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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: Bindu, B × End date: 2010 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Response of Papaya (Carica Papaya L.) to Major Mineral Nutrients
    (Department of Pomology and Floriculture, College of Agriculture , Vellayani, 2003) Bindu, B; KAU; Jayachandran Nair, C S
    An experiment was conducted in the Department of Pomology and Floriculture, College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 2001-2002, to study the response of major plant nutrients viz., nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium on growth, yield and quality of papaya under Kerala conditions and to standardise the optimum dose of these nutrients. The experiment was conducted in 33 confounded factorial RBD, confounding NPK in replication 1 and Np2K2 in replication 2. The present study revealed that application of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium increased plant height, girth and number of leaves. The highest plant height was obtained with the combined application of 200 g N, 300 g P and 500 g K plan' year-', while the highest plant girth was obtained with application of 250 g N, 300 g P and 500 g K. Combined application of 300 g N, 250 g P and 500 g K p lant' year-' resulted in the maximum number of leaves. Plants receiving a dose of nitrogen at 250 g, 300 g phosphorus and 500 g potassium plant" took the shortest time for flowering. Combined application of nitrogen at 250 g plant.", phosphorus at 250 g plant" and potassium at 500 g planr' considerably shortened the time for harvesting the first fruit. Fruit weight, number of fruits plant", yield planr' and papain yield increased by application of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Application of 250 g N, 250 g P and 500 g K planr' year-' gave highest yield. Maximum fruit girth was obtained from 200 g N, 200 g P and 500 g K, whereas maximum fruit volume and pulp percentage was obtained from 250 g N, 250 g P and 500 g K. Levels of nitrogen and phosphorus tried had no significant influence on TSS and ascorbic acid content of fruits. Nitrogen at 200 g, phosphorus at 250 g planr' produced. fruits of low acidity, while potassium had no significant influence. The combination of 200 g nitrogen, 300 g phosphorus and 500 g potassium plane 1 year" increased carotenoids, total sugars, reducing sugars and organoleptic qualities of fruits. Most of the treatments had light yellow peel colour, orange pulp colour and firm flesh. Nitrogen at 200 g, phosphorus at 250 g and potassium at 500 g plant" was found to increase the shelf life of fruits. Application of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium increased soil and leaf petiole content of the respective elements. Highest benefit: cost ratio was obtained from the combination of 250 g N, 250 g P and 500 g K I -I -I P ant year . Over all assessment indicated that application of N, P and K at the rate of 250 : 250 : 500 g plant" year-I in six equal splits was economically viable and improved growth, yield and quality of papaya.