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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: Kaveriamma, M M × End date: 2009 × Start date: 2000 × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Evaluation of monopodial orchids for cut flower
    (Department of Pomology and Floriculture, College Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2007) Kaveriamma, M M; KAU; Geetha, C K
    The investigation on the evaluation of monopodial orchids was conducted in the Department of Pomology and Floriculture, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during 2005-.2006 with the main objective of evaluating their field performance for commercial exploitation. Forty monopodial orchids belonging to monogenenc, bigeneric and trigeneric origin were selected for the study. They were evaluated for their height, spread, shoot characters (length, girth), leaf characters (length, breadth, area, interval of production, leaf sheath length, breadth), aerial root characters (number, length, breadth), floral characters (spike emergence to opening of florets, length, girth and longevity of spike, interval of production, annual production of spikes, number of florets/spike, individual flowe r life, flower size, blooming period under field conditions. They exhibited wide variation in both vegetative and floral characters. The orchid varieties were grouped as tall climbing, intermediate climbing and short-stemmed epiphytes. Among the tall climbing orchids, maximum increase in height was observed in Arachnis Maggie Oei Red Ribbon and minimum in Aeridachnis Apple Blossom. Shoot girth, leaf length and leaf area were maximum in Holttumara Bright Eye while minimum girth was recorded in Vanda John Club. Vanda Prolific had the maximum internodal length. Maximum numbers of leaves was recorded in Renanthera Manila and roots in Vandc. John Club and Renanthera Cape Sabel. Interval of leaf production and root length were maximum in Aranthera Mana Meina while interval of leaf production was minimum in Arachnis Maggie Oei Yellow Ribbon. Duration from spike emergence to opening of florets was maximum in Arachnis Maggie Oei Red Ribbon (first and fifty per cent florets) and Aranthera Lily Brook Red (complete opening of florets) and minimum in Holttumara Bright Eye. Spike characters like spike length, rachis length, stalk length, spike girth, days taken from opening to wilting of first floret and spike longevity were maximum in Aranthera Lily Brook Red, while stalk length and internodal length was maximum Aeridachnis Apple Blossom and Aracl nis Maggie Yellow Ribbon respectively. Floral characters like number of florets per spi.ce and individual flower life were maximum in Aranthera Lily Brook Red, pedicel length in Vanda Mandai Glow and individual flower size in Aranthera Mana Meina and Arachnis Maggie Oei Red Ribbon. Interval of spike production was minimum in Aranthera Anne Black and maximum in Renanthera Manila. Aranda Deborah produced maximum number of spikes per year followed by Arachnis Maggie Oei Red Ribbon, and Aranthera Anne Black. Among intermediate climbing epiphytes, Mokara Sayan x Kultana Gold recorded maximum increase in height, shoot girth, leaf width and internodal length whereas it recorded the least interval of leaf production. Ascocenda Raminder Gold x Fortune East recor ed the maximum leaf area and Mokara Bangkok Gold, the minimum. The internodal length recorded in Vascostylis Pine Rivers Pink was minimum followed by Vascostylis Pine Rivers Blue and Red. Mokara WaIter Oumae Yellow recorded maximum and Vanda JVB x Ascocenda YSW, the minimum duration from spike emergence to opening of first floret while Mokara WaIter Oumae White, the maximum for opening of all florets and Ascocenda Rami) der Gold x Fortune East, the minimum. Spike characters like spike length, stalk length, spike girth and internodal length were maximum in Mokara Sayan x KuItana Gold while duration from opening to wilting of first floret, rachis length and spike longevity were maximum in Mokara Waiter Oumae White. Interval of spike production was n.aximum in Mokara Sayan x Kultana Gold and minimum in Vascostylis Pine Rivers Red. Annual spike production was maximum in Mokara Calypso Pink closely followed by Vascostylis Pine Rivers Red and Ascocenda Princess Mikasa Pink. Short-stemmed varieties exhibited a slow rate of growth. Phalaenopsis Hwafeng Red . '8wel recorded maximum leaf area, Phalaenopsis (Pinlong Spring x Taisuco Koch,' ian) x Phalaenopsis (Miami Sunrise x Tiny Ivory), the minimum. Duration from spike emergence to opening of all florets and spike characters like length, stalk length, internodal Iength were maximum in Phalae nopsis Diana Pink and rachis length and spike longevity in Phalaenopsis Hwafeng Red Jewel. Phalaenopsis Memoria Grand Mother had maximum number of florets per spike. Flower size was maximum in Phalaenopsis Taisuco Kochdian x Akatsuka Noon, pedicel length in Phalaenopsis Diana Pink and indivi lual flower life in Phalaenopsis Taipei Gold. All the Phalaenopsis hybrids produced spikes at an interval close to a year except Phalaenopsis Taisuco Kochdian x Akatsuka Noon. The qualitative characters of the monopodial orchid varieties differed in all aspects and a wide range of vegetative and floral characters could be observed. They also differed with regard to flowering; being free flowering, with short dearth periods or seasonal flowering. Considering the qualitative and quantitative characters, among tall climbing orchic.s, Aranthera Anne Black, Aranthera Lily Brook Red, Aranda Deborah, Aeridachnis Apple Blossom and Arachnis Maggie Oei Red Ribbon has Immense potential for use as cut flower together with the intermediate climbing types, viz., Mokara Chark Kuan Pink, Mokara Walter Oumae White and Mokara Calypso Pink. Phalaenopsis Taisuco Kochdian x Akatsuka Noon, a short stemmed epiphyte would be an excellent choice. The performance projected short-stemmed Phalaenopsis hybrids the best as pot plants Intermediate climbing epiphyte, viz., Ascocenda Princess Mikasa Pink, Vascostylis varietr e s and Vanda JVB x Ascocenda Yip Sum Wah would also make excellent pot plants.