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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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1980 - 198213
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Subject: Agricultural Entomology × End date: 1982 × Start date: 1980 ×
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Now showing 1 - 9 of 13
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Relative susceptibility of cashew types to infestation by the tea mosquito helopoltis antonii signoret (hemiptera:miridae)
    (Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1981) Thomas, K M; KAU; Abraham, C C
    The relative susceptibility of fourteen cashew accessions (Anacardium occidentale L.) to infestation by the tea mosquito bug Helopeltis antonii signoret (miridae: HEmiptera ) was evaluated in the field experiments conducted at the Cashew Research Station , Madakathara during September 1979-March1980. The field damage Intensites and the extent of damage Inflicted by the insect consequent on confinement on shoots and panicles were recored on a 0-5 scale and it was found that the accessions 22,1112, 1430 and 1097 were least susceptible with regard to the intensity of natural field infestation of the vegetative shoots. Regarding the intensity of field infestation on floral branches, the accessions, 22, 1112,1352,1469 and 1097 were significantly less susceptible than the other types . With reference to the intensity of damage to vegetative shoots under confinement none of the accessions was found to be promising . The accession numbers 1219 , 1469 and 1431 were found to be least susceptible to H. antonii infestation under confinement on floral branches . Since the damage to the floral branches, particularly under confinement , Is relatively more important factor responsible for yield reduction these trees can be identified to be relatively more promising . The influence of certain biochemical factors (total nitrogen , soluable sugar and tannins ) on pest infestation in shoots and floral branches was ascertained by working out simple correlation coefficients. The only significant association detected was between the tannin content in the vegetative shoots on the one hand and the pest infestation intensities under confinement , on the other. The shade intensities within the canopies had no the extent of susceptibility to the pest. The tree architecture patterns were found to be of two basic types, namely, extensively branching (spreading ) and intensively branching (bushy ). Variations in the canopy configuration did not influence the susceptibility trends. The inconsistencies in the relative susceptibility of different accession with reference to shoot and panicle damage intensities have been discussed.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Plant parasitic nematodes associated with pineapple in Kerala
    (Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1981) Hamza Koya, C P; KAU; Venkitesan, T S
    As a part of the studies on the occurrence of plant parasitic nematodes associated with pineapple in Kerala, a survey was carried out in different agro climatic regions of the Kerala State and it was found that R. reniformis occurred in more than 76 per cent of the locations sampled. Helicotylenchus spp. were recorded in about 50 per cent of the locations. The other plant parasitic nematodes detected in association with the crop included Meloidogyne spp., Creconemoides spp., Pratylenchus spp., Hoplolaimus and Hemicyclophora occurred in very low population densities. A new species of Helicotylenchus closely resembling H. digitatus ( Hussain and Siddique, 1964) but differing with respect to spear knob characters and location of excretory pore has been reported to be associated with the crop. The pot culture trial with M. incognita indicated that this nematode could not induce pathogenic effect on the cv kew even at the highest inoculum levels of 10,000 larvae per 7.5 kg soil during the period of 180 days.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Integrated control of nematode pests of bhindi with special reference to root-knot nematode
    (Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1981) Hebsy Bai; KAU; Nair, M R G K
    A field experiment was undertaken to ascertain the effect of the treatment with carbofuran and aldicarb treatment of soil, when applied individually and in combinations on the control of the root-knot nematode N. incognita infesting bhindi. A randomised block design was adopted for the experiment with eight treatments including control and four replications each . To ensure uniform population of the nematode in the different plots a crop was raised and the root system of the plants ploughed back into the soil on the forty-fifth day of sowing. Further , galled roots of bhindi collected from different parts of the farm were chopped and added to the soil to ensure a high and uniform initial population of the nematode. Deep ploughing was done to a depth of 20 cm. Seed treatment was done using the flowable concentrate of carbofuran, to give a 3 per cent deposit. Aldicarb was applied to the soil as granules, raked into it and sealed with a layer of water, a day prior to sowing.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Studies on movement and placement of systematic granular insecticides in soil in relation to control of pests of pulses
    (Division of Agricultural Entomology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1981) Nanda Kumar, C; KAU; Visalakshi, A
    The horizontal movement of three systemic granular insecticides phorate, carbofuran and disulfoton in four different types of soils of Kerala viz. sandy, alluvial, red and laterite, was studied by observing the mortality of aphids released on cowpea plants at different distances from point of application of the granules . The effect of age of cowpea plants on the uptake of phorate was assessed by growing plants of different ages. Vertical movement of phorate and disulfoton in red soil was assessed in terms of residue levels after broadcast and point application by colorimetric and bioassay methods. The effect of placements of the systemic granules on pest infestation of cowpea was observed in a field experiment laid out in RBD and the incidence of leaf miner , aphids, flea beetle, leaf webber and pod borer was assessed . The effect of different placements of insecticides in soil on their persistance in cowpea was assessed by observing the mortality of aphids confined on the treated plants at ten-day intervals after application of the insecticides . The effect of placement of insecticide granules on plant growth characters viz. plant height, number of branches, weight of shoot, weight of root , length of tap root, number of nodules, dry weight of nodules and yield was assessed. Residues were estimated in the green pods forty-five days after application of the systematic granules.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Control of root-knot nematodes in brinjal
    (Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1980) Susannamma Kurien; KAU; John Kuriyan
    The egg plant (Brinjal) which is one of the most common vegetable crops is highly susceptible to the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne spp. An effective control can often be achieved by the complete elimination of nematodes from transplants. Hence the present study was undertaken with a view to find out the efficacy of nursery treatment with four nematicides viz. DECP, aldicarb, carbofuran and metham sodium in control of the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita in brinjal seedlings and their subsequent performance in the mainfield. Seeds of brinjal local was seen in nematicide treated nursery beds. On 30th day after sowing seedlings were uprooted from each treatment and plant characters like number of leaves, height of the plants , galls per plant and weight of 25 seedlings were compared to study the effect of the treatment in the nursery . All the characters were found to be superior over the check.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Studies on the cyst nematode of rice in Kerala
    (Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1980) Usha Kumari, R; KAU; John Kuriyan, K
    The cyst nematode Heterodera cryzioola was observed to be an important pest of rice , affecting the growth and yield of paddy plant . However detailed investigations on this nematode was done earlier. The present study was hence undertaken to study the extent of loss, host range and control of this cyst nematode. The extent of loss caused by Hetrodera cryzicola on rice variety Triveni was studied at four inoculum levels of 6,000, 9,000, 12,000 and 18,000 larvae per sq.m. in the field experiment and 5, 10, 20 and 30 cysts per pot in pot culture study. There was considerable reduction in growth and yield of the paddy plant in both field and controlled conditions at all the different levels tried. This nematode caused considerable damage to the crop by supressing the height of the plant, number of tillers, number of leaves, earhead length, shoot weight, root weight, total yield and grain weight.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Pathogenicity of burrowing nematode, Radopholus similis (Cobb 1893) Thorne 1949 on banana
    (Department of Entomology,College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1982) Satyanarayana, P; KAU; John Kuriyan, K
    Pathogenicity of the burrowing nematode,Radopholus similis on banana was studied at the College of Agriculture, Vellayani with three levels of population viz. 1000', 10,000 and 1,00,000 nematodes at five different growth stages of the crop starting from 45 days after planting and with 45 days interval. I t was observed that the general growth of the plant was retarded. The reduction was directly proportional to the initial inoculum used and the period of infestation. A reduction of 36*84 per cent was seen in the yield of plants inoculated earlier with 1,00,000 nematodes and as high as 60.52 per cent reduction in weight of the roots in the plants treated with 10,000 nematodes. Nematode population was found to reach its peak during the flowering season of the plant and decreasing thereafter. The multiplication of the nematode was observed to be inversely proportional to the Initial inoculum level. Population of even 1000 nematodes at active growth stage was enough to cause severe reduction in the plants growth. It was seen that plants could withstand the damage caused by the nematode feeding at later stages Le. after 180 days after planting. So the plants should be protected from the nematodes at earlier stages. The histological changes in the roots infested by nematodes revealed that the nematodes feed on the cortical tissue causing reddish brown lesions on the roots and nematodes could not enter the stelar region of the root even under severely infested conditions
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Effect of synthetic pyrethroids on the pests of paddy
    (Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1982) Balaji, T S B; KAU; Mohan Das, N
    The relative efficacy of four synthetic pyrethroide against the important rice pests was assessed through a field experiment laid out at the Model Agronomic Research Station karamana, during 1981, taking carbaryl as standard. Against the rice gall midge Pachydiplosis oryzae cypermethrin (50 and 25 g ai/ha) and permethrin (50 g ai/ha) were found superior, The low variation in tho percentage incidence of silver shoots in plots treated with pyrothroids and carbaryl showed that the use of the former category of pesticides is not justified due to the high, cost involved.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Protection of stored cowpea seeds (Vigna unguiculata (L) (Walp) from infestation by the pulse beetle Callosobruchus maculatus F. (Bruchidae : Coleoptera)
    (Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1982) Purnamma, B; KAU; Mammen, K V
    Studies were conducted to assess the effect of different materials in protecting cowpea seeds against attack of pulse beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus in storage for a period of six months. Rhizome bits of sweet flag, neem kernal powder, activated charcoal powder, carbaryl 5% dust, etrimphos 2% dust were directly mixed with seeds