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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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19933
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Subject: Others × End date: 1993 × Start date: 1990 × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Studies on tractor mounted paddy reaper
    (Department of Farm Power Machinery and Energy, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology,Tavanur, 1993) Sujatha Elavana, KAU; Sivaswami, M
    A tractor front mounted 2.2 m paddy reaper-windrower was jot fabricated from Punjab. Medications were carried out to suit to Kerala conditions. Power is drawn from the PTO shaft of the tractor through the intermediate shaft to the auxiliary gearbox of the reaper. From the gearbox power is transmitted to cutterbar and conveying assemblies. The reaper assembly is connected to the hydraulic link of the tractor through wire ropes and ‘A’ frames for lifting and lowering of the reaper. The crop is cut by the reciprocating knife and is conveyed through crop row dividers, starwheels pressure springs and lugged conveyor belts and is discharged as a neat windrow. The weight distribution of tractor with and without the reaper on all the four wheels were studied. It was found that in addition to the weight of the reaper at the front axle, a weight of 85 kg is transferred from the rear axle to the front axle when the reaper is mounted at the front of the tractor. The weight of the reaper is equally shared by the left and right wheels without effecting the stability. The idle power requirement of the cutterbar, conveyor belts, universal joints, intermediate shaft and the total power requirement are found to be 0.625 hp, 2.595 hp, 0.09 hp, 0.185 hp and 3.495 hp respectively. The cost of the reaper is Rs.20,000. the average field capacity is found to be 0.37 ha/hr. The circuitous pattern of harvesting is found economical compared to the reverse pattern. The preharvest loss, sickle loss, uncut loss, shattering loss and total cutterbar loss were found to be 0.004 per cent, 0.87 per cent, 2.2 per cent and 2.28 per cent respectively. Manual harvesting costs Rs.1625/ha whereas reaper needs only Rs. 400/ha having a saving of Rs.1225/ha in addition to timeliness of work and saving in manual labour upto 186 man-h/ha. It is established that the tractor front mounted paddy reaper-windrower is an appropriate agricultural machine which suites technically and economically to Kerala conditions and helps to reduce the cost of cultivation of paddy and is recommended for popularization.
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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
    In Virto Multiplication and Standardisation of Hardening Techniques in Pineapple (Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.)
    (Department of pomology and floriculture, College of horticulture,Vellanikkara, 1993) Prabha J; Keshavachandran R
    Studies were conducted on in vitro multiplication and standardization of hardening techniques in pineapple (Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.) at the Tissue Culture Laboratory of the All India Co – ordinated Floriculture Improvement Project attached to the Department of Pomology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during 1991 – 1993. Surface sterilization treatment was standardized for crown explants. Among the different treatments tried, treatment with Emisan 0.1 per cent for 30 minutes followed with mercuric chloride 0.1 per cent for 10 minutes was found to be the best. Explants collected in the months of January and February gave the least contamination and maximum survival percentage. MS medium with BA 5.0 mg/1 inche alone or in combination with NAA 1.0 mg/1 inche gave maximum establishment of the explants. The globular structures were formed at maximum intensity within the shortest time of 5.96 days in MS medium supplemented with BA 5.0 mg/1 inche and NAA 1.0 mg/1 inche. Among the three cytokinins tried, the fastest response and the highest intensity of globular structures was obtained with BA followed by KIN and 2ip. Maximum shoot proliferation (11.9 per culture) was obtained with basal MS medium in which cent per cent of the cultures developed vigorous dark green shoots. Rooting of the in vitro derived shoots was obtained in in vitro as well as ex vitro conditions. Hundred per cent in vitro rooting was obtained in basal MS medium as well as in media supplemented with various concentrations of IBA and NAA. The fastest rooting (in 8.54 days) was obtained in the basal medium. Rooting was also faster in liquid medium compared to solid medium. In solid medium, early root initiation and the maximum length of roots were observed with 0.65 per cent agar concentration. Among the ex vitro rooting treatments tried, treatment with the rooting powder Rooton resulted in the fastest rooting and the maximum length of the roots. Profuse rooting of the shoots was obtained without using growth regulators by keeping them in a mist chamber. Treatments were standardised for successful transfer of the plantlets to the outside environment. Hundred per cent survival of the plantlets was obtained by immersing the roots of the plantlets in sterile water for 18 hr prior to transplanting. Among the different containers tried, plantlets grown in plastic pots, in general showed maximum vigour with respect to the number of leaves, height and width of the largest leaf, followed by those in mud pots and poly bags. The maximum percentage increase in these parameters was observed for the plantlets in pro-trays. Potting mixes such as cocopeat, soilrite, biofibe and vermiculite were found to be better in inducing vigorous growth of the plantlets. Plantlets grown in plastic pots with cocopeat or plastic bags with soilrite mix, in general, grew more vigorously. A nutrient starter solution of NPK fertilizer solution once a week or one fourth strength basal MS salts was found to be sufficient to induce healthy growth of the transplanted plantlets in the early stages of growth. To induce better growth of the plantlets in the later stages, application of the NPK fertilizer solution twice a week or Hoagland’s solution once a week was found to be better. Encapsulated beads were successfully formed with the differentiating globular bodies formed from the primary explants. The globular bodies could be encapsulated using 2.5 per cent sodium alginate and 75 mM calcium chloride with a complexation time of 30 minutes. The plantlets after 90 days of growth in the greenhouse with a minimum height of 10 cm and 12 leaves were successfully transferred to soil.