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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: Aswany, K S × Author: KAU × End date: 2017 × Start date: 2012 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Phasic development model using thermal indices for rice (Oryza sativa L.) in the central zone of Kerala
    (College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2016) Aswany, K S; KAU; Ajithkumar, B
    The present study, “Phasic development model using thermal indices for rice (Oryza sativa L.) in the central zone of Kerala” was carried out at the Department of Agricultural Meteorology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, Thrissur during 2015-2016. The experiment was laid out in split plot design 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 subplot treatments and there were four replications. Location of the experiment was Agricultural Research Station, Mannuthy. Growth and yield characters like plant height, leaf area index, dry matter accumulation, 1000 grain weight, grain yield, straw yield, number of panicles per unit area, spikelets per panicle, filled grains per panicle and duration of different growth phases were recorded along with monitoring of the incidence of various pests and diseases. The daily weather parameters like maximum and minimum temperatures, forenoon and afternoon relative humidity, forenoon and afternoon vapour pressure deficits, bright sunshine hours, evaporation, wind speed, rainfall and rainy days were recorded during the experimental period. Heat units viz., Growing Degree Days (GDD), Heliothermal Units (HTU), and Photothermal Units (PTU) were found to affect the yield of both Jyothi and Kanchana varieties of rice. In both varieties, early dates of planting accumulated more heat units to attain physiological maturity compared to later plantings. Reduction in yield in the later plantings was noticed due to the increase in GDD, HTU and PTU.The weather parameters such as minimum temperature (23.8°C), forenoon (23.0mmHg) and afternoon vapour pressure deficit (23.6mmHg), forenoon relative humidity (94.7%) and afternoon relative humidity (77.1%), rainfall (1581.5 mm) and rainy days (71days) were found to be higher in early dates of planting, while maximum temperature (31.8°C), bright sunshine hours (5.2h) , evaporation (2.9mm). Number of days taken to complete different phenological stages of both varieties was low for late planted crops. Plant height, dry matter accumulation, yield and yield parameters such as number of panicles per unit area , spikelets per panicle, filled grains per panicle and 1000 grain weight were highly variable among the different planting dates. The total chlorophyll content (soluble protein and growth indices such as LAI, CGR, LAD and NAR were found to be highest on June 5th planting. Grain yield was highest for June 5th planting for both varieties. The recorded grain yield for Jyothi and Kanchana was The crop genetic coefficients that influence the occurrence of developmental stages in the CERES-rice models were derived, to achieve the best possible agreement between the simulated and observed values. The performance of the CERES-rice simulation model was tested and evaluated using the calibrated genetic coefficients for both the varieties with their respective planting dates. The results of simulation studies in respect of phenophases and yield of rice were compared with the observed values from the field experiment. Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and D- stat (index of agreement) were used to evaluate the model performance and found that predicted yield of both rice varieties Jyothi and Kanchana under different planting dates were reasonably close to the observed values.