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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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  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Bioherbicidal potential of fungal pathogenes of water hyacinth [Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms]
    (Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture,Vellayani, 2003) Ancy Salim, M; KAU; Naseema, A
    The study entitled "Bioherbicidal potential of fungal pathogens of water hyacinth [Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solrns]", was conducted at College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram during 2001-2003. Fourteen pathogenic fungi of water hyacinth obtained from the survey conducted as a part of the DST project on "Biocontro l of water hyacinth using mycoherbicides" were used for the study. Fungi which were not identified earlier were characterized and identified based on the cultural and morphological characters and was confirmed by sending to Agharkar Research Institute, Pune. These three fungi viz., Bipolaris tetramera, Drechslera sp. and Pestalotiopsis guepinii, were new records on water hyacinth. The fungi varied in the symptom development on water hyacinth with respect to nature of symptoms, parts affected and the time taken for the symptom development. The intensity of infection by the fungi varied from 9.94 to 58.80 per cent. Only five fungi viz., A.eichhorniae, F. moniliforme, F. oxysporum (isolate 2), F. pallidoroseum (isolate 3) and I M. advena gave more than 45 per cent intensity of infection. Cell free metabolites of the various fungi also varied in the symptom development. Intensity of damage varied from 8.03 to 89.00 per cent. Maximum was recorded by M. advena followed by F. pallidoroseum (49.80 per cent), A. eichhorniae (48.80 per cent) and F. oxysporum (47.20 per cent). Host range of A. eichhorniae, F. moniliforme and F. oxysporum was studied in detail. A. eichhorniae infected only three weed plants out of the 37 cultivated and 39 weed plants tested. F. moniliforme infected five 11 cultivated and 11 weed plants. F. oxysporum was found to be pathogenic to seven cultivated and nine weed plants. Combined application of A. eichhorniae and F. p allidorose um recorded higher intensity of infection than when sprayed alone. A. eichhorniae was found to give effective destruction of the weed at 107 spores per ml concentration. A. eichhorniae at 107 spores per ml and F. p all idoroseum at lOll spores per ml together recorded more intensity of infection of 89.84 per cent than when sprayed alone. Talc based combination product of A. eichhorniae and F. pallidoroseum when sprayed at 10.00 per cent concentration recorded an intensity of infection of 93.20 per cent, 10 days after spraying. The formulated product could retain the viability of spores of the pathogens at room temperature for 15 days.