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Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur

The history of agricultural education in Kerala can be traced back to the year 1896 when a scheme was evolved in the erstwhile Travancore State to train a few young men in scientific agriculture at the Demonstration Farm, Karamana, Thiruvananthapuram, presently, the Cropping Systems Research Centre under Kerala Agricultural University. Agriculture was introduced as an optional subject in the middle school classes in the State in 1922 when an Agricultural Middle School was started at Aluva, Ernakulam District. The popularity and usefulness of this school led to the starting of similar institutions at Kottarakkara and Konni in 1928 and 1931 respectively. Agriculture was later introduced as an optional subject for Intermediate Course in 1953. In 1955, the erstwhile Government of Travancore-Cochin started the Agricultural College and Research Institute at Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram and the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences at Mannuthy, Thrissur for imparting higher education in agricultural and veterinary sciences, respectively. These institutions were brought under the direct administrative control of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Animal Husbandry, respectively. With the formation of Kerala State in 1956, these two colleges were affiliated to the University of Kerala. The post-graduate programmes leading to M.Sc. (Ag), M.V.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees were started in 1961, 1962 and 1965 respectively. On the recommendation of the Second National Education Commission (1964-66) headed by Dr. D.S. Kothari, the then Chairman of the University Grants Commission, one Agricultural University in each State was established. The State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) were established in India as an integral part of the National Agricultural Research System to give the much needed impetus to Agriculture Education and Research in the Country. As a result the Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) was established on 24th February 1971 by virtue of the Act 33 of 1971 and started functioning on 1st February 1972. The Kerala Agricultural University is the 15th in the series of the SAUs. In accordance with the provisions of KAU Act of 1971, the Agricultural College and Research Institute at Vellayani, and the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, were brought under the Kerala Agricultural University. In addition, twenty one agricultural and animal husbandry research stations were also transferred to the KAU for taking up research and extension programmes on various crops, animals, birds, etc. During 2011, Kerala Agricultural University was trifurcated into Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU), Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) and Kerala Agricultural University (KAU). Now the University has seven colleges (four Agriculture, one Agricultural Engineering, one Forestry, one Co-operation Banking & Management), six RARSs, seven KVKs, 15 Research Stations and 16 Research and Extension Units under the faculties of Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering and Forestry. In addition, one Academy on Climate Change Adaptation and one Institute of Agricultural Technology offering M.Sc. (Integrated) Climate Change Adaptation and Diploma in Agricultural Sciences respectively are also functioning in Kerala Agricultural University.

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Subject: Agricultural Entomology × Author: Alice Renta Packia Sujeeth, J × End date: 1999 × Start date: 1990 × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Impact of insecticides on the flora and fauna in the soil ecosystem of banana plantation
    (Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1993) Alice Renta Packia Sujeeth, J; KAU; Mammen, K V
    Possible adverse effects of the insectisides recommended for the control of pests/diseases of banana in Kerala, on the useful soil organisms and the consequent impact on the banana ecosystem were studied in detail through a field experiment and follow up laboratory investigations. The results revealed: (1) Earthworm population was adversely affected with HCH even in low doses upto two months after the treatment. With carbofuran soon after the first and second application the population declined but restored with in two months. In the case of phorate the first treatment alone caused significant adverse effect while the second and third did not cause any significant effect on the earthworms. Even in carbofuran and phorate treatments earthworms. Even in carbofuran and phorate treatments earthworm population came on par with control two months before the harvest. (2) Parasitic nematodes were unaffected by HCH treatment. With carbofuran significant reduction in the population of parasitic nematode was noted after two applications of the insecticide. The nematicidal effect was seen lost throughout the period of observations from the eighth month. In phorate treatment significant reduction was observed only after three consecutive applications of the toxicant. The overall reduction caused by phorate was not adequate. Carbofuran was hence better to control parasitic nematodes than phorate. In both the cause the low level of nematode population in soil may be attributed to the lack of response to the nematicides recommended for the control of the pest. (3) HCH treatment was not at all toxic to non-parasitic nematodes. In the case of carbofuran and phorate low population was observed throughout, while significant reduction was observed for a short while after the first application of the insecticides only. (4) Collembolan and mite population was not reduced by HCH treatment. Significant reduction was observed for two months after the first and second applications of carbofuran and phorate. Adverse effect was then lost and the population was maintained on par with control till harvest. (5) The bacterial count was low throughout in HCH treatment. Though the carbofuran reduced the bacterial population it was revived in two months time. Phorate suppressed the bacterial population after first two applications, while with the third application slight enhancement was observed on the population and it was restored on par with control before harvest of the crop. (6) In fourth and eighth month a suppressing effect of HCH on actimycetes was noted and a stimulatory effect was observed during the sixth month. In carbofuran no significant reduction was observed upto three months and later on no reduction was noted. In phorate significant reduction was observed after the first and second application and the actinomycets population was then restored and remained unaffected till harvest. (7) Significant reduction of fungi was observed during the third and fourth months after planting in HCH treatment. In carbofuran slight reduction was noted after first and second application. The population was then restored. In phorate slight reduction was noted after two applications and it was restored in the next month itself. The third application showed stimulatory effect and the population was higher than that observed in control in subsequent observations. (8) The organic matter content in treatments and control remained on par and hence the humification process in banana ecosystem, through the activity of the soil organisms, was not seen affected by the application of insecticides. The variations in pH and moisture content of a soil in control plots and treatments also were not statistically significant. (9) Changes in the correlation of soil parameters with the beneficial organisms in control and treatments also did not show any definite trend. This may be due to low variability in the data on the population levels as well as the soil parameters. In general the treatments did not alter the population of the soil fauna and flora in the ecosystem to cause any adverse persistent effect.