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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: KAU × End date: 1978 × Start date: 1978 × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Morphological studies and quality evaluation of ginger (zingiber officinale rosco) types
    (Department of Horticulture (Plantation Crops), College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1978) Nybe, E V; KAU; Sivaraman Nair, P C
    A detailed study of 25 ginger types was conducted during the period from April 1977 to June 1978 at the College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara with a view to find out the feasibility of fixing up specific morphological characters to identify different types, to screen out ginger types with high yield, high quality and resistant or tolerant to pests and diseases and to study the quality variations at different periods of maturity. The study revealed that morphological characters are not reliable to classify the ginger types, although some of them can be identified by rhizome characters. The morphological characters such as length of leaf, leaf area index and number, length and girth of primary and secondary fingers were found to be positively correlated with yield. All the types studied are susceptible to the incidence of soft-rot, leaf –spot and shoot-borer. The type Maran was relatively tolerant to soft-rot whereas Rio-de-Janeiro was found to be the most susceptible type. Yield was found to vary significantly among the types studied. Maximum yield was recorded in Nadia followed by Bajpai, Maran and Narasapattom. Maximum oleoresin percentage was in Rio-de-Janeiro and highest percentage of oil recovery in Karakal. But the maximum yield per hectare of oleoresin and oil was in the type Maran. Fibre content was minimum in China and maximum in Kuruppampady closely followed by Maran. The yield, dryage and percentage of oleoresin, oil and crude fibre varied significantly among the different maturity periods studied. The percentage of oleoresin, oil and fibre was maximum at 165 days after planting. But the maximum yield per hectare of oleoresin and oil were found at 270, 195, 225 and 225 days after planting in Rio-de-Janeiro, Maran, Kuruppampady and Wynad Local respectively. Cultivation of the types Nadia, Bajpai and Maran is recommended for higher total yield of dry ginger for the plains of Kerala. Considering the low incidence of soft – rot and higher yield of oleoresin and ginger oil the type Maran is preferred
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Morphological studies and quality evaluation of turmeric types
    (Department of Horticulture (Plantation Crops), College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1978) Joseph, Philip; KAU; Sivaraman Nair, P C
    A study using 19 turmeric types was conducted during the period from April 1977 to June 1978 at the College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara with a view to find out the possibility of distinguishing different types based on morphological parameters, to screen out the types with high yield and quality, to evaluate their relative susceptibility or tolerance to important pests and diseases and to study the yield and quality variations at different periods of maturity. The study revealed that morphological characters are not reliable to classify the turmeric types, although some of them can be distinguished by rhizome characters. The morphological characters such as the height of plant, length and breadth of leaf, leaf area index, petiole length, number of leaves per tiller, number of roots per plant, length of root, length of primary fingers and girth of mother rhizome were positively correlated with yield, whereas the intensity of shoot borer attack was negatively correlated with yield. All the types were susceptible to the incidence of ‘leaf spot’, ‘leaf blotch’ and shoot borer infection. The type VK5 (Mannuthy Local) showed the minimum incidence of pest and diseases. The yield of turmeric showed significant variation among the types. Maximum yield of green turmeric was noticed in the type VKI (Chayapasupa) whereas the type VK5 (Mannuthy Local) recorded the maximum yield of cured produce. Significant variation was noticed among the types with regards to the oleoresin and curcumin content. The oleoresin content varied between 12.1 and 21.1 per cent and the variation in curcumin content was from 2.33 to 6.55 per cent. The uncured turmeric samples had a higher content of oleoresin and curcumin than that of cured samples. The yield, percentage recovery of dry produce, oleoresin and curcumin varied significantly among the different periods of maturity in case of the types VK4 (G.L.Puram-II), VK5 (Mannuthy Local), VK17 (Armoor Cll-324) and VKII (Vontimitta). The dry yield, curcumin and oleoresin per hectare were maximum on 270th day whereas the maximum percentage recovery of oleoresin was on 180th and 270th day after planting. The types VK5 (Mannuthy Local), VK1 (Chayapasupa), VK2 (Kuchupudi) and VK3 (Kodur) can be recommended for large scale cultivation in the plains of Kerala as these types are found to be superior in yield of dry produce, oleoresin and curcumin per hectare. Of these VK5 (Mannuthy Local) and VKl (Chayapasupa) are preferred because of the low incidence of pest and diseases. The optimum time of harvesting turmeric is found to be on 270th day after planting under Vellanikkara conditions.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Genetic variability and correlation studies in snake gourd (crichosanthos anguina L.)
    (Department of Olericulture, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1978) Joseph Pynadath, S; KAU; Gopalakrishnan, P K
    Studies were undertaken with 25 diverse snake gourd types in the Department of Horticulture (Olericulture), College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, to estimate the genetic variability, correlation coefficients and path coefficients in the crop, during 1977-78. The results have shown that the differences between the types were highly significant for all the 21 characters studied. The estimates of variance components and coefficients of variation have indicated that the major portion of total variability in most of the characters was due to genetic causes, heritabllity in the broad sense was found to be quite high for most of the characters but the heritabllity estimate of yield was only 45.90 per cent. The estimate of genetic gain has shown that by selecting five per cent superior plants from the available population, yield can be improved upto 35.66 per cent over the mean. Characters such as per cent ash content, crude protein per cent, percentage P, number of female flowers per plant, weight of individual fruit and vitamin C content which exhibited parallelism in the high estimates of heritabillty and genetic gain may be suggested to be due to the action of additive genes and can be straightly improved through selection. The type T.A.19 was found to be the highest yielder. Yield per plant was found to be highly associated with number of primary branches, days for opening of first female flower, weight of individual fruit, length of fruit and girth of fruit. The correlation coefficients among these yield components were also significant. Path coefficient analysis has shown that weight of individual fruit, girth of fruit, number of fruits per plant and node at which first female flower appeared are the more important characters contributing to yield, on account of their high direct effects. Number of female flowers per plant and length of fruit are also important characters as their direct effects were moderate and indirect effects substantial.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Genetic variability, correlation studies and path coefficient analysis in bittere gourd (Momordica Charantia L.)
    (Department of Olericulture, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1978) Ramachandran, C; KAU; Gopalakrishnan, P K
    Studies were undertaken with 25 diverse bitter gourd types in the Department of Horticulture (Olericulture), College of Horticulture, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, Trichur, to estimate the genetic variability, correlation coefficients and path coefficients, and also to formulate a reliable selection index for the crop, during 1977-78. The results have shown that the differences between types were highly significant for all the twenty one characters studied. The estimates of variance components and coefficients of variation have indicated that the major portion of total variability in all characters, except number of seeds per fruit, was due to genetic causes. Heritability in the broad sense was found quite high for all characters except number of seeds per fruit. Expected genetic advance has shown that, by selecting five per cent superior plants from the available population, yield could be improved by 4.08 kg per plant. Characters such as yield per plant, vitamin C content, number of fruits per plant, number of female flowers per plant, iron content and phosphorus content which exhibited parallelism in the high estimates of heritability and genetic gain may be suggested to be due to the action of additive gene and can be straightly improved through selection. Type B.G.23 was found to be exceptionally high yielding. Yield per plant was found to be highly correlated with length of main vine, weight of fruit, length of fruit, number of fruits per plant, number of female flowers per plant and number of primary branches per plant. The correlation coefficients among these yield components were also highly significant. Path coefficient analysis has shown that the weight of fruit, number of fruits per plant and length of main vine had high direct positive effects on yield. Number of primary branches per plant, number of female flowers per plant and length of fruit exhibited low and negative direct effects on yield. Multiple regression analysis resulted in fitting a function, indicating that, about 74 per cent of the fruit yield in bitter gourd could be predicted phenotypically, if the observed value for length of main vine is multiplied by 0.8990, number of fruits per plant by 0.0492 and weight of fruit by 0.0335 and from their sum of products 7.2168 is subtracted.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Standardisation of vegetative propagation technique in cashew with a view to reduce tho post-separation mortality of alr-layers
    (Department of Horticulture, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1978) Valsalakumari, P K; KAU; Damodaran, V K
    Investigation on the different aspect of the poet separation mortality of air-layers worn carried out on four year old cashew trees at the main campus at Vellanikkara of the Kerala Agricultural University during tho period of February 1977 to Juno 197Q. Air-layering was done at fortnightly interval and observation on the shoot growth worn recorded to find out whether there is any correlation between rooting of air-layer and tho shoot growth cycles. Wedge grafting was also tried no an alternative method for air-layerlng. The best time for air-layering in cashew was from February to April at which time the tree were in active growth phase as indicated by tho maximum percentage of shoot extension growth. Percentage of rooting in different Months wan positively correlated with tho percentage of shoots in flush and tho rate of shoot extension grown in tho respective month. Rooting was positively correlated with maximum temperature in tho respective month® and negatively correlated with total rainfall. Establishment was better in layers planted in polythene bags with the medians supplied with nutrient solution ns ooapared with pinnto not supplied with nutrient solution but the differences were not significant. Juno find July which arc tho heavy rainfall months in Kerala wore tho boot months for planting out air-layers directly in tho field. Establishment was improved by Keeping the layers in mist chamber. Treatment with IBA ppn and NAH 500 ppm produced the maximum number of rooted air-layers. treatment with IBA 250 ppm was tho boot in respect of the coon length of roots while IBA 500 ppm produced maximum number of roots per layers The highest percentage of establishment of air-layers was recorded by layers treated with IBA 500 ppm. Wedge grafting on eight month old cashew seedlings, though needed further standardisation, gave n better success in March compared to February.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Variations in seedling progenies of open pollinated cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.)
    (Department of .Horticulture (Pomology), College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1978) Gopi Kumar, K; KAU; Aravindhakshan, M
    The present investigations ware carried out in the College of Horticulture, Kerala Agricultural University, during the years 1976 to 1988 The study consisted of two aspects namely the variations of seedlings of different types of cashes in the nursery and the variations among seedling trees of a single selected mother tree, 2-20 in the main fields She object of this study was to find out the desirability or otherwise in selecting a single open pollinated mother tree for seedling purposes. She nursery studies were also intended to work out the relationship if any, that existed between the nut and seedling characters in order to fix a selection criterion of seeds or seedlings in cashew. The nursery studies revealed that the variation present in nut or seedling characters between different types or classes was more when compared to the variation within a type or class. Different types behaved differently in the extent of variation of nut and seedling characters. She fact that certain types recorded more variation in nuts and seedlings while others recorded least variation.Indicated the scope of selecting types with least variation.Seedlings from heavy nuts wore more vigorous in the nursery. Whether vigorous seedlings will continue to he vigorous and high yielding is an aspect for further investigations.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Quality Evaluation of Cashew Apple High Yielding Varieties
    (Department of Horticulture (Processing Technology), College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1978) Vilasachandran, T; KAU; Damodaran, V K
    Physico - chemical characters of cashew apple of sixteen varieties representing superior selections from the four Cashew Research Stations at Anakkayam (Kerala), Vridhachalam (Tamil Nadu), Vengurla (Maharashtra) and Bapatla (Andhra Pradesh) were studied during the period 1977-’78 in four year old trees of the cashew plantation in the main campus of Kerala Agricultural University at Vellanikkara. The objective of the investigation was to identify varieties producing superior quality apples. Variability in qualitative factors of the apple of sixteen varieties as well as seedling progenies of the same variety was studied in detail. The study revealed that the variety K 10-2 ranked first in respect of the mean weight, length, diameter, length/diameter ratio and juice content of apples. Variety M 6/1 recorded the maximum T. S. S., specific gravity and sugar. The sugar content of apple juice was entirely in the form of reducing sugars. With regard to ascorbic acid, K 27-1 topped the list. Minimum tammin was recorded by BLA-40. Maximum protein and pectin content was recorded by M 10/4. Vengurla 37-3 stood first in ether extractives and BLA-273 in crude fibre content. Apples of BLA-1 and Ansur 1-27 had the highest carbohydrate content. The residue of cashew apple left after extraction of juice was found to be rich in protein and ascorbic acid and so can be utilized as a constituent in cattle feed. Varieties BLA 139-1 and M 10/4 due to their high pectin content in residue may be utilized for extracting pectin. The study showed that considerable variation existed between the progenies of the same variety with respect to almost all characters studied. Positive correlation between the weight and juice recovery of apple was observed in all the varieties studied.