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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 Statistics and Informatics × Author: KAU × Author: Seena, C × End date: 1996 × Start date: 1994 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Comparison of alternate methods for the control of experimental error in perennial crops
    (Department of Agricultural Statistics, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1994) Seena, C; KAU; Prabhakaran, P V
    The feasibility of using certain novel devices for the control of error in experiments on perennial crops was examined on the basis of actual experimental data and the resulting efficiency gain evaluated. A considerable amount of reduction in error variance was achieved by the application of analysis of covariance with suitable functions of pre-experimental yield as concomitant variable. Application of quadratic covariance resulted a substantial gain of precision in the analysis of data on coconut. Nearest neighbourhood analysis (NNA) resulted in a significant improvement of precision in the analysis of data in most of the experiments. Double covariance analysis involving suitable functions of pre-experimental yield and NN variable as covariates resulted in further reduction of experimental error. Pearce’s iterative NN procedure was found to be the best alternative method for reduction of error over the coventional method of stratification. A plot of eight trees was found to be optimum for conducting yield trails on coconut and cashew. The percentage of genetic variability to the total phenotypic variability in the yields of cashew, coconut and cocoa was estimated to be 77.7, 83.4 and 45.4 respectively. The result called for the use of calibration of the plots and choice of appropriate concomitant variables for the reduction of experimental error in designing experiments on perennial crops.