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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: Arjun, Vysakh × End date: 2019 × Start date: 2010 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Validation of ceres model to calibrate the genetic coefficients of rice (Oryza sativa L.)
    (Department of Agricultural Meteorology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2015) Arjun, Vysakh; KAU; Ajithkumar, B
    Rice (Oryza saiva L.) is vulnerable to unfavourable weather events and climate conditions. Despite technological advances such as improved crop varieties and irrigation systems, weather and climate are important factors which play a significant role in rice production. The present investigation “Validation of CERES model to calibrate the genetic coefficients of rice (Oryza sativa L.)” was carried out in the Department of Agricultural Meteorology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during 2013-15, to determine the crop weather relationship, to validate the CERES (Crop Environment Resource Synthesis) -Rice model and to calibrate the genetic coefficients for rice. The field experiment was conducted at Agricultural Research Station, Mannuthy during the kharif season of 2014. Split plot design was adopted with five dates of planting viz., 5th June, 20th June, 5th July, 20th July and 5th August as the main plot treatments and two varieties viz., Jyothi and Kanchana as the sub plot treatments. The number of replications for the experiment was four. Different growth and yield characters viz., plant height, dry matter accumulation, number of panicles, spikelets, filled grains, 1000 grain weight, grain yield, straw yield and duration of different crop growth phases were recorded. The daily weather parameters like maximum and minimum temperatures, forenoon and afternoon relative humidity, forenoon and afternoon vapour pressure deficits, bright sunshine hours, pan evaporation, wind speed, rainfall and rainy days were recorded during the entire crop growing period, to determine the crop weather relationship. The maximum temperature showed an increasing trend towards the late plantings. The minimum temperature, afternoon and forenoon relative humidity, rainfall and rainy days were found to be higher in early planting dates compared to late plantings. Plant height, dry matter accumulation, yield and yield attributes were highly variable among the different planting dates. Yield and yield attributes were influenced by various weather parameters experienced by the crop during different dates of planting. Days taken to complete maturity got reduced with delay in planting dates in both the varieties. Jyothi variety took more days to complete different phenophases, compared to Kanchana. The highest yield in Jyothi was recorded for June 5th planting, whereas June 20th planted crop recorded highest yield in Kanchana. The various growth indices such as leaf area index, leaf area ratio, leaf area duration, absolute growth rate, crop growth rate, net assimilation rate and relative growth rate were worked out to study the crop growth and development. During the early growth stages, these growth indices showed an increasing trend and decreasing trend was noticed in the later stages. To determine the critical weather elements affecting the crop growth, correlation analysis was performed. It was observed that crop duration decreased with increase in temperature and bright sunshine hours, whereas, the forenoon and afternoon relative humidity, rainfall and rainy days showed positive influence on crop duration. Multiple linear regression equations were fitted, to predict the grain yield based on weather variables. A crop model can simulate the actual system of field in the lab. CERES-Rice model has been widely used to understand the relationship between rice and its environment. Crop performance in terms of genetic coefficients used in the model can be used as a tool for strategic decision making. The crop genetic coefficients that influence the occurrence of developmental stages in the CERES-Rice models were derived and validated, to achieve the best possible agreement between the simulated and observed values. Calibration was done with independent data sets of two rice varieties viz., Jyothi and Kanchana for different genetic coefficients, which characterize the performance of the crop. The results of simulation studies in respect of phenophases and yield of rice were compared with the observed values. Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) and D-stat (index of agreement) were used as model accuracy measures. Predicted yield and phenology of both rice varieties, Jyothi and Kanchana under different planting dates were reasonably close to the observed values, as indicated by the RMSE, MAPE and D-stat values.