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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: Binseena, S R × End date: 2018 × Start date: 2018 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Management of beetle pests in stored rice using botanicals
    (Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2018) Binseena, S R; KAU; Anitha, N
    The study entitled “Management of beetle pests in stored rice using botanicals” was carried out at the Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, during 2016-2018. The objectives of the study was to document major beetle pests of stored rice in Thiruvananthapuram district and to develop effective management measures using botanicals. The occurrence of beetle pests of stored rice in ration shops and retail provision stores in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala was examined through a preliminary survey. Effective management measures using botanicals were tested against one major beetle pest identified from survey. Three experiments were conducted using plant extract, dried plant parts and essential volatile oils for the management of the major beetle pest. As per the results of survey, out of 25 rice samples 23 were contaminated with rice weevil Sitophilus oryzae L. with a mean number of 14.68 in 100 g rice followed by saw toothed grain beetle. In the light of above, further studies were undertaken to manage rice weevil using botanicals. Experiment with extract of plant parts viz., tulsi leaves (Ocimum tenuiflorum L.), neem leaves (Azadirachta indica A.Juss.), garlic bulblets (Allium sativum L.), bird chilli fruits (Capsicum frutescens L.), mint leaves (Mentha arvensis L.) and pepper seeds (Piper nigrum L.) at two concentrations (5 and 10%) (w/v) were conducted. The highest percentage mortality was recorded in treatment with garlic bulb 10 % (53.33) which was on par with garlic bulb 5 % (38.33), tulsi leaves 10 % (38.33) and bird chilli fruit 10% (36.67). The treatment with tulsi leaves 10 % recorded maximum repellent effect of 40.00 per cent which was on par with pepper seed 10 % (38.33), mint leaves 10 % (26.67) and bird chilli fruit 10 % (23.33). While examining both mortality and repellent effect of plant extract, treatment with tulsi leaves 10 % showed the highest reduction (78.33) of weevils with decreased progeny emergence and grain damage. Management of beetle pest using dried plant parts viz. tulsi leaves (O. tenuiflorum), neem leaves (A. indica), clove flower buds (Syzygium aromaticum (L.)), nutmeg mace (Myristica fragrans Houtt.), mint leaves (M. arvensis) and curry leaves (Murraya koenigii (L.)) at two concentrations (2 and 4%) (w/w) showed that mint leaves 4 % was the most effective treatment with 56.67 per cent mortality which was on par with nutmeg mace 4 % (35.00). The highest percentage repellency of weevils was recorded in rice treated with nutmeg mace 4 %, (31.67) and the lowest progeny emergence and grain damage also. However considering both mortality and repellent effect of dried plants parts, treatment with mint leaves 4 % showed the highest reduction of weevils. Effect of essential volatile oils on mortality of beetles were carried with four oils viz., clove (S. aromaticum), cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume), lemon grass (Cymbopogon flexuosus (Nees ex steud)) and pepper (P. nigrum). Preliminary toxicity bioassays (without food and with food) were carried for fixing the concentrations of these oils. Percentage mortality of weevils by volatile essential oils increased with increase in concentration and period of exposure. Pepper oil 200 μl 500 cm-3 caused cent per cent mortality without any progeny emergence whereas cinnamon oil 30 μl 500 cm-3 caused 95.55 per cent mortality of weevils. The rice weevil S. oryzae was found to be the major beetle pest associated with stored rice. Among the plant extracts, treatment with tulsi leaves 10 % showed the highest reduction of weevils with decreased progeny emergence and grain damage. Treatment with dried plant parts revealed that mint leaves (4 %) showed the highest reduction of weevils whereas the lowest progeny emergence and grain damage were observed in treatment with dried nutmeg mace 4 %. Among the essential volatile oils pepper oil 200 μl 500 cm-3 caused cent per cent mortality of rice weevil at four days after treatment without any progeny emergence.