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

20051
Reset filters
Subject: Others × Author: Ampily, M × End date: 2018 ×
Reset filters

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    GxE interaction of semi-erect cowpea genotypes
    (Department of Olericulture, College of Horticulture,Vellanikkara, 2005) Ampily, M; KAU; Salikutty Joseph
    Experiments on “G x E interaction of semi-erect cowpea genotypes” were carried out at the Department of Olericulture, College of Horticulture, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, Thrissur during Kharif, Rabi and summer 2004-2005. Fifty accessions of cowpea collected from various parts of Kerala were used for the study. The study was aimed at identification of stable high yielding and dual purpose semi-erect cowpea accessions over different seasons. With regard to yield and yield contributing characters, summer season was found to be best. The performance of all the accessions during Rabi was inferior as compared to Kharif and summer. The accessions VS-1177, VS-1025 and VS-1179 performed better with a green pod yield of 9.5 tonnes, 6.9 tonnes, 6.2 tonnes per hectare respectively and a seed yield of 3.3 tonnes, 2.1 tonnes, 2.3 tonnes per hectare respectively tonnes per hectare. Along with these three accessions during summer the accessions VS-1172 and VS-1170; during Kharif the accessions VS-1174 and VS-1042 during Rabi the accessions VS-1175 and VS-1015 were also superior. The pest and disease infestation scenario during cultivation showed that the accession VS-1111 had a pod borer infestation below 2 per cent and can be recommended as a resistant variety. The coreid bug infestation was maximum during summer followed by Kharif and was nil during Rabi. None of the accessions were found to be resistant to coreid bug. The incidence of aphids was lowest during Kharif followed by summer and Rabi. The accessions VS-1230 and VS-1231 were free from aphid attack during all the seasons and can be considered as resistant varieties. There was no incidence of anthracnose during Rabi season. Considering all the seasons, the accessions VS-1294, VS-1047, VS-1171, VS-1286 (Varun), VS-1276 (Kanakamony), VS-1179, VS-1213, VS-1160, VS-1263, VS-1032, VS-1266 (Kairali) and VS-1248 were free from anthracnose. The incidence of collar rot was lowest during summer followed by Kharif and Rabi. There was no incidence of mosaic during Rabi. The study on analysis of variance revealed the presence of considerable variability for most of the characters among the genotypes. The magnitude of PCV was higher indicating a higher degree of environmental fluctuation in the case of green pod yield per plant (42.13), number of pods per plant (35.75) and seed yield per plant (35.33). GCV also revealed the same pattern of genetic variability as shown by the PCV for all the characters. High heritability of more than 60 per cent was noticed for characters like 100 seed weight followed by pod length, seed yield per plant, green pod yield per plant, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod and number of clusters per plant. The estimates of genotypic correlation coefficient were higher than the phenotypic correlation coefficient. Considering the G x E interaction, the accessions VS-1177, VS-1025 and VS-1179 were highly adaptable for green pod yield and seed yield per plant during all the seasons. Hence these accessions can be recommended as dual purpose, adaptable semi-erect cowpea for large scale cultivation throughout the year in Kerala.