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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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1981 - 198931990 - 19942
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Subject: Others × Author: KAU × End date: 1994 × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Resource management in urban co-operative banks in Thrissur district
    (Department of Co- operative Management, College of Co- operation and Banking,Vellanikkara, 1993) Babu, C V; KAU; Sukumaran, A
    Study on resource management in urban cooperative banks in thirssur district was conducted with the objective of examining the resource management practices of urban cooperative banks with special reference to the management of sources and use of funds, to identify problems and to suggest remedial measures thereof. Study observed that deposits constituted the lions share of total sources of funds of banks. The borrowings of the banks were negligible. Thre strong capital base of the banks helped to retain the credibility of the depositors, Reserves which contribute the major chunk of the owned funds, increased the total source of funds. The high proportion of fixed deposits in the funds mobilized caused to rise the interest liability of the banks. Since there are limits to control the interest cost, banks have to bring down their manpower and other expenses, improve revenue by the profitable deployment of funds, besides enhancing the mobilization of deposits for short periods. Among the three types of loans and advances, short term loans and advances occupied highest place. However, banks may further improve the share of short term loans in the funds deployment, which can ensure frequent recycling of funds, maximize profit and keep the liquidity needs met. The major part of investment in short term loans and advances were financed through fixed deposit mobilization. Funds were not rationally allocated from the view point of periodicity. Yielding lesser income to the banks, the investments increased enormously. The disproportionate growth of equity and debts of the banks intensified the risk exposure of funds portfolio. There had no direct relationship between risk and return of the banks and a proper risk return trade off is lacking in majority of the banks. Banks had kept excess liquid assets and liquid cash over and above the statutory requirements. This necessitated scientific evaluation of the liquidity needs to identify the funds blocked as idle and utilize the excess fund kept for profitable deployment. Credit deposit ration of the banks was below the desirable level and this affected the profitability adversely. The lending efficiency of the banks had also affected by the poor recycling of funds. Therefore, steps may be taken to improve, the credit deposit ratio, reduce mounting over dues, and ensure efficient management of risk and return which in turn calls for the scientific management of funds.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Performance of Rubber Clones in Pullengode estate in Ernad Taluk of Malappuram district
    (Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture,Vellanikkara, 1994) Ravindra Das, K; KAU; Prassannakumari Amma, S
    The study aimed at evaluating the performance of three clones of rubber viz. RRII 105, RRIM 600 and PB 235 in Ernad taluk of Malappuram district. Ten identical units in each clone were selected and details on girth and yield characters were gathered. The secondary characters such as resistance to diseases, tapping panel dryness, wind damage, yield depression during summer, dry rubber content, colour of latex etc. were studied. The study was conducted through personal visits and with the help of a pre – tested questionnaire. Some of the details were collected from the Rubber Board Regional Officer, Nilambur and from the records mainted in the Pullengode estate. The results of the study showed that the over all performance of the clones RRII 105 and RRIM 600 were satisfactory under the prevailing agro – climatic conditions in Malappuram district and in the hilly tract of Pullengode area. Available information from the estate showed that the highest yield was recorded for the clone RRII 105. It showed a fair degree of tolerance to abnormal leaf fall and pink disease than the other clones, but was susceptible to brown bast. The trees are being kept under the low frequency tapping system to control the occurrence of tapping panel dryness. The clone showed the lowest depression in yield of 16.19 per cent during summer. The clone recorded a dry rubber content of 39.65 per cent. The clone RRIM 600 occupied the second place in the overall performance and yield. The incidence of abnormal leaf fall and pink disease was not so severe. The powdery mildew and brown bast incidence were low. The yield depression during summer was 18.88 per cent. It recorded the highest dry rubber content of 39.75 per cent. Since the trees of the clone PB 235 were opened only in 1992, the yield pattern is not possible to be explained as it has not reached the stable stage. More data are required for a realistic comparison with the other clones. The susceptibility to abnormal leaf fall and powdery mildew was high. Incidence of pink disease was low. Tapping panel dryness was also not observed, perhaps being in the second year of tapping under low frequency system. The clone had light yellow latex of low dry rubber content of 31.45 per cent. In general Pullengode estate maintains the clones, RRII 105, RRIM 600 and PB 235 selected for the study under scientific and uniform conditions. The performance of the clones, except the slight variations inherant with each clone in growth, yield, susceptibility and tolerance to disease incidence, is found to be excellent. The clones are suitable for this region under the existing agro – climatic conditions and the recommended cultural practices.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Comparative Study of The Contribution of Biometric Characters on Yieldin Dessert and Culinary Varieties of Banana
    (Department of Statistics, College of Veterinary,Mannuthy, 1981) Vijayaraghava Kumar; KAU; George, K C
    Investigations on the different morphological characters were undertaken from the crop raised at the University Banana Research Farm, Kannara. The plants were grown in Randomised blocks of 3 replications. There were 58 varieties in dessert type and 30 in culinary varieties of bananas. The important morphological characters studied were height, girth, number of leaves, weight of hands, weight of fingers, number of fingers, length of fingers, thickness of fingers, number of hands, number of fingers per hand, length of peduncle and the yield. In both of the groups all of these characters were shown high significant difference among varieties. In many characters and in yield the ‘average values’ were slightly greater in culinary varieties. The correlation studies revealed that the phenotypic and genotypic correlations of all these characters with yield is positive. The path coefficient analysis on dessert varieties has shown that the character having maximum contribution to yield is weight of hands. The weight of fingers and number of fingers also influences the yield indirectly. In the case of culinary varieties of bananas the number of fingers had the maximum direct contribution to yield. In this group the conclusion made was that when the number of hands increases, the number of fingers per hand decreases which will bring down the yield. Studies on the discriminant function were also carried out in both the varieties. The genetic advance through discriminant function didn’t reveal any worth significance as the genetic advances through these functions were less than that calculated by straight selection (in both groups). Thus straight selection is enough for such purposes in these banana varieties. By fixing index values for all the varieties in the two groups selection was made easy. The best varieties obtained by this method were Chenkadali and Red Banana in dessert group and Peykunnan and Walha in the culinary varieties. The results from the path analysis has revealed that there is no need of putting any restriction on the dessert varieties. In the other group after putting restriction on ‘girth’ the genetic advance were calculated individually for the significant (the ones taken in this analysis) morphological characters. It has seen that ‘number of fingers’ had the maximum genetic advance. Finally by combining all the varieties in the dessert and culinary groups a combined selection index was also fitted. The genetic advances of this index was found to be nearer to that obtained from the analysis of culinary varieties.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Compatability among Varieties in Capsicum Annum L. and Frutescens L.
    (Department of Olericulture, College of Horticulture,Vellanikkara, 1984) Krisnakumari, K; KAU; Peter, K V
    Attempts at interspecific hybridization in the genus Capsicum have succeeded only in a few cases. Most of the crosses resulted in negligible seed set and flower fall. Capsicum frutescens is valued for its high pungency and also for the source of resistance to leaf curl and mosaic complex. An experiment was planned and carried out during 1982-83 at the Instructional Farm of the College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, Trichur to find out crossability and related aspects involving two cultivated varieties of Capsicum annuum (Jwala and K2) and three useful lines of Capsicum frutescens (White Kanthari, Green Chuna and Ornamental Type). All crosses including directs and reciprocals were found to be compatiable except in two combinations where white kanthari was used as the female parent. Relative efficiency of hand pollination, mixed pollination and pollination after NAA (15ppm) spraying on compatibility indicated that the crosses white kanthari x Jwala and white kanthari x K2 failed with hand pollination and pollination after NAA sprying whereas these crosses were successful with mixed pollination. Effect of maternal parent on crossability index and percentage seed set efficiency was found to be significant. The chromosome numbers of the five parental lines were found to be 2n= 24. Significant heterosis was observed for many of the characters. Genetic distance reveals that parents Jwala and Green Chuna were the farthest whereas K2 and ornamental Type were the closest. Maximum oleoresin content was in Jwala (16.83%) and in hybrids Jwala x ornamental Type had the highest (16.6%).
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Standardisation of the Technique of Stonegrafting in Cashew and Management Practices For Field Establishment
    (Department of Pomology, Floriculture and Landscaping, College of Horticulture,Vellanikkara, 1984) Shylaja, M R; KAU; Aravindakhan, M
    The studies on the propagation of cashew by stone – grafting was carried out at the College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during June, 1982 to May, 1983 to find out the season for stone – grafting, to study the effect of procuring of scions, to standardise the best method of grafting and to find out the proper size, thickness and age of the rootstock on percentage of success of grafting. The studies revealed that the months of August and September were most suitable for stone – grafting under Kerala conditions. The period from October to December was most unsuitable. Of the different treatments tried the treatment TI, where grafting was done by the cleft method using scion sticks defoliated 10 days ahead of the grafting operation was found to be significantly superior to all the other treatments. Defoliation 10 days prior to the grafting operation was definitely superior to five days procuring and non – curing. Similarly the cleft method was found to be better than splice method. There was no significant correlation between the percentage of success and the various weather parameters like quantity of rainfall, number of rainy days, maximum and minimum temperatures and relative humidity. The mist condition did not improve the ultimate take of the grafts. There was linear growth rate for the different growth parameters tested such as the girth of the stock and scion and height of the scion. Also the girth of the stock and scion exhibited the same growth rate giving a ratio of about one for all the treatments except for the treatment T1 (grafting by the cleft method using 10 day procured scions) of the grafts produced in the month of June. There was apparently no difference in the percentage success in stone – grafting prepared from 10 days old and five days old stocks. Stocks and scions of girth 2.1 to 2.4 cm was found to give better success than those of above 2.4 cm. Scions of length 8.6 to 10.5 cm was found to be better than those with a length of 4.5 to 6.5 cm, 6.6 to 8.5 cm and above 10.5 cm.