Qualifications: B. Sc. (Horticulture), M.Sc. (Ag.)

Career: 

        Scientist B (Chemistry)- Spices Board, Quality Lab, Cochin -25. 1992-1993

        Asst. Professor (SS & AC) - Cardamom Research Station, (KAU)  Pampadumpara. Since 1993-

Research Interests: Soil science and Agricultural chemistry, Agrobioclimatology, Mountain weather and climate, Climate change, Ecohydrology, Ecosystem ecology and sustainability.

Selected Publications:

Research papers

1.  Josephrajkumar, A., Ambika Devi, D., Murugan, M and Vasanthkumar, K (2006). Entomopathogenic nematodes – mass production and application in Cardamom root grub, (Basilepta fulvicorne Jacoby) management. Indian Journal of Arecanut, Spices & Medicinal Plants 7(2): 54-60.

2. Murugan , M.,  Miniraj ,N . and Carmelranijoseph (2000) Changes in climatic elements and their impact on production of cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum  M.) in the cardamom hills of Kerala India. Journal of Spices and Plantation Crops  9 (2):157-160.

3. Murugan ,M. (2001)  Quality of chilli (Capsicum annuum L) variety Co -3 as influenced by levels and sources of  phosphorus and levels of nitrogen. Journal of Spices and Plantation Crops 10 (1) :1-5.   

4. Murugan, M., Josephrajkumar, A., Sainamole Kurian, P. and Backiyarani, S. (2002) Essential oil of cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum M.) – Effect of infestation by thrips (Sciothrips cardamomi  Ramk.). Indian Perfumer 46(4): 321-323.

5. Murugan, M., Josephrajkumar, A., Backiyarani, S. and Subbiah, N. (2002) Yield and nutrient content of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) in response to sources of P and levels of P and N. Journal of Spices and Aromatic Crops 11(1): 13-17.

6. Murugan, M., Miniraj, N., Josephrajkumar, A., Pradeep, K. P. and Yosuf, L. (2003) Analysis and forecast of winter monsoon based on Pre-vedic literature and simulated model. Asian Agri-History 7(3): 219-231.    

7.  Miniraj, N., Murugan ,M. and Carmelranijoseph (2000) Evaluation of cardamom        (Elettaria cardamomum) germplasm   Journal of Spices and Aromatic Crops  9 (1) : 55-56

8. Josephrajkumar, A., Sainamole Kurian, P., Backiyarani, S. and Murugan, M. (2001) Efficacy of conventional insecticides for suppression of black pepper mussel scale, Lepidosaphes piperis Gr. (Diaspididae : Hemiptera). (In Advances of Entomology, Eds Muraleedharan et al.,) Entomon (Spl. Issue) 26:113-114.

9.  Josephrajkumar, A., Sainamole Kurian, P., Backiyarani, S. and Murugan, M. (2002) Evaluation of biorationals against thrips (Sciothrips cardamomi Ramk.) and shoot and capsule borer (Conogethes punctiferalis Guen.) in cardamom. Journal of Spices and Aromatic Crops  11 (2) : 132-134.

10.  Backiyarani, S., Sainamole Kurian, P., Josephrajkumar, A. and Murugan, M. (2002) Evaluation of high yielding accessions of small cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum Maton) for suitability in the high ranges of Idukki district. Journal of Spices and Aromatic Crops 11(2):93-96.

11.  Miniraj, N. and Murugan, M. (2000) Ecological decline of cardamom hills – an analysis. In: Spices and Aromatic Plants-Challenges and opportunities in the New Century edited by K.V. Ramana et al., Indian Society for Spices, Calicut, p. 172-176. 

12.  Balakrishnan, M., Sreenarayanan, V. V., Subbiah, A.and Murugan, M (2002) Effect of drying small cardamom through spouted bed drier on total chlorophyll content. Spice  India September  2002  16-17. 

13. Murugan, M., Josephrajkumar, A., Sheeba, B.,  Vasanthakumar, K., & Ambikadevi, D. (2005) Essential oil profile of elite small cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum M.) accessions and their interaction with thrips (Sciothrips cardamomi Ramk.) infestation. Indian Perfumer 49(2): 219-223.

14. Murugan, M. Mukund, V., Panigraghy, B. K., Shetty, P. K and Josephrajkumar, A. (2006). Soil and surface air warming in Cardamom ecosystem in western ghats, Kerala, India (communicated).

15.  Paddu Shetty, Krishnappa Shetty., Murigendra. B. Hiremath., Marium. Sabita., and Muthusamy. Murugan. (2006). Integrated pest management strategies and agricultural sustainability in India. (communicated).

16.  Murugan, M., Josephrajkumar, A., Sainamolekurian, P.,  Ambikadevi, D., Vasanthkumar, K. and Shetty, P.K. (2006). Critiques on the critical issues of cardamom cultivation in Cardomom hill reserves, Kerala, India. (communicated). 

17. Murugan, M., Shetty, P.K. (2006). Warming induced change of future rainfall climatology and its possible impact on water and agriculture in India. (communicated).

     

Short research communications

 1) Josephrajkumar, A. and Murugan, M. (2001) New record of an entomopathogenic fungus Verticillium sp. against cardamom whitefly Kanakarajiella cardamomi (David and Subramaniam). Pest management in Horticultural Ecosystem 7(1): 66-67.

 2)  Josephrajkumar, A., Backiyarani, S. and Murugan, M. (2002) PV-1, a psuedostem borer tolerant cardamom variety. Insect Environment 7(4): 155-156. 

3) Josephrajkumar, A., Sainamole Kurian, P., Backiyarani, S. and Murugan, M. (2002) Record of leaf twisting weevil, (Apoderus sissu Marshall) as a pest on rose. Entomon 27(3): 337-338.  

4) Sainamole Kurian, P., Backiyarani, S., Josephrajkumar, A. and Murugan, M. (2002) Varietal evaluation of black pepper for yield, quality and anthracnose disease resistance in Idukki district, Kerala. Journal of Spices and Aromatic Crops 11(2):122-124.

 5) Sainamole Kurian, P., Ambikadevi, D., Josephrajkumar, A., Murugan, M., and Vasanthakumar, K. (2004) New disease affecting the queen of Spices. SAIC Newsletter 14(3):4.

 6) Josephrajkumar, A., Sainamole Kurian, P., Ambikadevi, D., Murugan, M. and Vasanthakumar, K. (2005) Stem borer- An emerging problem in black pepper at high ranges, Kerala India. SAIC News letter (Communicated).

 7)  Josephrajkumar, A, Ambikadevi, D., Bibin, P., Sainamole Kurian, P.,  Murugan, M. and Vasanthakumar, K. (2005) Scale insects of black pepper and their management. Indian Horticulture (Communicated). 

 1) Murugan,M., Josephrajkumar,A., Sainamolekurian,P., Ambikadevi, D and Vasanthakumar,K (2004) Cardamom and Cardamom Hills Critical issues – General and suggested solutions, critical issues- locality wise and suggested solutions. Paper presented   in the  National Workshop on Biodiversity Conservation of Cardamom Hill Reserves, 8-10, September, 2004 , CMC Hall ,Vandanmettu , Idukki ,Kerala .  

 2) Josephrajkumar, A., Sainamole Kurian, P., Backiyarani, S. and Murugan, M. (2002) Record of new insect pests of black pepper in high ranges of Idukki district, Kerala. VI AZRA Conference on Advances in Applied Zoological Researches for Food Production and Environmental Safety, 19-22, December, 2002, Cuttack p.31.

 3) Josephrajkumar, A., Sainamole Kurian, P., Backiyarani, S. and Murugan, M. (2000). Occurrence of insect pests on black pepper at high altitudes of Idukki district in Kerala.  Proceedings of the Twelfth Kerala Science Congress, 27-29th January, 2000, p. 417-420.

 4) Sainamole Kurian, P., Josephrajkumar, A., Backiyarani, S. and Murugan, M. (2000). Case study of “Pollu” disease epidemic of black pepper in high range of Idukki district. Proceedings of the Twelfth Kerala Science Congress, 27-29th January, 2000, p. 497-498.

 5) Backiyarani, S., Murugan, M., Josephrajkumar, A. and Sainamole Kurian, P. (2000) Association of yield and yield componenets in small cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum Maton). Proceedings of the Twelfth Kerala Science Congress, 27-29th January, 2000, p. 494-496

6) Balakrishnan, M., Sreenarayana ,V.V., Viswanathan ,R.,Murugan,M. and Subbiah, A. (2002) Studies on spouted bed drying of cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum  M) capsules on flavour and aroma components. Proceedings on  National seminar on strategies for increasing production and export of spices , Indian Society for Spices ,IISR Calicut ,Kerala .

 7) Jobin,T., George,A., Celine,G.and Murugan, M. (2004) Hydrologic appraisal of small upland watersheds under different land covers.  Proceedings of Indian Environment Congress (2004), Thiruvanthapuram. p 134-141.

 Report

 1) Backiarani, S.,  Josephrajkumar, A., Sainamole Kurian, P., and Murugan, M. (2001) Genetic diversity of cardamom in Kerala. NBSAP report, KFRI, Peechi

 Popular.

 1) Josephrajkumar, A., Sainamole Kurian, P., Backiyarani, S., Carmel Rani, J. and Murugan, M. (1999) Cardamom whitefly – a threat to cardamom production (In Malayalam) Karshakan September, 1999 7: 15.

2) Josephrajkumar, A., Sainamole Kurian, P., Backiyarani, S., Carmel Rani, J. and Murugan, M. (1999) Honey bee and small cardamom pollination (In Malayalam). Deepika December 14, 1999 p.8.

 3) Josephrajkumar, A. and Murugan, M. (2000) Cardamom whitefly pest at high ranges. THE HINDU, March 16, 2000 p.27.

 4) Subbiah, A., Backiyarani, S., Josephrajkumar, A. and Murugan, M. (2000) Important cardamom varieties (In Tamil). Dinamalar November 15, 2000 p.12. 

5) Subbiah, A., Backiyarani, S., Josephrajkumar, A. and Murugan, M. (2000) Improved cultivation practices for cardamom. Hi-Tech Horticulture 6:15-23.

 6) Josephrajkumar, A., Sainamole Kurian, P., Backiyarani, S. and Murugan, M. (2000) Buzzy Bees Make Queen Fertile. Spice Vision 2: 7

 7) Jacob, A., Joseph, A. and Murugan, M. (1995) Cardamom and climate. Spice India 8(6): 12-17.

 8) Jacob, A. and Murugan, M. (1995) Root knot nematode- A serious threat to cardamom. Spice India 8(10):

 9) Oommen, K. S., Murugan, M. and Jacob, A. (1995) The thrips on cardamom. THE HINDU October 12, 1995

 10) Murugan, M. (2005) Cardamom and climate change. In: Cardamom Grower’s Association, Vandanmedu, Souvenir 2005, (Eds.) Joshy Mathew et al., pp. 15-17.

 12) Ambikadevi, D., Josephrajkumar, A. Murugan, M. and Vasantha kumar, K (2005) Scale insects – a threat to black pepper (In Malayalam). Karshakashree 10(9): 34-35. 

Workshop / symposia attended

 1) Participated in XIII All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Spices biennial workshop during August 25-27, 1995 held at Rajasthan Agricultural University, Jaipur.

 2) Attended NARP workshop of high range zone held at Regional Agricultural Research Station, Ambalavayal on 25-05-1998.

 3) Attended XVII ZREAC workshop of high range zone held at Regional Agricultural Research Station, Ambalavayal on 09-03-1999. 

 4) Participated in XV All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Spices biennial workshop during November17-21, 1999 at Indian Institute of Spices Research, Calicut.

 5) Participated in the twelfth Kerala Science Congress during January 27-29, 2000 at Peermade Development Society, Kumily.

 6) Participated in XVI AICRP on Spices national workshop during November 1-3, 2001 at Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikara,.

 7) Participated in DAE-BRNS Regional workshop on “The Impact of Applications of Radiation on Food and Agriculture” held at Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikara, Thrissur on December 27-28, 2001.

 8) Attended the workshop on “Biodiversity Conservation in Cardamom Hill Reserve” organized by Department of Environment and Forest, GOI, New Delhi, Wildlife Trust of India , New Delhi, Kerala Forest Department and Cardamom for Rainforest Conservation, Vandenmedu during September 8-10, 2004 at CMC Hall, Vandenmedu.   

 9) Participated in the International Conference on Decentralization under Peoples’s Campaign Programme held at IMG, Trivandrum on 22-05-2000.

 10) Participated in National Training workshop on Natural Resource Management – Changing scenarios and shifting paradigms during February 21-24, 2003 at College of Forestry, KAU, Vellanikara.

Extension and field outreach activities

Membership in learned societies

a) Indian Society for Spices

b) Asian Agri-history foundation