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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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2005 - 200912010 - 20171
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Subject: Horticulture × Author: KAU × Author: Shajma Nafeesa, Basheer × Start date: 2003 × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Collection and evaluation of marigold (Tagetes spp.) genotypes for humid tropics
    (Department of Pomology and Floriculture, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2017) Shajma Nafeesa, Basheer; KAU; Sabina George, T
    The present study entitled ‘Collection and evaluation of marigold (Tagetes spp.) genotypes for humid tropics was conducted in the Department of Pomology and Floriculture, College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 2012-2015, with an objective to collect and evaluate the genotypes of Tagetes spp. for growth, yield of fresh flowers and floral attributes in two planting seasons, ie, October and May planting and to select promising genotypes for loose flower production and for landscaping. The experimental material consisted of twenty five genotypes of Tagetes erecta and five genoytpes of Tagetes patula. These were evaluated in the field in a randomized block design with three replications. Significant differences were observed among the genotypes for plant growth characters, foliage characters, flowering and yield characters and flower characters in both planting seasons. In both October and May plantings, TEG 5 and TEG 6 maintained greater plant height and the lowest plant height were found to be in TPG 17 and TPG 18. The maximum plant spread was recorded in TEG 5 in October planting and in TPG 21 in May planting. The highest number of primary branches per plant was recorded in TEG 6 followed by TEG 5 in October planting and in TEG 16 followed by TEG 5 and TEG 8 in May planting. The highest number of secondary branches was recorded by TEG 14 in October planting and by TPG 21 in May planting. Among flowering and yield characters, in October planting, the lowest number of days to flowering was recorded in Tagetes patula genotypes, TPG 19, TPG 18 and TPG 21 (33.33 days) and the lowest number of days to flower opening in TPG 21 and TPG 17 (45.33 days). In May planting, the Tagetes erecta genotype TEG 11 recorded the lowest number of days to flower initiation (49.00) and flower opening (68.33). TEG 29 recorded the longest flowering duration in both October and May planting. The maximum number of flowers per plant and flower yield per plant was observed in TEG 16 in October planting. In May planting, TPG 18 followed by TEG 16 recorded the maximum number of flowers. The genotype TEG 16 also recorded the highest flower yield per plant in May planting and the highest number of viable seeds per plant in both the seasons. TEG 11 recorded higher values for fresh weight of flower in both the seasons of investigation. In October planting and May planting, the highest value for petal meal per kg of fresh flowers was recorded in TEG 29 and the maximum petal meal per ha was recorded in TEG 5 in October planting and in TEG 29 in May planting. The highest total carotenoid content was recorded by TEG 3 followed by TEG 2 in both the seasons. Among the flower characters, TEG 5 the highest number of ligulate floret whorls and TEG 11 recorded the highest value for length of floret, flower diameter, girth of floral receptacle in both the seasons. Significantly higher flower stalk length was observed for TEG 3 and the longest vase life was recorded by TEG 7 in both the seasons of investigation. Genetic variability studies showed that genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) was higher than phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) for all the characters. High GCV and PCV and high heritability was observed for all the characters studied. Correlation studies revealed a highly significant positive correlation of flower yield with number of flowers per plant, plant spread, fresh weight of flowers, length of floret, crop duration and number of secondary branches per plant. Path analysis studies showed that fresh weight of flowers had the highest direct positive effect on flower yield per plant followed by number of flowers per plant and plant height. Cluster analysis based on D2 values divided the thirty genotypes of marigold into six clusters with Cluster V recording the maximum number of genotypes and Cluster I, the minimum number of genotypes.Seasonal evaluation of the genotypes showed that May planting was found to be better than October planting in terms of plant growth characters, flower yield and flower characteristics. Earlier initiation of flowering was however observed in October planting in all the genotypes. The present study revealed that, the Tagetes erecta genotypes TEG 5, TEG 29, TEG 25, TEG 30, TEG 22, TEG 11 and TEG 7 may be suitable for commercial loose flower production. The genotype TEG 16 with semiupright habit may be suited for plant compactness and flower production. The genotypes TEG 3 and TEG 2, with higher carotenoid content may be suitable for pigment extraction. The Tagetes patula genotypes, TPG 21 and TPG 18 with dwarf spreading plant habit and the Tagetes erecta genotype TEG 11 with semiupright plant habit may be suitable as flowering ground covers in landscaping. The wide range of genetic variability available in marigold genotypes can be utilized for further crop improvement programmes through direct selection and hybridization.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Standardisation of growing media and organic nutrition for juvenile anthurium plants (Anthurium andreanum Lind.)
    (Department of Pomology and Floriculture, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2005) Shajma Nafeesa, Basheer; KAU; Sabina George, T
    Anthuriums are herbaceous perennials belonging to the largest genus of the family Araceae. Anthurium andreanum Lind. called the ‘Painter’s palette’ flower is the most important species grown in the tropics. Anthurium cultivation on a commercial basis is gaining popularity in Kerala because of its high demand in the foreign market. The lack of proper management practices has increased the total period taken for the production of marketable flowers to nearly 2-2½ years. The present work was thus taken up with a view to standardize growing media and organic nutrient dosage for young anthurium plants, for enhancing their early vegetative growth and for earlier production of flowers having desirable floral attributes of size and quality. The experiment was carried out at the Department of Pomology and Floriculture, College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 2003–2005 with a view to standardize the growing media and organic nutrient dosage for young anthurium plants. The anthurium cultivar chosen for this study was Anthurium andreanum ‘Tropical’, a commercially important cultivar of Kerala. The treatments consisted of thirty six combinations of four media treatments namely sand + leaf compost (M1), sand + coir pith compost (M2), granite + leaf compost (M3) and granite + coir pith compost (M4) and nine nutrient treatments including weekly application of three cowdung treatments (2, 4 and 6 g l-1 extract) and bimonthly application of three organic manure mix (25, 50 and 75 g) treatments. Growing media, nutrient treatments and their interactions influenced vegetative growth, flower characters, vase life, fresh weight and dry matter production and nutrient content of leaves. Among the media, sand + coir pith compost was found to be the best for obtaining greater plant height, leaf area, leaf duration, petiole length at third and fourth week after emergence, shortest phyllachron, the highest fresh and dry weight of leaves and their N and K content. Plants grown in this medium also recorded earlier flowering, greater number of flowers per plant, increased spathe size, greater length and thickness of flower stalk and enhanced vase life. The inclination of spadix and its length and thickness were also found to be greater tending towards those of mature plants in this medium. Vegetative growth enhancement was also obtained with 4 g l-1 and 6 g l-1 fresh cowdung extract treatments at varying stages of growth. Greater fresh weight and dry weight of leaves were recorded in plants receiving 4 g l-1 cowdung extract at 165 and 225 DAT. These plants also recorded greater N and K content during the period while the P content was greater in plants receiving 6 g l-1 at these periods. Increased spathe size, lesser number of days to flowering, maximum length of flower stalk, maximum vase life and lesser number of days to harvestable maturity of flowers was obtained with 4 g l-1 extract. Application of organic manure mix were also found to give beneficial effects. Plants receiving 25 g organic manure mix recorded greater plant heights and leaf area during the latter stages of growth. This dosage also resulted in greater leaf duration and greater petiole length during the first and second week after leaf emergence. Fresh and dry weight of the leaves recorded were greater in plants receiving 75 g mix. The shortest phyllachron was recorded with 50 g dosage and the longest was recorded with 75 g / plant. The N and K content of the leaves were greater in plants receiving 25 g mix while the P content was greater in plants receiving 50 g mix. Spathe size, length of the flower stalk as well as the vase life of flowers was greater in plants receiving 25 g OM mix. The interaction between media treatment, cowdung and organic manure treatments were also found to influence the performance of plants.