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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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Subject: Horticulture × Author: Elizabeth Chacko × Author: KAU × End date: 1992 × Start date: 1990 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Evaluation of desert type of muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) for southern region of Kerala
    (Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1992) Elizabeth Chacko; KAU; Rajamony, L
    The present investigation was carried out with fifteen muskmelon varieties during December – May (1989 – 90) at the College of Agriculture, Vellayani. The evalution was done in a randomised block design with three replications and in three sowing months of December 1989, January 1990 and February 1990, to assess the variability available in desert muskmelon with respect to growth, production and quality parameters, to study the interrelationships among yield components and to assess the suitability of the available dessert types of muskmelon for cultivation in the southern zone of Kerala during December – February season. Significant differences were observed among the varieties in the three sowing months for the percentage of germination, number of days to first male/female/bisexual flower production, their node of production, days to first harvest and first fruiting node, yield per vine and volume of fruit, length of vine, number of branches, fresh weight of shoot, reaction towards pest and organoleptic test. Pooled analysis revealed significant influence of environment on the characters viz., days to first harvest, first fruiting node, yield per vine, volume of fruit, length of vine and number of branches. It was observed that December sown crop possessed the majority of the desirable characters and the varieties suitable were Pusa Sharbathi and PMR – 6. The percentage of germination, total weight of fruits/vine, volume of fruit, F/C ratio, percentage of reducing and reducing sugars, acidity, fresh weight of shoot and number of branches exhibited moderate or high values of GCV. High heritability in conjunction with high genetic advance was observed for percentage of germination, yield/vine, volume of fruit vine length. Therefore these characters form reliable index for selection. Significant positive correlations were observed between percentage of germination and yield per vine and number of fruits per vine. The association between number of days for first female/bisexual flower production and first harvest revealed that early flowering variety will be early in coming to harvest also. Yield per vine displayed significant positive association with volume of fruit which in turn was strongly associated with number of tertiary branches and the number of branches with the length of vine. TSS exhibited significant positive association with acidity.