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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Open Access
Development of a suitable model for ascertaining the growth and egg production in quails
(Department of Agricultural Statistics, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1991) John Thomas, M; KAU; George, K C
An investigation was carried out into the growth and egg production aspect of Japanese quails at the Kerala Agricultural University Poultry Farm, Mannuthy on 1st February, 1989 with the following objectives. 1. to find a suitable relationship between age and body weight. 2. to investigate the" trend of egg production in quails through suitable mathematical models. ,3. to study the impact of climate parameters (temperature, ; , humidity) on egg production in quails. The birds were reared under uniform feed formula and ^identical management practices (recommended by Kerala Agricul tural University Package of Practices). The investigation mainly depended on' data consisting of weekly body weights of -ii^-dividual birds, daily egg production of birds (beginning from age at sexual maturity) and daily climatological para meters (temperature and humidity) from beginning till the end of experiment of 30th September, 1989. Mathematical models such as linear, quadratic, exponential, .Von-Bertalanffy, modified exponential, logistic and Gompertz were fitted for the purpose using body weights of ) individual birds as well as average body weights over twelve weeks and the fitted models were compared using coefficient of 2 determination (r ) and standard error of estimate(s). Mathematical models such as linear, exponentialf parabolic exponential, inverse polynomial. Gamma function. Gamma-type functic^n, quadratic function, quadratic function in logari'thmic scale, quadratic-cum-log, emperical and linear hyperbolic functions were fitted for the development of suitable models for ascertaining egg production using total weekly, fortnightly egg production, hen housed and hen day egg production and fitted models were compared using Furnival index, r^ and s. Multiple linear regression equation was fitted using average weekly egg production per bird as dependent variable and weekly temperature and humidity as explanatory variable to study the impact of climatological parameters on egg production in quails. The investigation has the following, salient features. (i) The hatching weight of Japanese quails were 7.1369 g. (ii) The females weighed more than the males during the entire period of experiment and the body weights have shown an increasing trend. At the end of 12th week the average body weights of males and females were 157.6552 g and 179.2500 g respectively. (iii) Rao's method justified that initial body weights • had no significant effect on growth rate. • (iv) Gompertz curve = a exp [-b exp(-kt)'] was most , suitable for , ascertaining growth in quails on individual basis as well as on the basis of • average body weights over twelve weeks. (v) Average age at sexual maturity (females) was found to be approximately 10 weeks and on an average the eggs weighed 12.20 g. (vi) Quadratic function in logarithmic scale ; = a f b(logJ^) + c(log^)^ was most suitable , for ascertaining egg production in quails (weekly, , fortnightly, hen housed and hen day production • basis). (vii) Climatic parameters had significant impact on egg production in quails.
Open Access
Study of genetic correlations under full -SIB mating system (Two loci case)
(Department of Statistics, College of veterinary and animal sciences Mannuthy, Thrissur, 1985) Khin Moe Moe; KAU; George, K C
A purely theoretical investigation entitled ,JA Study of Genetic Correlations under Fu ll-s ib Mating System (two lo c i case)*1 was carried out with the following objectives, i ) to derive the joint distribution (correlation table) and to find the correlation between fu ll -s ib pairs under fu l l -s ib mating system in the case of two lo c i when there i s no linkage as well as when there i s complete linkage. l i ) to derive the joint distribution (correlation table) and to find the correlation between parent-offspring pair© under fu l l -s ib mating system in the case of two loci when there is no linkage as well as when there is complete linkage, i i i ) to derive the joint distribution (correlation table) and to find the correlation between fu l l -s ib pairs under paront-offspring mating system in the case of two lo c i when there is no linkage as well as when there is complete linkage, iv) to derive the joint distribution (correlation table) and to find the correlation between parent-offspring pairs under parent-offspring mating system in the case of two lo c i when there is no linkage as well as when there is complete linkage. 2 Th© joint distributions of fu ll -s ib pairs and parent- ©Ffspring pairs undor fu ll-s ib gating system wore derived with the help of generation matrix technique and th© correlations wore worked out therefrom, assuming additive genie e ffec ts and using the product-momeni correlation coefficient formula. The correlations were worked out for tho f i r s t ten generations of fu ll -s ib mating in both cases of no linkage and complete linkage, & comparative study of fu ll -s ib correlations and parent-offspring correlationsf conducted both numerically and graphically, revealed that £i) evonthough fu ll -s ib correlation was greater than parent-offspring correlation in in i t ia l generation (random mating) when there was complete linkage, the la tte r increased more rapidly than the former from in it ia l generation to f ir s t generation and ( i i ) from the second generation onwards, the rate of increase in both o f correlations were nearly the same upto tenth generation. I t was interesting to note that the parent-offspring correlations wore of comparatively higher order than th© fu ll-s ib correlations in both cases of complete linkage and no linkage. Similarly, th© joint distributions (correlation tables) for fu ll-s ib pairs and parent-offspring pairs under parentoffspring mating system were derived employing generation matrix approach and the correlations for the f i r s t ten 3 generations of parent—offspring mating in both cases of no linkage and complete linkage were worked out therefrom. A comparative study of those correlations was carried out both numerically and graphically. It was found that the trend in both correlation curves remain the same, but the value of parent-offspring correlation was always greater than that of full-sib correlation in case of no linkage as well as in caso of complete linkage. In comparison of all these correlations, it was found that the correlations increased as the number of generation increased and ultimately reached the limit unity when the number of generations increased indefinitely large. It was also observed that the magnitude of correlation in case of complete linkage was more than that of correlation In case of no linkage even under the same system of mating*
Open Access
Study of Genetic Diversity in Desert and Culinary Types of Banana Varieties
(Department of Statistics,College of Veterinary,Mannuthy, 1981) Mercey, K A; KAU; George, K C
The data taken from the Bana Research Station, Kannara for 30 culinary varieties for 13 morphological characters and 56 dessert varieties for 12 morphological characters were the base material for this study. Genetic divergences in the varieties were studied using D2-statistic and canonical analysis. The varieties were grouped into clusters by using Tooher’s minimum generalized distance concept. The same clustering pattern was obtained through canonical analysis. In the case of culinary varieties 12 clusters were formed consisting 11 varieties in the first cluster 5 each in second and third and the others were single variety clusters. Whereas the dessert varieties were grouped into 7 clusters 13 varieties in the first cluster 17 in the second cluster, 20 in the third, 2 each in the fourth and fifth and the last two were single variety clusters. The intra and inter cluster distance were diagrammatically represented in a two dimensional space. The scatter diagram showing the mean values of the canonical variates in order to have an idea of the appropriateness of the clustering pattern were also formed in both the type of varieties. In the case of culinary varieties the character bunch weight and in the case of dessert varieties the character finger length was contributing maximum towards divergence. The character girth was contributing minimum towards divergence in both the cases.
Open Access
Designs balanced for residual effects
(Department of Statistics, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1984) Sathianandan, T V; KAU; George, K C
The usual problem in long term experiments is that due to residual effects of treatments. The effect of a treatment that persists for a period after the application of the treatment is referred to as residual effect of that treatment. In the present study an attempt is made to construct designs which will balance for first order residual effects to suit the above mentioned situations. By definition a design is said to be balanced if every treatment follows every other treatment equally frequently. We have established three different methods of construction of such type of designs. The first method of construction is by using cyclic latin squares as in the line of Amble (1977) and we have shown that such an arrangement is balanced for first order residual effects. The second method of construction is based on the set of (v-1) orthogonal latin squares of order v in the case of v treatments. A third method of construction of designs balanced for first order residual effects is also given. This is based on the procedure given by Nair (1967) for the construction of designs balanced for pairs of residual effects. A general intuitive method of analysis is also given.
Open Access
Influence of weather parameters on yield of coconut
(Department of Statistics, College of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1985) Pankajakshan Nair, B; KAU; Gopinathan Unnithan, V K
Influence of eighteen climatic factors for a period ranging from 10-45 months before harvest of coconut, were studied on monthly and annual coconut yield. Monthly climatic factors showed a seasonal relationship with monthly yield changing sign alternatively. Month-wise and season-wise climate and their influence on monthly and annual yield was also studied. The influence of climatic factors were more in evidence during pre and post monsoon seasons. RH, SSH and EV are frequently showed significant relationship with monthly yield than the rest. Seasonal grouping of climate showed stronger relationship on annual yield than month-wise climate. May, September, October and December months of yester years showed explicit association with annual yield.
Open Access
Clustering genotypes based on G x E interaction in the absence of homogenecity of error variances
(Department of Agricultural Statistics, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1992) Chandrika, C; KAU; Gopinathan Unnithan, V K
A distance function between every pair of genotypes which measures the genotype-environment interaction in the case of heterogeneity of error variances in different environments was derived herein. A dissimilarity index for any set of genotypes which also measures the within group genotype-environment interaction sum of squares in terms of the pairwise distance function was also derived. Two methods of clustering, viz., statistical clustering and clustering by minimisation of average within cluster genotype-environment interaction making use of the proposed dissimilarity index were also proposed. Statistical clustering helps to group the genotypes such that genotype-environment interaction within any group is insignificant while any addition to the cluster makes it significant. In other words the idea of statistical clustering is to identify genotypes having similar response to varying environments. A point to be noted is that all the groups formed by statistical clustering may not be non overlapping. The other procedure helps to form optimum clustering by minimising the average within cluster genotype-environment interaction using an. iterative relocation algorithm. These clustering procedures were illustraited making use of two sets of data.
Open Access
Comparative study of lactation curves in goats
(Department of Agricultural Statistics, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1991) Anita, S; KAU; George, K C
Based on the weekly milk yield data of 20 weeks duration over different parities of the seven yenetic groups viz. Alpine Malabari, Malabari, Saanen Malabari, F2A , F2S, F3A and F3S maintained at the KAU, Goat Farm during the period 1976-'87, the following objectives were investigated. 1. To fit various lactation curve models in different breeds of goats and to select the most suitable one 2. To suggest a procedure for predicting complete lactation yield using various part lactation yields, 3. To study the effect of genetic and non-genetic factors on milk production traits. 4. To compare the persistency of milk yield among the selected breeds. On the basis of the criterions I, r and s eleven types of fitted lactation curves were compared. Among the curves compared the quadratic-cum-log and linear hyperbolic functions were selected as the best two curves for the genetic groups,Alpine Malabari, Malabari, F2A, F2S, F^A while for genetic groups Saanen Malabari and F^S the linear hyperbolic and quadratic log scale functions were the best two selected curves. As the linear hyperbolic function was found to be suited for all breeds under study it was selected as the best fitted curve for goats. Taking various cumulative part records of 4, 8 and12 weeks the linear hyperbolic function was then fitted to the parity-wise and pooled data of the seven genetic groups. It revealed that efficiency of over 98 per cent was achieved for all the part records though the efficiency increases with each added part record and hence this function could be selected as a prediction equation for the prediction of total yield from part record. Based on the ANOVA obtained by a two way classified non orthogonal data analysis the breed, order of lactation and their interaction were found to have significant influence on average yield. Among the breeds Saanen Malabari and among the parities fourth parity were found to be significantly different from the others and have the highest average weekly yield. Among the four methods used for comparing the seven genetic groups by calculating the persistency index, three methods (except method II) gave Saanen Malabari as the highest persistent one. By method II the highest index was attained by F^S followed by Saanen Malabari. Since Saanen Malabari gave the highest yield for pooled and individual parity data it was selected as the most persistent and high yielding breed.
Open Access
Pooled analysis of dependent sets of data
(Department of Agricultural Statistics, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1991) Sukumaran, K; KAU; Gopinathan Unnithan, V K
A new methodology for the analysis of data generated from experiments in which observations constitute repeated measurements from the same experimental unit at different points of time was developed. The problem of dependence of error terms in successive observations was taken care of in the model for analysis itself. The model included regression of error terms on those in the yester years/seasons. The error mean square from this model was derived using principle of least squares. The proposed method was compared with the widely adopted split-plot analysis and its superiority discussed. The method was illustrated using data generated from an experiment conducted to compare three varieties of alfalfa laid out in RBD with six replications and observations taken in four consecutive seasons. The superiority of the new method over the split-plot analysis was evident in the example considered.
Open Access
Development of a suitable model for ascertaining the growth and egg production in quails
(Department of Agricultural Statistics, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1991) John Thomas, M; KAU; George, K C
An investigation was carried out into the growth and egg production aspect of Japanese quails at the Kerala Agricultural University Poultry Farm, Mannuthy on 1st February, 1989 with the following objectives. 1. t.o find a suitable relationship between age and body weight. 2. to investigate the trend of egg production i n quails through suitable mathematical models. 3. to study the impact of climate parameters (temperature, humidity) on egg production in quails The birds were reared under uniform feed formula and I identical management practices (recommended by Kerala Agricultural University Package ;of Practices). The investigation mainly depended on data consisting of weekly body weights of individual birds, daily egg production of birds (beginning from age at sexual maturity) and daily climatological parameters (temperature and humidity) from beginning till the end of experiment of 30th September, 1989. Mathematical models such as linear, quadratic, exponential, Von-Bertalanffy, modified exponential, logistic and Gompertz were fitted for the purpose using body weights of individual birds as well as average body weights over twelve weeks and the fitted models were compared using coefficient of determination (r^) and standard error of estimate(s). Mathematical models such as linear, exponential, parabolic exponential, inverse polynomial, Gamma function, Gamma-type functicn, quadratic function, quadratic function in logarithmic scale, quadratic-cum-log, emperical and linear hyperbolic functions were fitted for the development of suitable models for ascertaining egg production using total weekly, fortnightly egg production, hen housed and hen day egg production and fitted models were compared using Furnival . 2 index, r and s. Multiple linear regression equation was fitted using average weekly egg production per bird as dependent variable and weekly temperature and humidity as explanatory variable to study the impact of diimatological parameters on egg production in quails.

Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur

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