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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: Entomology × Author: Betty Varghese × End date: 2009 × Start date: 2002 × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Evaluation of newer insecticides against major pests of cowpea Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp and their effect on natural enemies
    (Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2003) Betty Varghese; KAU; Naseema Beevi, S
    The present study was undertaken to evaluate new insecticides against the major pests of cowpea in the laboratory, to study the effect of promising chemicals on the natural enemies and to assess their bioefficacy in the field. The insecticides selected were imidacloprid (0.025%), acetamiprid (0.002%), diafenthiuron (0.05%), fenazaquin (0.05%), profenofos (0.05%), triazophos (0.05%), chlorpyrifos (0.05%) and acephate (0.05%). Malathion (0.1 %) was used as the check. The pea aphid (Aphis craccivora Koch.), the leaf caterpillar (Spodoptera litura (FB.), the pod bug (Riptortus pedestris Fb.), the spotted-pod-borer (Maruca vitrata (Fabricius) and the pod caterpillar (Lampides boeticus Linn.) were the pests selected for laboratory studies. Cowpea plants were sprayed with insecticides and the test insects of uniform stage were released on the sprayed plant parts cut at different intervals. Chlorpyrifos, profenofos, triazophos, acetamiprid, imidacloprid and acephate proved effective against the pea aphids. Chlorpyrifos, profenofos and triazophos gave higher mortality of S. litura. The chemicals found superior against the pod bug, R pedestris were chI orpyri fos, acephate, profenofos and imidacloprid. Against M vitrata, chlorpyrifos, acetamiprid, triazophos, acephate and profenofos gave higher mortality. The insecticides that were superior against L. boeticus in the laboratory were chlorpyrifos, acetamiprid, triazophos, acephate and profenofos. The toxicity of promising insecticides on the predators (Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens), Menochilus sexmaculatus (Fb) and Coccinella transversalis Fab.) and parasitoids (Chrysocharis johnsoni Rao and Apanteles taragamae Vier) were studied following dry film technique. LC50 values were calculated following probit analysis. Chlorpyrifos and profenofos were more toxic to the larvae of chrysopid, C. camea and the coccinellids, M sexmaculatus and C. transversalis than triazophos, acephate, acetamiprid and imidacloprid. Chlorpyrifos, triazophos, profenofos and malathion were more toxic to the parasitoids, A. taragamae and C. johnsoni than to the chrysopid and coccinellid predators. The compatibility of insecticides with the entomopathogen Fusarium pallidoroseum (Cooke) Sacc. was studied following poisoned food technique. Among the chemicals found promising against aphids, acephate, acetamiprid and imidacloprid were compatible with the entornopathogen, F pallidoroseum. But profenofos completely inhibited the growth whereas chlorpyrifos and triazophos showed partial inhibition In the field experiment chlorpyrifos, profenofos, acetamiprid, imidacloprid, acephate and triazophos gave greater reduction in aphid poulation. Acetarniprid treated plots recorded more number of predators followed by imidacloprid indicating the safety of neonicotinoids than the other insecticides like chlorpyrifos, malathion, diafenthiuron, profenofos. triazophos and acephate. Insecticides found effective against pod borers under field condition were chlorpyrifos, acetamiprid, acephate and profenofos. Acephate, chlorpyrifos, imidacloprid, profenofos and acetarniprid were found effective against pod bugs in the field trial. Greater grain yield was obtained from plots treated with acephate, chlorpyrifos, acetamiprid, profenofos and imidacloprid. However the safety to these chemicals in terms of the persistence of residues in the pods may be further studied before making recommendation in IPM programme.