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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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ThesisItem Open Access Production potential of cereal fodder crops under various tillage practices in rice fallows.(Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2011) Gintu, George; KAU; Prameela, PIn order to test the feasibility of raising cereal fodders in rice fallows under various tillage systems an experiment entitled “Production potential of cereal fodder crops under various tillage practices in rice fallows” was conducted at the Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, Thrissur, Kerala. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with four replications during the period from November 2009 to February 2010. The main plots had tillage practices as treatments which included zero tillage with and without herbicide application (M1 and M2), minimum tillage (M3) and normal tillage (M4). The subplots had three treatments, viz., fodder cereals; maize (S1), sorghum (S2) and bajra (S3). Analysis of data on herbage yield of the three fodders under different tillage practices showed that the herbicide based zero tillage, minimum tillage and normal tillage practices resulted in comparable yields (20.72, 18.72 and 18.08 t/ha). Zero tillage without herbicide application resulted in significantly lower yield (11.69 t/ha). Growth parameters like plant height, leaf area index, leaf stem ratio, shoot root ratio etc. recorded at various growth stages also showed the favourable influence of minimum and herbicide based zero tillage on plant growth. Among the cereal fodders, maize recorded significantly higher yield of 20.19 t/ha followed by sorghum with 15.91 t/ha and bajra with 15.81 t/ha. Considering tillage practices and crops together, the highest B: C ratio of 3.31 was realized when maize was grown under herbicide based zero tillage closely followed by maize under minimum tillage with a B: C ratio of 3.24. Of the other two crops, bajra was found to be more profitable than sorghum. Like maize, herbicide based zero tillage resulted in a higher B: C ratio (3.0) for bajra than other tillage treatments. The yield reduction in zero tillage without herbicide application was mainly due to weeds. A study of weed spectrum showed that dicots were the major weed flora followed by grasses and sedges. The weed population and weed dry matter production were the highest in zero tillage without herbicide application followed by minimum and herbicide based tillage and the least was in normal tillage. Weed dry matter production in zero tilled without herbicide plot was 1545 kg/ha compared to a much lower dry matter accumulation of 193 kg/ha in normal tillage plot. The silage made from all the three cereal fodders was found to be of good quality with golden yellow colour, pleasant smell and a pH ranging from 3.8 to 4.2. In silage prepared without the addition of molasses, pH was found to be slightly higher (4.2) compared to silage prepared with molasses as additive (3.9). The study revealed that fodder maize under herbicide based zero tillage was the best with regard to yield and B: C ratio. However, for a herbicide free production system, maize grown under minimum tillage is preferred due to its equally good performance.ThesisItem Open Access Production protocol for organic tomato : (lycopersicon esculentum mill.).(Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2011) Abijith, Kumar V P; KAU; Girija, Devi L (Guide)The research project entitled ‘Production protocol for organic tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.)’ was conducted at the Instructional Farm attached to the College of Agriculture, Vellayani during the year 2009-2010 to study the effects of organic nutrition and spacing and their interaction upon growth, yield, quality and nutrient uptake of tomato and to assess the residual effect of organic nutrition on the succeeding crop. The experiment was laid out in factorial randomized block design (RBD) with three replications. The treatments consisted of four levels of nutrients, N1 (full nitrogen substitution as organic), N2 (75% nitrogen only and as organic), N3 (50% nitrogen only and as organic) and N4 (Package of Practices Recommendations ‘Crops’: 2007 of Kerala Agricultural University) and three spacing viz., S1 (60 cm x 60 cm), S2 (60 cm x 45 cm) and S3 (60 cm x 30 cm). Before transplanting, the seedlings were given a root dip in Pseudomonas flourescens culture against bacterial wilt disease. The experiment was laid out as 4 x 3 factorial randomized block design (FRBD) with 3 replications. The number of treatments were 12 replication-1. Common treatments such as neem seed oil-garlic emulsion spray, pseudomonas spraying, trichoderma incorporation in the soil and uniform mulching at different intervals were also undertaken. From the results it was found that integrated supply of nutrients through FYM and chemical fertilizers gave the highest fruit yield in tomato. Among the different spacing, the widest spacing of 60 cm x 60 cm recorded the highest fruit yield plant-1. The interaction effects were significant with the highest yield in the combination where the individual effects of nutrient levels as well as spacing were significantly the highest, viz., N4S1. The fruit weight was also the highest in the same treatments and the crop duration the modest. The lowest fruit weight and the shortest duration of crop was observed in N3. The widest spaced plants produced the highest fruit weight and the combination involving POP recommendation and the widest spacing (N4S1) again produced the heaviest fruits. The fruit quality and appearance was also found the best in N1 and N4 when compared to other two levels. Spacing had no effect on the quality characters while the interaction between nutrient levels and spacing had significant effect on lycopene and TSS content with N1S1 giving the highest values for them. The dry weight of plants was found the highest in N1 and in the widest spacing (S1) and among the interaction the same combination produced the highest plant dry weight (N1S1). The nutrient uptake especially N and P was found the highest in N4 and K in N1. In closer planting the nutrient uptake was the highest consequent to the increase in population. The organic carbon and available nutrient status after the experiment was the highest in N1. The effect of nutrient levels and spacing were significant in benefit-cost ratio at the normal market price as well as the premium prices of the produce. The POP recommendation (N4) with an integrated nutrient approach with organic and inorganic sources fetched the highest B:C ratio. Similarly for planting distances, it was found that tomato cultivation become remunerative in terms of B:C ratio only when the plants were spaced at a closer distance than wider spacing. Inorder to study the residual effect of organic nutrition, a crop of amaranthus (Amaranthus tricolor) was raised after tomato and the biometric characters of the residual crop studied were influenced by nutrient levels with the highest values in N4 (control) and the lowest in N3. The marketable yield of amaranthus was also found the highest in N4 (control). Similarly the economics of amaranthus cultivation revealed the significance of N4 and S3 in producing the highest B:C ratio. The combination of N4 and S3 also recorded the highest B:C ratio in amaranthus. The uptake of nutrients especially N and K was found the highest in N4 and N1. Though spacing had no significant role in the uptake of nutrients, the combination of nutrient levels and spacing had significant influence and the highest uptake was observed in N4S3. The combined B:C ratio of tomato-amaranthus sequence was determined at the premium price of tomato plus the market price of amaranthus by assuming a 20 % hike for the organic produce in the market. The effect of nutrient levels and spacing were significant with N4 giving the highest B:C ratio and N3 the lowest. The closely spaced plants (S3) recorded the highest B:C ratio and the widest spaced plants (S1), the lowest. The interaction effect was significant with the highest B:C ratio in N4S3 and the lowest in N3S1. Among the organic treatments N1 was found the best with a combined B:C ratio of 1.38 followed by N2 (1.00) and the lowest in N3 (0.78). Among the organic combination with spacing it was in N1S3 the highest B:C ratio found (1.42) followed by N1S2 (1.36) and N1S1 (1.35).ThesisItem Open Access Production technology for organic sweet potato(Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2011) Dhanya, T; KAU; Pushpakumari, RKerala the ‘Land of coconut’ occupies first position in area and production of coconut in India but the productivity is below the national average. This is because of unproductive and senile palms, lack of adaptation of recommended cultivation practises and serious incidence of pests and diseases. The root (wilt), an endemic disease of Kerala causes an annual loss of 968 million nuts. Recently another type of yellowing characterised by mid whorl yellowing shedding of immature nuts and drying of inflorescence without showing characteristic ribbing symptom is rapidly spreading in many parts of Kerala. There is no research report available in this emerging problem in the coconut growing tracts of Kerala. Since there is rampant spreading of yellowing to other coconut cultivated areas causing a serious reduction in nut yield, this problem demands immediate attention. Hence an experiment was conducted in the Department of Plant Physiology, College of Agriculture, Vellyani to generate the basic information on the causative agents and on the changes of physiological, molecular and anatomical realms of coconut affected by mid whorl yellowing A wide variation was observed in the physiological parameters like total pigments, relative water content, carbohydrate fractions, proteins, phenols and antioxidants betweenpalms with yellowing and control palms. The palms with yellowing showed a significant reduction in the total chlorophyll, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoid content when compared to the healthy palm. Relative water content was lower for all the palms with yellowing compared to the control palm and the healthy palms were maintaining a better water status and membrane integrity. All the selected palms with yellowing recorded an accumulation of reducing sugars compared to the healthy palms. The trend was similar for starch content except for palms with general yellowing. The control palms recorded maximum protein content compared to other palms with yellowing. A significant increase in the phenolic compounds was observed in palms with yellowing compared to the healthy palms. This results point to an activated defense system. The 14th leaf starting from the first fully opened one is the most widely used leaf for nutrient analysis as recommended by the IRHO. (Fremond et al., 1966).The 14th leaf data from the control palms and palms with different types of yellowing were analysed. The data showed that there were significant reductions in the levels of major nutrient nitrogen, phosphorus and also in the levels of magnesium and the micronutrient manganese in case of palms showing mid whorl yellowing compared to the control palm. But significantly higher levels of accumulation were found in case of potassium, calcium, iron and copper. These variations in the nutrient levels can have an influence on symptom development in coconut palms. The maximum yield was recorded for the control palm. Chlorophyll degradation and loss of structural integrity were evident from the anatomical studies of leaf tissues in case of palms with yellowing. Vascular browning which extended to the cortex and the vascular disintegration in the roots of affected palms were seen on anatomical analyses. A pure quality DNA was obtained by modified CTAB DNA isolation protocol. Molecular analyses using nested PCR showed that with the phytoplasma specific universal primers P1/P7-R16F2n/R16R2 provided an amplicon ) in the positive control and palms with inner and middle whorl yellowing and the primers R16mF2 /R16mR1 -R16F2n/ R16R2 provided an amplicon for the positive control and palms with inner, middle and general yellowing. The root (wilt) phytoplasma specific semi- nested primers IF7/7R3- IF7/7R2 provided an amplicon of 493 bp only for the positive control and no amplification was seen in any of the selected palms. The control palm and the palms affected with outer whorl yellowing provided no amplification at all for any of the primers tested. Amplification of phytoplasma specific universal primers in palms with mid whorl yellowing indicates that phytoplasma has got a role in development of the specific symptom. This demands immediate attention and extensive studies on the etiology, changes in biochemical profile, anatomy etc. Salient Findings Amplification of phytoplasma specific universal primers in palms with mid whorl yellowing indicates that phytoplasma has got a role in development of the mid whorl yellowing symptom. But in case of the root (wilt) phytoplasma specific primers, there was no amplification in palms with mid whorl yellowing. This suggests that the mid whorl yellowing of coconut palm which is an emerging problem in Kerala may not be associated with the root (wilt) disease. The results of biochemical and physiological analyses of the selected palms clearly indicate an altered primary metabolism, source-sink relation and a complexity in the nutriophysiology. These altered conditions can act as predisposing factors for the development of specific symptoms. The anatomical analyses showed damages of roots in the palms with mid whorl yellowing. They will have internal browning of vascular elements, extending into the cortex and also disintegration of vascular elements. Future line of work Detailed analysis of nutriophysiology, source-sink relation and hormonal profile. Studies on soil factors like nutrient level and water status. Extension of anatomical studies to different type of tissues. Extension of molecular studies into identification of specific phytoplasmal strains associated with mid whorl yellowing of coconut palms. Development of management strategy for the improvement of the field performance and productivity of coconut palms with mid whorl yellowing.ThesisItem Open Access Rhizosphere management for enhancing root productivity and oil yield in vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides (L.) Nash.(Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2011) Shimi, G J; KAU; Anilkumar, A SVetiver is the only grass cultivated specifically for its root essential oil, a complex mixture of sesquiterpene alcohols and hydrocarbons, used extensively in perfumery and cosmetics. The World Bank has promoted the Vetiver System since the 1980s for various applications such as soil erosion and sediment control, water conservation, landslip and riverbank stabilization and recently for pollution control. However, cost effective techniques for increasing root production in the humid tropics are lacking. The present investigation was carried out at the College of Agriculture, Vellayani to study the effect of planting methods, subsurface drip fertigation and combined application of bioinoculants on root and oil yield in vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides). The technical programme consisted of combinations of three planting methods, viz, P1 – Planting in coconut husk mulched trenches, P2 – Planting in coconut husk lined trenches and P3 – Planting on the ridges, two levels of fertigation, viz, F1 – Subsurface drip fertigation and F2 - No fertigation; and two bioinoculants, viz, B1 - Application of bioinoculants and B2 - No bioinoculants. The trial in Factorial RBD was conducted during 2010-11. Planting methods, fertigation levels and application of bioinoculants influenced various growth characters of vetiver, viz., plant height, number of leaves and tiller production at various stages of growth. In general, planting in coconut husk lined trenches resulted in better performance. Installation of sub surface drip fertigation system and application of bioinoculants also encouraged vegetative growth. The effect of the above treatments on number, length, spread, volume and weight of vetiver roots were found to be remarkable at certain stages of growth. In general, planting in coconut husk lined trenches was found to improve all the root parameters studied when compared to ridge planting. The effect of bioinoculant application was also conspicuous in improving root growth compared to control (no inoculation). Planting vetiver slips treated with bioinoculants in coconut husk lined trenches under sub surface drip fertigation 111 system provided a favourable situation for root elongation during the early phase of crop establishment. Planting methods, fertigation levels and application of bioinoculants had no significant effect on any of the physiological parameters, viz, canopy temperature, relative leaf water content and osmotic potential studied. Significant influence of planting methods on chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll were observed. Planting on ridges (P3) which was on par with planting in coconut husk lined trenches (P2) showed significantly higher contents of chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll. Leaf dry matter production at all stages and root dry matter at certain stages were found to be significantly influenced by the main effects of treatments. Similar to biometric characters, leaf and root dry matter production were found highest when vetiver was planted in coconut husk lined trenches. Sub surface drip fertigation had a positive and significant effect in enhancing leaf and root dry matter production. The effect of bioinoculants was also positive and significant in improving the above parameters when compared to control. Among the different planting methods, planting in coconut husk lined trenches registered the highest value of soil moisture content before irrigation which was closely followed by planting in coconut husk mulched trenches. The effect of sub surface drip fertigation in influencing soil moisture content before and after irrigation was remarkable. However, application of bioinoculants was not found to significantly influence soil moisture contents. Planting in coconut husk lined trenches (P2), installation of sub surface fertigation system and application of bioinoculants enhanced root and oil yield. Economic analysis of the system also proved the superiority of planting vetiver in coconut husk lined trenches (P2), installation of sub surface drip fertigation system and application of bioinoculants in improving gross and net income. APPENDThesisItem Open Access Management of greater club rush (scirpus grossus L.f) in wetland rice ecosystem(Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2011) Sreethu, G S; KAU; Sansamma, GeorgeAn investigation entitled“ Management of greater club rush (Scirpus grossus L.f) in wetland rice ecosystem’’was undertaken in a wetland rice ecosystem heavily infested with the weed. The study was taken up during February 2010 to January 2011. The main objectives of the experiment were to develop a management strategy for recovering the wetland rice ecosystem invaded by greater club rush, economical analysis of rice cultivation in the land recovered from the invaded weed and study of the weed biology. Laboratory studies conducted at College of Agriculture, Vellayani, were also included to achieve the objectives envisaged. The field experiment on weed management (part I) was laid out in Randomised Block Design with nine treatments and three replications. The treatments included farmer’s practice of tillage, application of lime at two different doses after tillage and application of glyphosate and 2, 4 – D alone and in combination on weed re-growth with and without tillage. Before applying the treatments, the thick growing weed was given an initial mowing. The laboratory studies were done to analyse the herbicide residue in the treated plots and to study the effect of the applied herbicides on the soil microbial population. The treatment adjudged as the most efficient was verified further in a larger plot, by comparing it with the farmer’s practice of weed management to study the economics of rice cultivation in the land recovered from the invasive weed (part II). The biology of greater club rush was also studied simultaneously (part III). The results of the weed management study indicated that all the herbicidal treatments were significantly superior to farmer’s practice of tillage in reducing the weed dry weight. Weed control efficiency was found to be 100 percent throughout the study, when the thick infestation was mowed once and treated with a combination of (glyphosate @1kg ai ha-1 + 2,4-D @ 2 kg ai ha-1) Tillage + glyphosate @1kg ai ha-1 + 2,4-D @ 2 kg ai ha-1 was also effective in controlling the weed, but fragments of root system was found remaining in the soil even after nine months; as a possible source of reinfestation. However, application of lime as a means of controlling greater club rush was found to have no effect on the weed growth. Considering all factors, T7 (glyphosate @1kg ai ha-1 + 2,4-D @ 2 kg ai ha-1) was adjudged as the best treatment for testing further in the farmer’s field (part II ). There was substantial increase in the floristic diversity after the experiment in herbicide treated fields which were completely cleared of greater club rush within 45 days of herbicide application. The residue analysis of the soil collected on the next day of herbicide application revealed that the residue was below detectable limit in the case of both 2, 4 – D and glyphosate, alone as well as in combination. The results on soil microbial population indicated that the soil treated with any of the herbicides had a much higher microbial population than the untreated plots. The cost worked out for the management of the thick infestation of greater club rush was prohibitively high in all the treatments. Economic analysis of rice cultivation in the land recovered from the invasive weed indicated that the grain and straw yield in the treated plot was substantially higher than that from the non treated plots. When the economics was worked out inclusive of the cost of land recovery through eradication of greater club rush, the net profit from rice cultivation was not very high. But the important indication was that the farmers suffered great loss when they followed the present practice of mowing followed by tillage. The observations on the weed biology indicated that in greater club rush, propagation was exclusively through vegetative means. The nutrient composition of the weed was comparable to that of rice plant. Due to its very high biomass production, the nutrient uptake of greater club rush was much higher than that of rice crop.