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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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19843
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Subject: Agricultural Entomology × Author: KAU × End date: 1984 × Start date: 1984 × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Pest complex associated with mango inflorescence and their control
    (Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1984) Satheesan, N V; KAU; Abraham, C C
    In a survey conducted during 1982-83 in the State of Kerala to study the incidence of various insect pests associated with mango inflorescence with reference to their seasonal history, a total of ten insect pests were recorded. The hoppers idioscopus niveosparaus Leth. and I. clypealis Leth. were found to be widely distributed in the State. Significant variability was not detected among the population loads of I. niveosparsus in different districts, while in the case of I. clypealis such variations were significant. The heaviest populations of the latter was recorded from the Calicut District. The seasonal changes in I. clypealis populations were recorded only in the two Districts of Calicut and Trivandrum. I. niveosparsus showed a well defined peaks in the Palghat and Wynad districts. The fluctuations I. niveosparsus and I. clypealis populations have been discussed with reference environmental conditions. Procystiphora mangiferae Felt. is reported for the first time from the State from the Wynad and Cannanore Districts. Infestations by the pest led to transformation of the floral buds to conical galls. In the Wynad District, there was a well defind population peak in March, while in the Cannanore District a district crest waslacking. The mango blister midge, Erosomyia indica grover and Prasad was recorded to occur in association with P. mangiferae in these two districts. The larvae of E. indica tunnel into inflorescence axis and cause ovate galls thereby causing losses. Bombotelia jocosatrix Gn. was recorded from the Cannanore, Palghat, Trichur and Alleppey Districts throughout the flowering season. Eublemma anguilifera Moore as well as another unidentified spp. of Eublemma were recorded to occur throughout the State, except in the wynad District. The seasonal fluctuations of this pest were significant only in the Palghat District. An unidentified species of Cacoecia was recorded for the first time as a minor pest of mango inflorescence. The larvae fed on flowers and floral buds. The other pests observed during the course of the survey were Rapala manea Hewitson, Haplothrips ganglbaueri Schmutz, Dichocrosis punctiferalis Guenee and an unidentified Geometrid. The bio-efficiency of monocrotophos applied by two methods, namely, stem injection and stem banding, against the Idiocerine hoppers infesting mango inflorescence was evaluated in a separate experiment. The relative toxicity of the insecticide was determined from the time- mortality relationship between the insecticide reaching the inflorescence of treated trees and the mortality of the fourth instar nymphs of I. niveosparsus. The LT -50 values of the nymphs following application of the insecticides by the stem injection method was found to be substantially lower than the corresponding values for the stem banding method of application. It was thus evident that the toxicant moved at a faster pace when administered by the stem injection method. The variations in the pattern of translocation of the toxicant under the two methods of administration have been discussed. The residues of monocrotophos on freshly formed mango fruit at five weeks after application by the stem injection method at 4 ml and 2 ml ai/tree were 0.3600 ppm and o.3750 ppm respectively. The corresponding residues in the mango fruit consequent on stem banding method of administration were 0.0550 ppm. The implications of the above results in formulating control methods against Idiocerine hoppers infesting mango inflorescence have been discussed.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Taxonomic studies of leaf and plant hoppers associated with paddy in Kerala
    (Department of Entomology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1984) Abdulla, K; KAU; Mammen, K V
    Taxonomic study on the leaf and plant hoppers of paddy was conducted to find out the various specious of leaf and plant hoppers associated with paddy in Kerala. Paddy fields from two important paddy growing tracts of Kerala viz., Trichur and Palghat were selected and weekly collections of hoppers were made. Collections were made with a fine mesh hand net for the entire cropping season from transplanting upto harvest. Fixed numbers of sweeps were taken from the same field in order to get an idea about the population fluctuations. Collections from each field for each week were separately preserved in homeopathic vials with collection data. Later insects in all vials were sorted out, number of specimens collected in each week were noted, sexes separated, and each species were preserved in separate vials. Vials were serially numbered and collection data were noted under each serially numbered species. Genitalia of males as well as general form and colouration of all species were stidied. However genitalic studies of Exitianus indicus (Dist.) and Nisia nervosa (Motsch.) could not be conducted for want of male specimens. Altogether nine species were collected viz., Nephotettix Virescens (Dist.), N. nigropictus (Stal), Recilia dorsalis (Motsch.) and Exitianus indicus (Dist.) coming under Cicadellidae, Nilaparvata lugens (Stal), Sogatella furcifera (Horv.),Matutinus pusanus (Dist.) belonging to Delphacidas and Nisia nervosa (Leth) under Meenoplidas. Among these species all but M. pusanus were reported to be occurring on paddy in India and other East Asian countries, while E. indicus and N. nervosa were not observed by earlier workers from Kerala. Apart from these, two male and two female specimens of Nephotettix showing variations in characters from N. nigropictus and N. virescens were also obtained. These may be natural hybrids between N. virescens and N. nigropictus. Certain morphometric studies were conducted using head measurements viz., eye diameter to interocular distance and /or vertical distance next to eye to median length of Vertex. It was found that there is difference between male specimens of N. virescens and N. nigropictus with regards to the ratio of vertical distance next to eye to median length of vertex; and in females of these species there is difference between the ratios of eye diameter to interocular distance. Similarly there is difference between male specimens of N. lugens and S. furcifera with regards to the ratio of eye diametor to interocular distance. Studies on the seasonal abundance of leaf and plant hoppers revealed that there is variation in the predominant species present in each area.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Joint action of nuclear polyhedrosis virus of Spodoptera (Fabricius) with insecticides and its applicability in pest control
    (Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1984) John, V Cherian; KAU; Vasudevan Nair, K P
    Experiments were conducted to study the joint action of nuclearpolyhedrosis virus (NPV) of Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) and five insecticides viz., quinalphos, carbaryl, BHC, monocrotophos and permethrin. The investigation carried out included bioassay of the virus and insecticideson third instar larvae of S.litura, effect of different combinations of the virus and insecticides on larval mortality and the effect of simultaneous and sequential application of virus and insecticides for the control of pest.