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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: Others × Author: KAU × Author: Mohan, N × End date: 2009 × Start date: 2000 × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Seed invigoration and dormancy studies in snake gourd
    (Department of Olericulture, College of Horticulture,Vellanikkara, 2005) Mohan, N; KAU; George, T E
    “Seed invigoration and dormancy studies in snake gourd (Trichosanthes anguina L.)” were carried out at Department of Olericulture, College of Horticulture, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, Thrissur during 2004-2005. This study aimed at standardizing seed invigoration techniques in snake gourd that can break dormancy and improve seed vigour and studying the impact of invigoration techniques on storability as well as field performance. Among the different invigoration treatments tried, mechanical scarification by way of seed rupturing was the most effective one followed by acid treatments (5N H2SO4, 5N HCl and 5N HNO3 for 10-20 minutes), hot water soaking (400 C for 5 minutes) and treatment with 1 % KNO3 for 12 hours. These treatments could break the dormancy of snake gourd seeds from the freshly extracted state onwards and improve the seed vigour. From the fourth month onwards, untreated seeds also showed higher germination. Treatments such as water soaking, GA3 250 / 500 ppm, NAA 100 ppm, 0.5 % NaH2PO4 and 0.5 % KH2PO4 did not show any positive influence on dormancy release. It is evident from the present study that dormancy in seeds of snake gourd is due to water impermeable seed coat and this is naturally broken only four months after extraction and if the seeds are to be used immediately after extraction or till three months afterwards, an invigoration treatment is inevitable. An insight in to the changes in the anatomy of seed coat thickness revealed the differences in the layer wise coat thickness of invigorated seeds, stored seeds and fresh seeds. The stored seeds had lesser coat thickness as in the case of invigorated seeds. In contrast, untreated fresh seeds had higher coat thickness and this acts as a mechanical barrier for water imbibition. The study on moisture imbibition rate revealed that the seeds subjected to mechanical scarification imbibed water more rapidly after 24 hours and resulted in higher and early germination and high speed of release of dormancy. The stored seeds as well as seeds invigorated with acids and hot water also displayed high imbibition rate due to reduced seed coat thickness and opening of specialized cracks in seed coat. On the other hand, untreated seeds showed lesser water imbibition. There was a gradual reduction in quality parameters like germination percentage, speed of germination and vigour indices during storage of invigorated seeds. This indicates that the invigorated seeds can be supplied to farmers only for immediate use and they are not amenable to storage beyond one to two months. Electrical conductivity of seed leachates was significantly influenced by the invigoration treatments during the period of storage. The EC values showed increasing trend with increase in duration of storage. This confirms the usefulness of electrical conductivity study as a rapid and effective indicator of seed deterioration during storage. The seeds subjected to mechanical scarification and seeds from previous Kharif crop were found to have maximum field emergence and the seeds treated with 1 % KNO3 recorded highest fruit set, earliness, higher yield, maximum fruit weight as well as higher seed yield followed by stored seeds from previous Kharif crop. All other treatments were also superior in field performance when compared to untreated fresh seeds. Thus it can be seen that the initial advantage gained through seed invigoration has been sustained to a larger extent in the field performance as well.