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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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ThesisItem Open Access Morphological and anatomical properties of teak seedlings as influenced by nursery techniques(Department of Tree Physiology and Breeding, College of Forestry,Vellanikkara, 2004) Girija Pushpom, R P; KAU; Anoop, E VAn experiment was carried out at College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara with the objective to evaluate the best nutrient levels and sowing treatments required for the production of good quality stumps based on anatomical properties of the seedlings with particular reference to wood formation due to cambial activity. The different nutrient and sowing methods were randomly allocated following completely randomized design. From the experiment, it was found that the best nutrient and sowing method combinations were N2S3 (cowdung 0.4 kg/rrr' and neem cake 0.2 kg/rn ' with spacing of 12 cm x 12 cm between seeds). In terms of biometric characters and biomass characteristics of seedlings it was also found that in quick growing seedlings, vessel diameter was large and vessel frequency was less. Collar girth was positively related with ring width and negative related with vessel frequency. Comparing the performance of nursery raised seedlings with root trainer raised seedlings it was found that the growth characteristics as well as the anatomical properties were inferior for root trainer raised seedlings. In the present study it was found that the best quality teak stumps could be produced by intensive cultural practices. Intensive management of nursery seedlings could produce VlgOurOUS seedlings and thereby it could produce good quality stumps in less time. Results of the present study showed that traditional system of production of teak stumps were efficient By imposing superior nutrient and sowing methods good quality, vigorous stumps can be produced to meet the immediate plantation requirements within a short period.ThesisItem Open Access Diversity of small mammals in the Parambikulam wildlife sanctury(Department of Wild Life Sciences, College of Forestry, Vellanikkara, 2003) Lekshmi, R; KAU; Ambika Varma, BA detailed study was conducted in the Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary during 1999-200 I to prepare an inventory and to estimate the abundance of small mammal fauna in diverse ecological habitats of the Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary. In this study, a total of twenty seven species of small mammals belonging to eight orders were recorded from the Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary. Among the eight orders Rodentia was represented maximum with eleven species followed by Carnivora with ten species, remaining orders represented only by a single species. While comparing the rodents trapped from different habitats, natural forest account for more number of species than plantation and vayal. The most common rodent species in the three habitats was Rattus rattus, whereas Golunda ellioti (Indian bush rat) was found only in the moist deciduous natural forest because of the favourable ecological conditions prevailing there. Maximum diversity was more in the natural forest than in plantation and vayal whereas species richness was more in vayal followed by plantation and natural forest. The relative dominance was also high in natural forest than plantation and vayal. Correlation between floral diversity and rodent species indicates that natural forest with more number of plant species possessed high rodent species richness. The ideal conditions prevailing in the natural forest would have helped the survival of rodent species. The lack of ideal conditions in the plantation and vayal would have been the reason for lesser number of rodent species.ThesisItem Open Access Zonation,leaf phenology and litter dynamics of mangrove forest at Puduvyppu(Department of Tree Physiology and Breeding, College of Forestry,Vellanikkara, 2003) Ajay Dattaram, Rane; KAU; Asokan, P KAs species distribution along the sea-land interface to the land interior IS attributed to gradients in soil electro-chemical properties and tidal frequency and nutrient cycling in a system is dependent on litterfall and decay dynamics. Hence, the study for estimating zonation pattern and regeneration status of species along the ocean-land interior trans~cts, along with litter dynamics (literfall and litter decay) was carried out at Puduvyppu mangrove forest. Zonation pattern of species was revealed by carrying out phytosociological analysis along the land-ocean transect and correlating with gradients in electro-chernical properties of soil. Litterfall was studied by evaluating interzonal and monthly variations in litterfall between species for one year. Leaf fall and production was inturn correlated with weather parameters. Decay dynamics was studied by involving six predominant species of the forest namely, Avicennia officinalis, Bruguiera cylindrica, Rhizophora mucronata, Sonneratia caseolaris, Acanthus ilicifolius and Excoecaria agallocha and by estimating interzonal and monthly variations in mass loss and nutrient concentrations of decomposing leaf samples for 12 months. Results show that the area can be divided into three zones (zone I: 0-300 m, zone U: 301-800 m, zone Ill: 801-1200 m from the sea) based on species distribution pattern. Species diversity along the zones decreased from zone I to zone I I, whereas, phytosociological para~1eters of species increased. It was also observed that species like R. mucronata and S. caseolaris were restricted in zone I, whereas, A. officinalis and B. cylindrica were abundant towards the landward side, due to the tidal sorting of the species. Electrical conductivity and soil nutrient (N, K, Na) concentrations increased towards the landward side, whereas, pH decreased. Furthermore, soil P concentrations and in situ redox potential positively affected stand density and E. agallocha stand density respectively. Regeneration was profuse in the central zone of the forest (700-800 111 from the sea) and decreased towards the landward side and the seaward side, implying that monospecifity and tidal inundation affected regeneration. Among the species, A. officinalis seedlings were abundant in the lower height class «50 cm) and B. cvlindrica in upper height class (>50 cm), implying that shade tolerance of the species decided its establishment potential. Litterfall did not vary among the zones suggesting that the dominant A. officinalis determined litterfall of the forest. Leaf fall peaked during winter season (November-December), whereas, leaf production was initiated by rainfall, implying that rainfall and temperature controlled phenological cycles in species. Mass loss followed an exponential pattern in A. ilicifolius, A. officinalis. E. agallocha and S. caseolaris, whereas, it followed a linear pattern in B. cylindrica and R. mucronata. Similarly decay rates were inversely related with initial lignin and lignin: nitrogen ratio of the decomposing leaves. And also, interzonal variations in decay rates were observed, implying that site and species affected decay rates. Nutrient concentrations decreased with Nand K concentrations decreasing and P moderately increasing in the litter bags during the course of decomposition, implying that tidal frequency and mineralization-immobilization frequencies decided nutrient release patterns in these species. In general this is a low diversified, juvenile with an efficient nutrient input-out put mechanism.ThesisItem Open Access Influence of soil moisture regimes and stage of host introduction on seedling growth of sandal provenances(Department of Tree Physiology and Breeding, College of Forestry, Vellanikkara, 2004) Vijayakumar, J Hiremath; KAU; Ashokan, P KThe influence of soil moisture regimes and stage of host introduction on seedling growth of sandal provenances was investigated in a pot culture experiment at the College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara. Two provenances in the South India, Shimoga (Karnataka) and Marayoor (Kerala) were selected for this study. The results showed that the seedlings of Marayoor provenance were taller and having a higher collar diameter as compared to seedlings of Shimoga provenances. The stage of introduction of host did not have any effect on the growth of sandal seedlings. The seedlings where the host was introduced at the time of planting sandal had comparatively higher total chlorophyll in both the provenances as compared to seedlings where the host was introduced three and six months after planting sandal. Highest Nitrogen and Calcium content was observed in Marayoor provenance when the host was introduced at the time of planting sandal, whereas the P content was higher in both the provenances where the host was introduced at the time of planting sandal. The parameters like seedling height, collar diameter, number of leaves, leaf area, dry matter and chlorophyll content decreased due to water stress. The haustorial connections were found only at 300 days after planting sandal. The seedlings of Marayoor 'provenance recorded lower pre-dawn water potential as compared to seedlings of Shimoga provenance. Introducing host at the time of planting sandal or three months after planting sandal, in Marayoor provenance resulted in higher plant water potential. The leaf diffusive resistance was relatively high in Marayoor provenance when the host was introduced at the time of planting sandal. The leaf diffusive resistance was high in water stressed plants. As the haustorial connections were found only at 300 days after planting sandal, it can be concluded that the host need to be planted only six to nine months after planting sandal. This will avoid the early competition between sandal and host. Fast growing pot host during the early phase of its growth may suppress sandal by competition.ThesisItem Open Access Ecology of the birds of the high altitude grassland-shola forests(College of Forestry, Vellanikkara, 2001) Radhakrishnan, P; KAU; Nameer, P OThe shola forests are unique montane vegetation occupying temperate habitats in tropical latitudes and are regarded as relict communities. These forests are high altitude gallery forests restricted to valleys, depressions and especially along folds of hills and watercourses. The shola-grassland ecosystem is unique vegetation type found in Western Ghats. Unfortunately very few studies have been conducted on the fauna and flora of this unique ecosystem, particularly avifauna. A study was conducted to give some insight into the birds of the shola-grassland ecosystem and their association with the vegetation of the high altitude area. The study was conducted at the Mannavan Shola of the Marayur range, Munnar division Kerala (10° 10' to 10° 12' N latitudes and 77° 09' to 77° 12' E longitudes), which is the largest shola forest area of the Kerala State. Two study sites were identified in the study area, such as "Shola upper" and "Shola lower". The distance sampling method was used in equidistant points identified at each study sites in a 1000 m transect and the points were periodically monitored. Apart from the birds the vegetation structure of the study location was also studied to understand whether there is any relationship occur between the birds and the vegetation. Total of 41 species in 8 orders and 17 families have been reported from the Mannavan Shola. This includes 26 species of resident birds, out of which 8 are endemic to Western Ghats, and 7 species that are long distance migrants. The different measures like the richness, the and the diversity indices, difference. evenness locations shown any significant the two study The similarity indices worked out were also shown that the both sites are much similar. It was also found that the most abundant bird species were the denser species also. The correlation study shown that, bird species richness, bird diversity and bird density correlated negatively with different structural parameters of the vegetation. Another notable observation was that the high altitude grassland dependant species were totally absent from the study sites. This could be owing to the conversion of the grasslands in the study site to wattle plantation.ThesisItem Open Access Effect of shade levels on growth and vigour of seedlings of terminalia species in the nursery(Department of tree physiology and breeding, College of Forestry, Vellanikkara, 2002) Prasad, G; KAU; Gopikumar, KThe present study was undertaken at the College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, Thrissur during the period from 2000 to 2002 to evaluate the effect of various shade levels on the growth and vigour of seedlings of tembavu [Terminalia tomentosa var. crenulata (Roth.) C1.], thanni [t bellirica (Gaertn.) Roxb.] and neermaruthu [T. arjuna (Roxb. ex DC.) Wt. & Am.] in the nursery. The study revealed that in general, in all the species examined, shade exerted significant influence on growth and vigour of the seedlings in the nursery. In T. tomentosa and T. bellirica, 50 per cent shade produced best results with regard to shoot growth parameters like height and collar girth while in T. arjuna, 75 per cent shade was found to be most ideal with regard to these growth parameters. In general, in all the species, seedlings grown under 75 per cent shade produced maximum leaf number and area. The root growth parameters viz., length and spread . were found to be the maximum when grown under 50 per cent shade in T. tomntosa and T. bellirica, while 75 per cent was found to be the best for T. arjuna. Similarly, 50 per cent shade was found to be better for T. bellirica and T. tomentosa withregard to biomass production. However, T. arjuna responded well to 75 per cent shade in this regard. No clear cut trend was seen in the chlorophyll production with regard to the different shade levels in any of the three species studied. However, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll content was slightly higher when grown under 75 per cent shade conditions. The highest number of stomata was seen when the plants were grown under full sunlight. In all the species, the nitrogen content was found to be highest for seedlings grown under 75 per cent shade while the highest potassium content was recorded when grown under 50 per cent shade. However with regard to the phosphorus concentration, 25 per cent shade was found to perform better in T. tomentosa and T. arjuna while 50 per cent performed better in T. bellirica.ThesisItem Open Access Response of sandal (Santalum album Linn.) seedlings to shade and mycorrhizal association(Department of tree physiology and breeding, College of Forestry, Vellanikkara, 2002) Binu, N Kamalolbhavan; KAU; Ashokan, P KThe occurrence of sandal- Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) associations in natural sandal growing forests and the response of sandal seedlings to inoculation with commonly available cultures of AMF, shade levels and nature of hosts were investigated in a pot culture experiment at the College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara. Two important sandal growing regions in the state, Marayoor (ldukki district) and Wadakancherry (Thrissur district) were selected for this study and a non-sandal growing area in Thrissur district was selected as a control for the soil studies . • The result showed that characters like height, number of leaves, leaf area and shoot weight of sandal seedlings increased due to the Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi inoculation and maximum response was observed for seedlings grown in soils inoculated with Glomus mosseae. The characters like collar girth, root weight did not show any significant difference for the mycorrhizal inoculation. It was further observed that the interactions between shade and mycorrhizae were the best under 50 per cent shade level especially for those seedlings inoculated with Glomus mosseae. During the initial seedling phase, high shade (75 per cent) is needed for sandal, but during the later stages of seedling growth, medium shade (50 per cent) resulted in best growth of seedlings. Growth of sandal seedlings with two host species, casuarina and redgram was on par. The relative water content and plant water potential were higher in seedlings inoculated with AMF. The N, P, K content of the shoot of sandal seedlings were maximum for seedlings inoculated with Glomus mosseae. Sandal seedlings collected from natural sandal growmg regions investigated for the presence of sandal-AMF association revealed that the roots of sandal seedlings from Wadakancherry forest showed 33 per cent of colonization, while the seedlings from Marayoor forest showed no colonization. Sandal seedlings grown for four months in the soils collected from these two regions showed superior growth when compared to those seedlings grown in soils from the agricultural lands of Thrissur, but no AMF colonization was observed in the roots of the sandal seedlings .ThesisItem Open Access Anatomical and physiological variations in certain selected species and provenances of acacia(Department of Tree Physiology and Breeding, College of Forestry, Vellanikkara, 2001) Santhosh Jacob; KAU; Vijayakumar, N KAn experiment was carried out during 1998-99 with the objective of evaluating the anatomical and physiological variations among provenances and species of Acacia and to correlate this with their growth characteristics. The experimental materials consisted of 11 provenances which included five provenances of Acacia mangium Willd., and two each of A. auriculiformis Cunn. ex., Benth., A. crassicarpa Cunn ex., Benth and A. aulacocarpa Cunn. ex., Benth. They were planted in a randomized block design in the farms of the College of Forestry, Vellanikkara in 1996. The ultimate objective of the study was to identify the most suitable species/provenances from among these for the ecoclirnatic conditions ofKerala. At four years of growth, provenances Balimo Aramia and Wipim to Oriomo from Papua New Guinea and Research Seed Orchard from Queensland were significantly superior to the rest. Among the four species, except A. aulacocarpa, the other three species namely, A. mangium, A. auriculiformis and A. crassicarpa showed superiority over height and collar girth. The most important component of total biomass undoubtedly, was the bole volume. So in this regard, the superiority of the species on height and collar girth indicates good volume production in future. A. auriculiformis exhibited superiority over branch production throughout the study, indicating its suitability for fire wood production. As far as leaf area is concerned the species exhibited significant . variation while, provenances did not. A. mangium and A. aulacocarpa showed maximum leaf area index, compared to A. auriculiformis and A. crassicarpa. Irrespective or the species, all the provenances showed- higher stomatal frequency on the lower leaf surface. Almost in all the provenances, transpiration late was increased from predawn to afternoon hours. Significant differences in the transpiration rate among the provenances and species was noticed between the predawn and afternoon hours only during the month of April. Transpiration rate and leaf water potential was negatively related in almost all the provenances. Provenances and species exhibited no significant difference with respect to leaf temperature. However, leaf temperature increased from predawn to afternoon in almost all the provenances. The provenance Balimo Aramia River of A. mangium as well as one each of A. auriculiformis and A. crassicarpa, namely, Orchard Melville and Bensbach WP registered the maximum heartwood percentage. The moisture content exhibited significant differences between the provenances. The specific gravity was maximum . for the provenance 7 KMSSE Mossman of A. auriculiformis while the minimum was shown by the provenance Kapal Oriomo of A. crassicarpa. Generally, provenances of A. mangium recorded higher specific gravity. The length of fiber was maximum for provenances orchard Melville - 1, NT and Kings Plain Lake, Queensland of A. auriculiformis while, minimum registered by the provenances of A. mangium. The maximum length and width for vessel, ray and. axial parenchyma was recorded by the provenances of A. mangium.ThesisItem Open Access Micropropagation and evaluation of azadirachtin production in the plantlets of neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss)(Department of tree physiology and breeding, College of Forestry, Vellanikkara, 2003) Roshini, A J; KAU; Vijayakumar, N KThe study under the title "Micropropagation and evaluation of azadirachtin production in the plantlets of neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.)", was carried out at the Tissue Culture Laboratory of College of Forestry and Biochemistry laboratory, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during the period 2000-2002. The objective of the programme was to standardize the micropropagation protocol and also to evaluate the secondary metabolite production potential of in vitro produced plantlets and callus in neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.). Culture contamination mainly due to fungus was prominent in the 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 (0.10%) for 15 min was found effective in controlling the contamination. Larger sized explants (2.00 cm long) with significantly low culture contamination was found to be better than 1.00 cm long explants. Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium was found to be better than WPM for culture establishment and growth individual supplementation of Kn to MS medium was found more effective than BA. MS medium supplemented with 1.5 mg r' BA + 0.5 mg r' NAA was found to be the best media for shoot proliferation. Maximuni in vitro rooting (93.33%) of micro shoots was obtained on ~ MS + 1.5 mg r' IAA. Vermiculite and vermiculite + sand (1:1) were found to be the best media for hardening of in vitro raised plantlets. The auxins evaluated for stimulating callus production were, IAA, IBA and 2,4-D among them IAA was the most potent in callusing followed by 2,4-D. The combination of 1.5 mg r' 2,4-D + 1.5 mg r' IAA and 1.5 mg r' 2,4-D + 1.5 mg r' IBA produced maximum callus. Azadirachtin content was estimated by using TLC and colorimetry techniques. In the case of TLC for eluting azadirachtin into a single condensed spot, the running solvent system comprising of methanol: water (30:70) was found to be the best. One per cent vanillin in concentrated sulphuric acid was used as a spray reagent to detect the azadirachtin on TLC plates. Amount of azadirachtin varied depending on the plant part used which was estimated at various growth stages and different concentration of growth regulators supplemented to the medium. It ranged from 0.11 to 6.81 ug g" in in vitro plants sample and 9.42 to 12.45 ug g-I in leaves of in vivo plants. Both these methods can be followed for the preliminary estimation of azadirachtin.
