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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: Aravindakshan, K × End date: 2010 × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Effect of pre and post -harvest treatments on storage and quality of banana cv. Nendran
    (Department of Horticulture (Pomology & Floriculture and Landscaping), College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1981) Aravindakshan, K; KAU; Sivaraman Nair, P C
    The present investigations were carried out in the College of Horticulture, during the year 1978-1980. The objectives were to study (i) the growth and development of banana fingers cv. Nendran and to fix optimum tine for harvest (ii) the effect of pre-harvest sprays of growth regulators on post harvest quality of the fruits (iii) the effect of different storage methods on prolonging the shelf life and (iv) to assess the efficacy of different fungicidal treatments on controlling anthraonose disease of ripened fruits. Fruit growth in rainfed ‘Nendran’ was found to be a continueous process till it reaches maximum maturity at 90 days after shooting. The length, girth, volume and weight of fingers continued to increase rapidly during early stages of growth, accounting for 90 per cent of growth by 60 days after shooting. The accumulation of dry matter and the starch took place at increasing rates during the first two month of fruit growth resulting an increase in specific gravity from 0.36 at shooting to more than one after 70 days of shooting and pulp to peel ratio from 0.32 to 1.50 on 70th day. The study showed that rainfed ‘Nandran’ can be harvested from 70 days after shooting without impairing the quality but with light reduction in quantity. The growth regulators if applied as pre-harvest sprays on 60th day after shooting increases size, weight and quality of the fruits; the maximum Increase in size and weight was resulted by the application of 2, 4-D at 10 ppm. The quality was improved by way of increased TSS, total and reducing sugars by treatments of ethrel 400 ppm, NAA 50 ppm, 100 ppm and 2, 4-D at 4 ppm and 10 ppm. Improvement in quality followed by growth regulator application was more evident in ease of 70th day harvest than the harvest at full maturity. The comparative study of different storage methods have revealed that, the polythene bag with potassium permanganate increases the storage life by 10 days, polythene bag alone by 6 days as compared to smoke treatment and open storage. Eventhough the fruits in polythene bag with and without KMnO4 showed a reduction on TSS, total and reducing sugar content, the appearanoe of the fruits were much better than that of smoked fruits and open stored fruites and the eating quality were also good. The study on the Incidence of anthracnoae disease In the storage showed that all the fungicides used at both concentration viz. anthracol at 0.05% and 0.1 % Bavistin 500 ppm and 1000 ppm; Thiride 0.1% and 0.2%| were equally effective In reducing the black spot development on ripened fruits. Though few spots were present In spite of the treatments, the quality and colour were not effected. Among the storage conditions. Polythene bag + KMnO4 showed least lncidence of the spots while It was maximum In case of smoke treatment.