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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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20111
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Subject: Agriculture × Author: Malu, K × End date: 2011 × Start date: 2010 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Performance analysis of tropical cabbage (brassica oleracea var capitata L.) hybrids under open and protected conditions
    (College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2011) Malu, K; KAU; Indira, P
    The present study entitled “Performance analysis of tropical cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var capitata) hybrids under open and protected conditions.” was undertaken in the Department of Olericulture, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during 2010- 2011. The objectives of the study were to identify an ideal hybrid of tropical cabbage for plains and also to study the feasibility of cabbage cultivation in protected and open field conditions during on and off- seasons. The experiment was laid out in a Randomised Block Design with four replications. Four F1 hybrids namely NS 183, NS 43, NS 35 (Namdhari Seeds Pvt. Ltd.) and Disha (Seminis India Ltd.) were used for the study during off- season (July- Oct) and on- season (Oct- Jan). Protected condition was provided using a rain shelter of 100m2 floor area. Observations on growth and yield attributes were recorded during the course of investigation. The daily weather parameters recorded inside and outside the polyhouse were used to compute the crop weather relationship Non wrapping leaves were less inside polyhouse during both seasons. During off- season maximum plant spread was observed inside the rain shelter for the hybrid NS 43 (48.20cm) which was on par with the other varieties and during on- season, inside the rain shelter plant spread was more in NS 35 (65.41cm) which was on par with NS 43 (61.91cm). NS 35 recorded maximum plant spread in open field (67.66cm) followed by NS 43 (59.25cm). NS 43 was the earliest to achieve 50% head formation during both seasons and growing conditions. It also recorded 50% maturity during both seasons inside polyhouse. During on- season, NS 183 was to mature early in open field. During off- season fifty percent head formation was not observed in open field in any of the hybrids. Net head weight was maximum for NS 43 inside polyhouse (off- season) and during on- season it was maximum for NS 35 under both growing conditions. Head shape of all the hybrids except NS 43 was found to be conical during off- season inside rain shelter. But NS 43 formed drum head shaped heads. NS 183, NS 35 and Disha formed round shaped heads under both growing conditions while NS 43 formed drum head shaped heads during on- season. During off- season, inside the rain shelter maximum head length was observed for the hybrid Disha (14.26cm) and it was on par with NS 183 (13.93cm).Disha recorded maximum head length inside the rain shelter during on- season also (16.25cm) and it was on par with NS 183 (15.91cm) and NS 35 (15.54cm). Core length inside the rain shelter during on- season was minimum for NS 43 (7.87cm) and it was on par with NS 183 (8.79cm) and NS 35 (7.87cm). During off- season, inside the rain shelter harvest index was found to be maximum for NS 43 (67.70) which was on par with NS 183 (60.46). Pest and disease incidence was more in open field crop during both seasons. The daily weather parameters recorded inside and outside the polyhouse were used to compute the crop weather relationship. There was significant correlation between the weather parameters and characters like days to fifty percent head formation and days to fifty percent head maturity. Benefit –cost ratio was maximum for open field crop (2.66) during on- season. It can be concluded that NS 43 is ideal for protected cultivation during off- season, while NS 35 is suitable for on- season cultivation under both growing conditions. Further, off- season cultivation of cabbage in rain shelter offer much scope for self employment generation for the unemployed youth.