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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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    Effect of time of planting and growth regulators on flowering and vase life of Gerbera jamesonii
    (Department of Pomology and floriculture and Landscaping, College of Horticulture,Vellanikara, 1993) Suma, P; KAU; Lila Mathew, K
    Studies were carried out in the Department of pomology and Floriculture, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, Thrissur, during 1991 – 93 to examine the effect of time of planting and growth regulators on flowering and vase life of gerbera. Four varieties, namely , Eoliet, Presley, Pritty and Sunbird and five treatments, viz., GA 50 ppm, GA 100 ppm, CCC 500 ppm, CCC 750 ppm and control, were tried. Varieties were found to have significant influence on both vegetative as well as the floral characters whereas the treatments did not have any significant effect on vegetative characters of the Gerbera cultivars in general, when evaluated in the first season. In the second season both varietal and treatment effects were not consistent. Variety Presley was found to be early flowering while Eoliet was late flowering. GA 50 ppm and GA 100 ppm hastened flowering whereas CCC 500 ppm and CCC 750 ppm delayed it. In general the longevity of flowers was maximum in varieties Eoliet and Sunbird. Variety Presley had the least longevity. Among the treatments, CCC 750 ppm and GA 50 ppm increased the longevity of flowers in field. Maximum number of blooms was produce by Presley and the minimum by Eoliet. In general GA 100 ppm and CCC 750 ppm increased the number of blooms. In general CCC 750 ppm, GA 50 ppm and GA 100 ppm had a significant positive influence on flower diameter. In general variety sunbird had the maximum stalk length and diameter, while Pritty produced the shorest stalks. CCC 500 ppm and CCC 750 ppm had the best effect on stalk length. Vase life was found to be significantly increased by GA 100 ppm and CCC 750 ppm treatments given to the plants. Five per cent sucrose + 20 ppm AgNO3 significantly increased the longevity of flowers in vase. Planting in June was found to be better than October planting with respect to vegetative as well as floral characters, especially for number of flowers and flower diameter. Among the varieties, with respect to growth and number of flowers, Presley was found to be superior. In the correlation studies flower number was found to have positive and highly significant correlation with plant height and leaf area whereas flower diameter had significant negative correlation with leaf area and stalk length. Petiole length, stalk diameter and leaf number had positive correlation with this character. Vase life had significantly positive correlation with fresh weight of flowers.