midlate variety with 110-120 cane yield (t/ha) having 18% juice sucrose, resistant to drought, water logging and red rot was released from this centr
  • The other early varieties in pipeline are 2003T 121 (CoT10366), 2005T16 (CoT 10367), 2006T3 (CoT 12366), 2009 T 5 (CoT14366), 2009 T 10 (CoT 14367) and midlate varieties are 2004T 68 (CoT 10368), 2005T 50 (CoT 10369), 2005 T 52 (CoT13366), 2011 T 88 (CoT 16366).
  • Post harvest deterioration: 2003T121, 2005T16, 2006 T 13, 2006 T 34, 2003V46, Co 86032, 87A298, 93A145, 97A85, 98A168, 2001A63 retain juice quality for longer period both in field as well as after harvest while CoT8201, 85A261, 93V297 and 83R23 possesses short shelf life after harvest.
  • Jaggery: CoT8201, 2003T121, 2005T16, 2005T50, 84A125, 85A261, 87A298, 93A145, 97A85, 98A168, CoA7602, 83V15, 2003V46, 83R23, Co6907, Co7219, and Co7706 recorded high jaggery yield with low colour intensity and high nutritional value.
  • Planting time: Planting in February followed by January gave maximum cane and sugar yields. Delayed planting from March to May decreased cane by 6.77 t/ha and sugar by 0.9 t/ha yields.
  • Seed material: 3 budded setts recorded maximum cane and sugar yields than single budded settlings, bud chips and rayungans.
  • Intercropping: Sugarcane inter cropped with green gram, cowpea, cluster bean were found to be remunerative with high net returns.
  • Spacing: Inter row spacing of 80 cm for early varieties and 90 cm for mid late varieties was found to be optimum.
  • Weedicide: Atrazine @ 2 kg a.i./ ha was found to be good as per emergence herbicide. Metribuzine @ 1.25 kg/ha + 2,4-D Sodium salt @ 5 kg/ha was found to be good for control of creeper weeds in sugarcane.
  • Planting methods:Paired row planting (60cm /120 cm ) was better than normal, wide row plantings and pit method of planting.
  • Drought mitigation: Trash mulching @ 3 t/ha and irrigation at alternate furrows.
  • Drip irrigation: Surface drip was superior over furrow method. Water saving was 29.5% and increased yield was 33.7%.
  • Fertigation: 100% recommended fertilizers applied through fertigation gave highest cane yield than through soil application.
  • Nitrogen: 224 kg N/ha applied at 45 DAP and 90 DAP with equal splits recorded high yields.
  • Sulphur: Application of sulphur 80 kg/ha in the form of gypsum (500 kg/ha) enhanced cane yield and improved quality of jaggery.
  • Integrated nutrient management: 50% RDF + PMC (12.5 t/ha) / FYM (25 t/ha) + Azospirillum @ 10 kg/ha / PSB @ 10 kg/ha were found beneficial.
  • Biofertilizers: Azospirillum @ 10 kg/ha and VAM @ 12.5 kg/ha along with 75% RDF saved 25% of chemical fertilizers.
  • Micro nutrient importance: Higher cane yield was recorded with foliar spray of FeSo4 @ 5%.
  • Crop sequence in Sugarcane: Rice-Sugarcane, Tomato-Sugarcane and Maize-Sugarcane are remunerative for Ralayaseema region. 
  • Sett treatment: Malathion (2 ml/l) + Bavistin (0.5 g/l) controlled early pest incidence and sett borne diseases. Treating setts with tilt (1 ml/l) for 15 min. controlled whip smut.