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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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19992
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Subject: Forestry × Author: KAU × End date: 1999 × Start date: 1999 × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    In vitro propagation of ailanthus triphysa (Dennst.)
    (Department of tree physiology and breeding, College of Forestry, Vellanikkara., 1999) Natesha, S R; KAU; Vijayakumar, N K
    A research project entitled "In Vitro propagation of Ailanthus triphysa (Dennst.)" was carried out at the College of Forestry, Vellanikkara during 1996-98 to standardise a protocol for micropropagation of A. triphysa through tissue culture. To achieve the present objective, different media combinations for shoot production and rooting of micro shoots were tried using axillary and terminal buds from three to four year old seedlings as explants. The extent of culture contamination principally due to fungus was found to be high and more so during rainy season. To get contamination free cultures, dipping of explants in a fungicidal mixture of 0.1 per cent each of Bavistin (Carbendazim) and Indofil M-45 (Mancozeb) for 30 min. and their sterilization with mercuric chloride (0.1 %) for 20 min. was found relatively effective. Small sized explants «0.5 cm dia) with significantly low culture contamination as well as phenol exudation in comparison with big sized explants (>0.5 cm dia), were found to be optimum for culture establishment Washing of explants in running tap water for 30 min. and further culturing in media containing activated charcoal (0.25%) was found to significantly lower phenol exudation in both sizes of explants. Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium was found to be the best basal medium for culture establishment and shoot production in comparison to half strength MS medium and WPM. Of the various media combinations attempted, MS supplemented with 3.0 mg r' benzyl adenine was found to be the best for shoot production. Highest mean number of leaves (lO.2/explant) and leaflets (21.8/explant) were obtained from this treatment with an average shoot number of 2.43 per explant Multiple shoots were obtained in almost all the combinations of benzyl adenine (BA) and kinetin in MS medium. The treatment, MS + 3.0 mg r' BA + 1.0 mg r' kinetin that produced as many as 4.25 shoots from a single bud on an average, was found to be the best among these. Many of the combinations of GAJ, BA and/or kinetin also produced multiple shoots. As many as 15 shoots from one bud were obtained in MS medium supplemented with 3.0 mg r' kinetin and 5.0 mg r' GAJ. Half - strength MS was found to be totally inefficient for shoot production even when supplemented with growth regulators. Notable shoot elongation was obtained in few cultures of MS media containing 3.0 mg r' BA + 1.0 mg r' GAJ and 2.0 mg r' BA + 2.0 mg r' kinetin. Callusing at the base of bud explants was noticed in very few cultures. In vitro rooting was successfully obtained in half-strength MS medium containing 4.0 mg r' IAA + 0.4 mg r' IBA + AC (0.25%). The plantlets that produced roots ex vitro died due to fungal infection. When planted out into sterilized sand in crops, the in vitro rooted plantlets survived under high humidity conditions for two weeks but failed to acclimatize to outside environmental conditions. From the present study the protocol for shoot production could be standardised but more work on rooting of shoots is needed. As far as our extent of search, this is the first report on standrdisation of the technique of rnicropropagation of A. triphysa using mature plant tissues as explant.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Root distribution pattern of bamboo (Bambusa arundinacea (Retz.) Roxb. Gamble) and associated competitive effects
    (Department of Silviculture and Agroforestry, College of Forestry, Vellanikkara, 1999) Divakara, B N; KAU; Mohankumar, B
    Root competition between bamboo [Bambusa arundinacea (Retz.) Willd.] and associated tree components in two mixed species systems and root distribution pattern of boundary planted bamboo clumps were evaluated. Root competition was assessed using 32P soil injection technique in two cultural systems involving bamboo viz. teak (Tectona grandis Linn. F.) – bamboo and Vateria (Vateria indica Linn.) –bamboo). Experimental units were selected considering distance between bamboo clumps and the nearest Vateria/teak. 32P was applied to two soil depths (25 and 50 cm). Each lateral distance-depth combination formed a 32P treatment and it was replicated thrice. To characterise root distribution pattern, modified logarithmic spiral trenching method was used. For this, 18 boundary planted bamboo clumps were randomly selected and classified in to small, medium and large clumps based on clumps diameter ranges. Spiral trenches were dug around the clumps (10 m long). The number of severed roots exposed on both sides of the trench was assessed by placing a 50 x50 cm quadrats against the vertical sides of the trench at 1 m intervals. Isotopic studies revealed that, 32P absorption by teak or Vateria increased as the lateral distance of bamboo occurrence increased. With respect to depth of application, deeper placement showed higher 32P recovery than shallow placement by teak and Vateria. Uptake of bamboo was inversely related with lateral distance from treated plants. Bamboo clumps may exert a competitive effect upto an 5-6 m radial distance in ten year old clumps growing on lateritic soil. Beyond six meters, the magnitude of competition may be negligible. Recovery of 32P from different soil depths show that more number of physiologically active roots are present at 25 cm than at 50 cm depth. Excavation studies showed that locations close to the clumps recorded higher rooting intensities and there was a linear decrease in rooting intensity with increasing distance. Size of the bamboo clumps showed discernible differences in respect of spatial root distribution pattern. The medium and small size clumps recorded higher rooting intensities upto 7.5m, beyond this limit the large clumps recorded higher rooting intensities. There were significant difference in bamboo root distribution with depth, 10-30 cm depth of soil horizon registered the higher root counts with nearly 60% of total root counts. Thus, a considerable overlap between the bamboo roots and crop rooting zone in the 30 cm depth and 5-6 m lateral distance zone is possible. However care should be taken while cropping in association with bamboo in this rooting zone.