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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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20171
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Subject: Horticulture × Author: Arogyamary Supritha, S × Author: KAU × End date: 2017 × Start date: 2017 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Postharvest studies in neelamari (Indigofera tinctoria L.)
    (Department of Processing Technology, College of Horticulture Vellanikkara, 2017) Arogyamary Supritha, S; KAU; Meagle Joseph, P
    Neelamari (Indigofera tinctoria L.) belonging to the family Fabaceae, is a widely used medicinal crop due to its properties. The main use of the Neelamari leaves is in the preparation of Neelibhrngadi Taila which is an Ayurvedic formulation known for its hair tonic property. The other important ingredients of the Neelibhrngadi Taila are Amla, Eclipta alba, Cardiospermum halicacabum, etc. The availability of Neelamari leaves restricted to a particular season does not always coincide with the season of Amla, which may result in a setback in the production of Neelibhrngadi Taila. In this context, the present investigation “Postharvest studies in Neelamari (Indigofera tinctoria L.)” was taken up to study the effect of harvesting stage and post-harvest storage on yield and quality of leaves. The effect of drying after subjecting to various pre- treatments on leaf and oil quality was also studied. Neelamari leaves were harvested at 70 days after transplanting (DAT), 115 DAT and 160 DAT. At each stage of harvest, the yield and quality of fresh leaves in terms of Relative Water Content (RWC), indican (Indoxyl β- D- glucoside) the glucoside responsible for the colour, total sugar and tannin were observed. The highest yield (48.05 g-1plant), was obtained when harvesting was done at 160 DAT and at this stage leaves had highest tannin (1.78mg 100g-1), total sugars (4.62%) and indican (1.23%) and it was significantly different from other treatments. At each harvesting stage, the leaves were stored for 4, 8, 24 and 48 hours and observed for its quality in comparison with fresh leaves. The freshly harvested leaves recorded higher value for indican (0.913%) but there was no significant difference in tannin (1.307mg 100g-1) and total sugars (4.70%). The interaction of cutting stage and storage showed significant effect on leaf quality as indicated by the highest indican content (1.24%) in fresh leaves harvested at 160 DAT and considering it as the best, was used for further studies. Three blanching methods including hot water, steam and microwave blanching were compared with unblanched control, followed by shade, cabinet and vacuum drying. The treated leaves were, analysed for indican content and found that, microwave blanching for 45 seconds followed by vacuum drying at 35±5°C had highest retention of indican (3.045%). Further Neelibhrngadi Taila was prepared using the decoctions of dried leaf samples, along with fresh Neelamari leaf juice considered as control treatment as per Ayurvedic Pharmacopeia of India (API). The samples of Neelibhrngadi Taila prepared were subjected to quality assessment by estimating acid value, refractive index and performing Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) with absolute control as the standard, as per the recommendation of API, which defines well the quality check of the medicated oils. Least acid value (1.460mg of KOH g-1 of sample) was a desirable feature recorded in oil sample prepared using microwave blanched and vacuum dried leaf samples and the highest acid value recorded was in the sample prepared using hot water blanched cabinet dried leaves. There was no difference in the refractive index as coconut oil was the common base oil in all the treatments and it revealed the uniform extraction of phytochemicals in to the oil in all the 13 formulations. The results from TLC showed that all the oil samples except those obtained from treatment T10 (steam blanched and dried in vacuum drier) and T11 (Hot water blanched and dried in vacuum drier) gave standard Rf value, thus conforming to the quality prescribed by API. In HPTLC performed using absolute control as standard, all the samples recorded 13-17 peaks representing different phytochemical compounds whereas the standard oil recorded 16 peaks. Further studies are required to identify the phytochemical compounds.