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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 Meteorology × Author: Ancy, P × End date: 2019 × Start date: 2012 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Study the impact of abiotic stress on photosynthetic potential of tropical tuber crops under elevated CO2
    (Academy of Climate Change Education and Research, Vellanikkara, 2019) Ancy, P; KAU; Nameer, P O
    Climate change and agriculture are interconnected processes, both of which take place on a universal scale. Global warming is expected to have significant impacts on agriculture. Most of the studies reported a positive impact in photosynthetic rate of C3 plants due to eCO2. However other players of climate change such as drought and rising temperature can harmfully affect crops. Cassava and sweet potato are two major tropical root crops grown in India. The main objective of the present study was to figure out the impact of adverse conditions of climate change such as water deficit stress and high temperature stress on photosynthetic potential of tropical tuber crops under elevated CO2 and there by identify crop/varieties suitable for changing climate conditions. The study was conducted during the period of October 2018 to July 2019 on four contrasting cassava and four contrasting sweet potato varieties. Observations on photosynthetic parameters viz., the net photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (gs) transpiration and sub-stomatal/intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) were recorded using a LI6400 portable photosynthesis system, LI-COR Inc, Lincoln, USA. Elevated CO2 have positive effects on photosynthetic parameters under WDS free as well as WDS conditions in cassava as well as sweet potato. Even though WDS reduces photosynthetic rate, eCO2 could sustain greater Pn rate than ambient CO2 under WDS. Under eCO2 rising temperature can benefit cassava and sweet potato only under WDS free conditions. For cassava Pn was not significantly affected by temperatures. For sweet potato Pn significantly increased with rise in temperature. It indicates that increasing temperature is not a limiting factor for cassava and sweet potato, but beneficial for them under WDS free conditions. Responses of cassava and sweet potato to WDS and rising temperature are also influenced by the variety. Cassava variety Sree Athulya responses well to eCO2 as well as to rising temperature under WDS free conditions. Cassava variety Sree Vijaya can perform well under WDS compared to other varieties. Sweet potato variety Sree Arun exhibits higher Pn under WDS free conditions. Bhu Krishna and Kanhangad had high Pn under WDS as well as at higher temperature. From this study it can be concluded that tropical root and tuber crops especially cassava and sweet potato have a great potential for better adaptation at elevated CO2 environment under adverse climate conditions such as water deficit stress and increasing temperature. They can become crops providing food security for future environment under climate change.