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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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2018 - 20192
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Subject: Forest Biology and Tree Improvement × Author: KAU × End date: 2019 × Start date: 2018 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Genetic variability and plus tree selection in natural populations of Malaveppu (Melia dubia Cav.)
    (Department of Forest biology and tree improvement, Vellanikkara, 2019) Binu Kamalolbhavan, N; KAU; Santhoshkumar, A V
    Melia dubia commonly known as Malabar neem is a fast growing indigenous species. It is considered as a major wood in plywood and paper industries and the plant is put into various medicinal uses, preferred for use in packing cases, cigar planks etc. There are no identified genotypes of melia, suitable for Kerala. This is one of the reasons which has made a dearth in the availability of good planting material. Hence, a study was conducted to determine the genetic diversity of the trees and select plus trees from the forests of Kerala. Fifteen locations spread over eighteen localities where the species is common were identified from secondary data and reconnaissance survey. In total 281 trees were selected for the survey. The important quantitative and qualitative characters of the trees were determined. Based on baseline selection system, a regression analysis was done between the (DBH)2 x height and (crown width)2 x crown length separately for each location and the trees above the regression line having highest score for the qualitative characters were selected. This was to ensure that a minimum of one tree got selected from a locality to ensure diversity in selection. The study showed that variability existed for all the qualitative characters and it was more within the localities when compared to between localities. In total twenty five trees were selected. Clustering done for the twenty five plus showed that Melia dubia genetic resources resolved the trees into seven clusters and it was found that grouping were independent to the geographic locations. Inter and intra cluster divergence were also studied. The evaluation of the seedling progenies from the twenty five plus trees were done in the nursery for five months. Significant differences among the progenies of the selected trees were observed for various morphological and physiological characters studied. The performance of the progenies of two trees from Tholpetty (FCV-MD-03 and FCV-MD-04) were the best in most of the parameters studied. The genetic analysis of the causes of variation for the morphological and physiological traits were studied. The values for the phenotypic coefficient of variations ranged from 12.62 per cent for height to 24.53 per cent for biovolume. ii The result indicated that the values for genotypic coefficient of variation was less than the phenotypic coefficient of variations for all the traits studied, indicating existence of environmental effect on these characters. Heritability estimates in broad sense were observed higher than 50 per cent for the quantitative characters such as height, collar diameter, number of leaves, AGR and biovolume. Heritability was also higher for all the physiological characters studied. The genetic gain was also high indicating possibilities of using selections for further breeding. The correlation studies on the morphological and physiological characters showed that the height was positively correlated with all the morphological and physiological characters studied except leaf temperature. Photosynthetic rate was positively correlated with the height, chlorophyll and relative water content of the leaves. For standardization of clonal progenies, cuttings from the seedlings, semi hardwood cuttings from mature trees and root suckers by damaging the roots were taken to develop a method for mass multiplication of the Melia dubia. Three different auxins IBA, NAA, IAA at different concentrations were administered. The result showed that the best treatment for the cuttings and rootsuckers were IBA at 1000 ppm. For the semihardwood cuttings, miniclonal technology was used and the best treatment observed was IBA at 6000 ppm.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Field performance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on vegetative growth of mahogany (swietenia macrophylla king.) seedlings
    (Department of Forest Biology and Tree Improvement, College of Forestry, Vellanikkara, 2018) Satyabrata, Nayak; KAU; Santhoshkumar, A V
    A study was conducted to determine the efficiency of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on the vegetative growth of mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla King.) seedlings under field conditions at College of Forestry nursery and Instructional farm of Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, Thrissur district, Kerala during 2015-2017. Three AMF species used in the study were Funneliformis mosseae (Fm), Acaulospora mellea (Am) and Glomus etunicatum (Ge). The study was carried out in two parts. The first experiment was conducted in nursery for three months and the second experiment was conducted in the field for six months. In the nursery experiment, the AMF were applied to the seedlings either individually or in combinations (Fm, Am, Ge, Fm + Am, Am + Ge, Ge + Fm, Fm + Am + Ge) at three different doses (5 g, 10 g and 15 g) and laid out in a factorial CRD with control as 21+1 treatment combinations and three replications. The purpose of the nursery experiment was to choose the best four treatments for out-planting in the main field. It was found that the AMF species used in the nursery significantly influence the biometric characters (height, collar diameter and number of leaves) of the seedlings when compared to control. However, the AMF treatments did not differ among themselves. There was significant differences among different doses of AMF. The seedlings growth increased when the doses of AMF increased. From the result, Fm (15 g), Am (15 g), Ge (15 g) and Fm + Ge (15 g) were chosen as treatments for seedlings for the second experiment. The field experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with five treatments (four chosen treatments from nursery + control) with three replications. The observations like height, collar diameter, number of leaves, photosynthesis rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate and leaf temperature were recorded at 30 days interval. Soil nutrient analysis was done before and after the planting of ii the seedlings. Plant’s nutrient analysis were done after the completion of the experiment. It was found that inoculation with AMF, did not result any significant differences in height, collar diameter, number of leaves, stomatal conductance and leaf temperature. However, the AMF had significant influence on photosynthesis rate and transpiration rate on the seedlings at later stages of the experiment. From soil nutrient analysis, it was found that total N, available P, available K and organic carbon content increased with AMF inoculation. The soil pH changed from 5.46 to 5.94. From plant nutrient analysis, it was found, that there were no significant effect of AMF on K and N content of the seedlings. However, the P and C content of the seedlings increased due to AMF. The root colonisation percentage and total spore count were found to be low in all treatments. These values were significantly higher in seedlings inoculated with AMF than the non-inoculated seedlings. From the study, it was concluded that increasing doses of AMF can increase S. macrophylla seedlings growth in nursery. The AMF did not affect the growth of seedling during first six months of field experiment. But, some physiological parameters like photosynthesis rate and transpiration were influenced by the AMF at later stages of the growth. It may be pointed to the fact that AMF experimented could not establish in the field as evidence by low root colonisation percentage. This may be because of the soil reaction which was acidic in nature and was not suitable for AMF to establish since AMF require neutral medium for its better growth and development. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi helped in improving the pH of soil along with other nutrient contents (N, P, K and organic C). The seedlings were benefitted from AMF as their P uptake was increased. Further studies are required to identify better native species of AMF for S. macrophylla in acidic ultisols of Kerala.