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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: Floriculture and Landscaping × Author: Anaswara, S J × Author: KAU × End date: 2019 × Start date: 2010 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Nutrient management in gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii Bolus.) grown under naturally ventilated polyhouse
    (Department of Pomology and Floriculture, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2018) Anaswara, S J; KAU; Sheela, V L
    The thesis work entitled “Nutrient management in gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii Bolus.) grown under naturally ventilated poly house” was carried out at the Department of Pomology and Floriculture, College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 2016-2018. The study was to assess the performance of five gerbera varieties to different doses of fertilizers with a view to find out the best fertilizer dose for each variety. This study also aimed for the standardization of nutrient management schedule for Gerbera jamesoniiBolus. Five varieties were selected for the study (V1- Beaudine, V2- Double date, V3- Mammut, V4- Esmara, V5- Aquamelon). Different nutrient treatments (N1- 10:10:10 N, P2O5, K2O g m-2, N2- 15:15:15 N, P2O5, K2O g m-2, N3- 20:20:20 N, P2O5, K2O g m-2) were applied to the varieties at monthly and fortnightly interval. The experiment was laid out in completely randomised design consisting of thirty treatment combinations and three replications. The study revealed that variety Beaudine was significantly superior in terms of vegetative parameters viz., plant spread (156.19cm) at 4 MAP, number of leaves (13.31) at 8 MAP and leaf length (37.09cm) at 4MAP. Variety Mammut was significantly superior in leaf breadth (11.03cm) at 10 MAP and number of suckers plantˉ1(2.59) at 6 MAP. The nutrient treatment 10:10:10 N, P2O5, K2O g mˉ2 produced significantly higher plant spread (171.29cm) at 10 MAP, number of leaves (12.54) at 6 MAP, leaf length (34.04cm) at 4 MAP, leaf breadth (12.35cm) at 4 MAP and number of suckers plant-1 (2.97) at 6 MAP. The level of split application of nutrients s1 showed significantly superior values for plant spread (148.86cm) at 4 MAP, number of leaves (10.95) at 8MAP, leaf length (31.67cm) at 4 MAP, leaf breadth (10.79cm) at 4MAP and number of suckers plantˉ1 (2.42) at 6MAP. The variety Esmara when treated with 10:10:10 N, P2O5, K2O g mˉ2 at monthly interval of split application of nutrients recorded significantly highest value for plant spread (183.38cm) at 10 MAP. Variety Beaudine treated with 10:10:10 N, P2O5, K2O g mˉ2 (1.6: 1.6: 1.6 N, P2O5, K2O g plantˉ1)at monthly interval of split application of nutrients recorded significantly higher values for number of leaves (15.23) at 6MAP and leaf length (46cm) at 4 MAP. Variety Mammut treated with 10:10:10 N, P2O5, K2O g mˉ2 split application of nutrients at monthly intervals recorded significantly higher values for leaf breadth (15.74cm) at 4 MAP and number of suckers plantˉ1 (3.89) at 6 MAP. Regarding the flowering characters, Variety Esmara treated with 10:10:10 N, P2O5, K2O g mˉ2 of split application of nutrients at monthly intervals recorded the lowest value for number of days taken for flowering (17) and variety Double date treated with 15:15:15 N, P2O5, K2O g mˉ2 at fortnightly interval of split application of nutrients recorded lowest value for number of days taken from bud initiation to harvest (7.9) and there was no significant difference on flower longevity on the plant. In flower characters, Mammut variety supplied with a combination of 10:10:10 N, P2O5, K2O g mˉ2 fertilizers at monthly interval of split application of nutrients recorded highest flower diameter (11.24cm) and width of ray florets (1.00cm).There was no significant difference observed for flower disc diameter and length of the ray florets. Esmara variety with a combination of 10:10:10 N, P2O5, K2O g mˉ2 fertilizers at monthly interval of split application of nutrients recorded the highest number of ray florets (65.01).Beaudine variety with a combination of 10:10:10 N, P2O5, K2O g mˉ2 fertilizers at monthly interval of split application of nutrients recorded the highest stalk girth (2.39cm) and stalk length (79.34cm). In yield parameters, highest number of flowers produced plant-1year-1(25.75) and higher yield of flowers in relation to season (15.25) at rainy season was recorded for variety Esmara treated with a combination of 10:10:10 N, P2O5, and K2O g mˉ2 with a split application of nutrients at monthly intervals. The vase life of flowers and water uptake showed no significant difference among the treatment combinations All the five varieties while treated with 10:10:10 N, P2O5, K2O g mˉ2 at monthly intervals resulted high values for vegetative, flower and flowering characters. The best performance for Beaudine followed by Esmara and Aquamelon. BC ratio was highest for Beaudine. Future line of work may be standardisation of agrotechniques for gerbera under Kerala conditions.