Thumbnail Image

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.

Browse

20151
Reset filters
Subject: Fruit Science × Author: Ardhra, Ann Paul × Author: KAU × End date: 2015 × Start date: 2015 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
Reset filters

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Foliar nutrition in banana (musa AAB) nendran for enhancement of growth, yield and quality
    (College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2015) Ardhra, Ann Paul; KAU; Jayachandran, Nair C S
    The present investigations on “Foliar nutrition in banana (Musa AAB Nendran) for enhancement of growth, yield and quality” were conducted in the Department of Pomology and Floriculture, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram during 2013-2015. The objective of the experiment was to evaluate the efficiency of foliar application of nutrients on growth, yield and quality of banana cv. Nendran. The following eight treatments were imposed as foliar sprays: K2SO4 (3.0%), NRC Banana formulation, IIHR formulation and a mixture of nutrients such as ZnSO4 0.5% + FeSO4 0.2% + CuSO4 0.1% + H3BO3 0.1% + (NH4)2MoO4 0.01%, ZnSO4 1.0 % + FeSO4 0.3% + CuSO4 0.2% + H3BO3 0.2% + (NH4)2MoO4 0.03%, ZnSO4 1.5 % + FeSO4 0.5% + CuSO4 0.3% + H3BO3 0.3% + (NH4)2MoO4 0.05% , 19:19:19 Fertilizer mixture (2.0 per cent) and a control (water spray on foliage) each at 2, 4 and 6 months after planting. The experiment was conducted as randomized block design (RBD) with three replications. The results of investigation revealed that treatment T2 (3.0% K2SO4) resulted in maximum height (423.08 cm) and girth (51.67 cm) of plants at bunch emergence. Highest bunch weight (9.23 kg) was recorded in T2. Other yield characters such as weight of second hand (2.07 kg), fruit length (25.75 cm), fruit weight (270.82 g) and pulp weight (195.11 g) were also found to be the highest in T2. Quality attributes such as TSS (31.50 per cent), acidity (0.32 per cent), TSS/acid ratio (102.64) and sugar/acid ratio (61.96) were also the highest in T2. Score for organoleptic qualities such as sweetness, flavour, texture, firmness, colour and over all acceptability were higher in this treatment. The same treatment resulted in higher leaf nitrogen (2.62 per cent) and potassium (3.76 per cent) content. T2 resulted in high net profit (Rs.522661 ha-1) and B/C ratio (2.05). Treatment T6 (ZnSO4 1.0 % + FeSO4 0.3% + CuSO4 0.2% + H3BO3 0.2% + (NH4)2MoO4 0.03%) resulted in more number of leaves (10.49 numbers) at bunch emergence. The treatment resulted in a bunch weight of 7.30 kg and fruit girth of 16.10 cm. In qualitative characters, T6 recorded maximum reducing sugar (16.90 per cent) and total sugar content (19.42 per cent). TSS content (30.67 per cent) which was statistically on par with T2. Organoleptic qualities were also statistically on par with T2. Leaf nutrients such as Phosphorus, Boron, Molybdenum, Iron and Zinc were also high in this treatment. It also resulted in high net profit (Rs.274241 ha-1) and B/C ratio (1.50). Regarding characters such as height of plant at bunch emergence and fruit length, T5 (ZnSO4 0.5% + FeSO4 0.2% + CuSO4 0.1% + H3BO3 0.1% + (NH4)2MoO4 0.01%) was on par with T2. However, quality characters like TSS, acidity, TSS/acid ratio, total sugars, reducing sugars, non reducing sugars and sugar/acid ratio were lower in T5 compared to T2. Organoleptic qualities were statistically on par with T2. The treatment T5 exhibited high leaf nutrient content (Nitrogen, Boron, Copper and Iron). Nitrogen content in leaf recorded in T5 was on par with T2 and Iron content was on par with T6. This treatment resulted in a net profit of Rs.247535 ha-1 and B/C ratio of 1.48. Treatment T4 (IIHR formulation) resulted in more number of fruits per bunch (39.16). Weight of second hand (1.66 kg) was also higher but differed significantly from T2, T6 and T5. High values were observed for leaf nutrients such as Nitrogen, Potassium and Zinc in this treatment. Nitrogen (2.59 per cent) and Potassium content (3.57 per cent) in leaf recorded in T4 was on par with T2. It also resulted in a net profit of Rs.245075 ha-1 and B/C ratio 1.49. The studies indicate that treatment T2 (3.0% K2SO4 as foliar application 2, 4 and 6 months after planting) can be recommended for farmers since it resulted in highest B/C ratio, yield as well as qualitative characters. However, treatments T6 (ZnSO4 1.0 % + FeSO4 0.3% + CuSO4 0.2% + H3BO3 0.2% + (NH4)2MoO4 0.03%), T5 (ZnSO4 0.5% + FeSO4 0.2% + CuSO4 0.1% + H3BO3 0.1% + (NH4)2MoO4 0.01%) and T4 (IIHR formulation-0.5% urea, 0.5% K2SO4, 0.2% ZnSO4 and 0.1% H3BO3) as foliar application 2, 4 and 6 months after planting can also be recommended for enhancing growth, yield and fruit quality in Nendran banana. Since the constitution of these treatments vary, suitable ones are to be chosen based on the deficiency of the particular nutrient.