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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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1981 - 19892
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Subject: Agronomy × Author: Pushpakumari, R × End date: 1996 × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Comparative performance of soybean(Glycine max(L.) Merrill) varities
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1981) Pushpakumari, R; KAU; Vikraman, Nair R
    An experiment was conducted in the Instructional Farm attached to the College, of Hortuculture, Vellanikkara, during the period from June 1980 to January 1981 to select soybean varieties suitable for the agroclimatic conditions of Kerala. The experiment was laid out in randomised block design with 14 varieties and three replications. The study revealed that there was no significant varietal difference in the expression of all growth characters and most of the yield contributing factors at any of the growth stages in both the seasons. But significant varietal differences in seed yield and stover yield were observed in the two seasons. The results of the experiment revealed that the varieties Bragg, JN 2750 and EC 26691 are most promising for the south west monsoon season of Kerala. The variety Monetta gave the highest protein content of 36 per cent and Bragg, Ankur and Improved Pelican respectively recorded the highest protein yield, oil content and oil yield in the south west monsoon season. The study further revealed that soybean cannot be successfully grown during north east monsoon season of Kerala without irrigation.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Fertilizer management of minor tuber crops in coconut based cropping system
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1989) Pushpakumari, R; KAU; Sasidhar, V K
    An investigation was carried out to evolve the fertilizer management practices of minor tuber crops in coconut based cropping systems during the years 1985-86 and 1986-87. This investigation was carried out as two experiments. In experiment I, screening of minor tuber crops under varying intensities of shade was done adopting a split plot design with 4 replications. In experiment II the fertilizer management of minor tuber crops in coconut based cropping system was studied. The experiment II was conducted in randomised block design with 3 replications. While experiment I was taken up at the Instructional Farm, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, experiment II was conducted at Coconut Research Station, Balaramapuram. Shade had significant influence on the length of vine/height of plant, LAI, NAR, CGR, dry matter production chlorophyll content of leaves, starch and protein content of tubers and yield of tuber of greater yam, lesser yam, tannia and elephant footyam. With increase in shade intensity, the yield declined proportionately in greater yam and elephant footyam reocrding highest yield under open condition. The tuber yield of lesser yam under open and 25 per cent shade levels were statistically on par, beyond which a drastic reduction in yield was observed with increase in shade intensity. Tannia recorded highest yields under 25 per cent shade, with an almost equal yield under 50 per cent shade. Fertilizer levels did not significantly influence the growth and yield characters of lesser yam, elephant footyam and tannia. But for greater yam there was significant increase in plant height in the first year and tuber yield in the second year with increase in fertilizer level. Greater yam responded linearly to fertilizer levels recording maximum yield with full recommended dose of fertilizer, although the variation was significant only in the second year. Lesser yam had maximum yield at medium fertilizer level and elephant footyam at lowest level, though not significant. The general performance of tannia was very poor. The economics worked out for the fertilizer management practices of greater yam, lesser yam, tannia and elephant footyam revealed that among the four crops tried, elephant footyam gave the maximum net profit followed by greater yam and lesser yam. However, tannia resulted in a loss.