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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: Plant Pathology × Author: Anupama, N × End date: 1999 × Start date: 1996 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Effect of management practices on the incidence and intensity of grey blight disease of coconut
    (Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1997) Anupama, N; KAU; Padmakumari, G
    From a detailed survey on the occurrence of leaf blight disease of coconut in Thiruvananthapuram (Coconut Research Station, Balaramapuram and Instructional Farm, Vellayani) and Alappuzha Districts (Rice Research Station, Kayarnkulam) it was revealed that Pestalotiopsis palmarum (Cooke) Stey was the major pathogen causing grey leaf blight of coconut in both the areas. Curvularia sp. were also found to be contribute to this disease. Of the various media tested, best growth of P. palmarum was seen in potato dextrose agar and broth. Among the various carbon sources tested dextrose, starch and inositol were equally effective for the growth of P. palmarum and for Curvularia sp., Sucrose, dextrose and starch were the best carbon sources. A temperature of 25°C and 35°C was found to be optimum for the growth of P. palmarum and Curvularia sp respectively. Arecanut, cinnamon, clove, guava, mango, nutmeg and sapota intercropped with coconut in the three locations were found to be host of the pathogen P. palmarum. In vitro evaluation of fungicides revealed that Bordeaux mixture (1000 ppm) and Bavistin (2000 ppm) were superior in inhibiting the growth of P. palmarum on the other hand Bordeaux mixture (1000 ppm) and Dithane M-45 (1000 ppm) effectively inhibited the growth of Curvularia sp. Monitoring of the disease intensity over a period of 12 months has shown that grey leaf blight intensity was high in palms planted at closer spacing and which received no fertilizers. The disease intensity was minimum in palms with wider spacing and with higher level of fertiliser (N2P2K2). In general higher level of fertilizers and wider spacing may be considered as a management practice for controlling the incidence and intensity of the grey blight diseases in coconut palm in South Kerala.