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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 Microbiology × Author: Fathima, Shaheena K M × Author: KAU × End date: 2015 × Start date: 2010 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Utilization of free living diazotrophic bacteria from Wayanad as a biofertilizer
    (College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2015) Fathima, Shaheena K M; KAU; Girija, D
    Agriculture is heavily dependent on the use of chemical fertilizers. However, excessive and unbalanced use of these inputs may lead to environmentalpollution and health hazards. Biofertilizers are biological fertilizers which play a key role in maintaining productivityand sustainability of soil, thereby protecting the environment. Hence, a study was undertaken to isolate, screen and evaluate free living diazotrophic bacteria to develop an efficient biofertilizer. Rhizosphere soils and plant samples were collected from ten healthy black pepper gardens of different locations of Wayanad district. A total of 43 free living diazotrophic bacteria were isolated on three different N-free media (Jensen’s agar, Beijerinckia agar and Ashby’s agar). Maximum population of nitrogen fixers was obtained on Jensen’s agar. Twenty predominant isolates were selected, including eleven isolates from rhizosphere soil and nine isolates from phylloplane, based on their growth characteristics on N-free media for further evaluation. Twenty selected isolates were screened under in vitro condition for growth, nitrogen fixation and acid tolerance. As pH was lowered from 7.0 to 5.0, a reduction in growth and nitrogen fixation was observed. However, among the isolates, two from the rhizosphere (NKdS and NPS-1) and two from phylloplane (NKPV-2 and NPPV) performed better. Twenty selected isolates were screened in vitro for plant growth promoting activities like production of IAA, HCN, siderophore and ammonia.The antagonistic activity of all the twenty isolates was tested against three soil borne plant pathogens Fusarium oxysporum, Rhizoctonia solaniand Ralstonia solanacearum. Isolates NkdS, NPPV and NKS-1 were found to exhibit antagonistic activityagainst Rhizoctonia solani.Six isolatesinhibited the growth ofRalstonia solanacearum. None of the isolatesrecorded antagonistic activity against Fusarium oxysporum. Four most promising diazotrophs including, two rhizosphere isolates (NKdS and NPS-1) and two phylloplane isolates (NPPV and NKPV-2) were selectedfor in xxx planta evaluation, based on nitrogen fixation ability, tolerance to acidic pHand PGPR activities. 16S rDNA sequence analysis was carried out and promising isolates were identified asMicrobacterium sp. (NKdS and NPPV); Cellulosimicrobium sp. (NPS-1) and Brevundimonas sp. (NKPV-2). In planta evaluation was carried out with tomato as the test crop. These isolates were applied alone, in combination with 75% N and with 75% N + 50% FYM. Diazotrophs were inoculated as seed treatment, seedling dip and soil/foliar application. Seeds treated withKAU Azotobacter formulation triggered faster germination compared to all other treatments. However, after 7 days of sowing, maximum number of seedling emergence (90.24%) was recorded in seeds treated with Cellulosimicrobium sp. Plant height, number of leaves, fresh weight and volume of root, fresh weight and dry weight of plants,yield per plant, average fruit weight and number of fruits were observed to be maximum in treatment T12 (Microbacterium sp.+ 75% N + 50% FYM). T11 (Cellulosimicrobium sp. +75% N + 50% FYM) recorded maximum girth of stem, leaf area and minimum days to flowering. Total nitrogen content of index leaf and plant was maximum in T12 (Microbacterium sp. + 75% N + 50% FYM). The same treatment recorded maximum nitrogen content in soil at 60DAS. At harvest, T11 (Cellulosimicrobium sp. + 75% N + 50% FYM) recorded highest nitrogen content in soil. Population build up of bioinoculants in soil was higher in presence of FYM.Endophytic colonization was higher in root, in case of soil application of bioinoculants and higher in leaves, in case of foliar spray. The study revealed that novel, free living diazotrophic bacteria like Microbacterium and Cellulosimicrobium could be exploited as biofertilizer formeeting 25% of the nitrogen requirement. Results also indicated the importance of application of organic manure along with the isolates, for their best performance