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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: Julie, I Elizabeth × End date: 2009 × Start date: 2007 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Performance of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus spp.) on organically amended agrowastes
    (College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2009) Julie, I Elizabeth; KAU; Sheela, Paul T
    A study on “Performance of Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus spp.) on organically amended agrowastes” was carried out in the Department of Plant Pathology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, during the year 2006 to 2008. The study was conducted to find out the best agrowaste substrate and organic amendment for the cultivation of five species of oyster mushrooms viz., P. florida, P. sajor-caju, P. eous, P. tuber-regium and Hypsizygus ulmarius. The substrates used were paddy straw, saw dust, banana sheath, areca sheath, coir pith and rice husk. Rice bran, neem cake, dry azolla, vermiwash and dry biogas slurry were the organic amendments used for the study. Nutrient composition of mushrooms grown on different substrates and organically amended agrowaste was studied. Shelf life studies were also undertaken to find out the best packaging to enhance the shelf life of mushrooms stored under room temperature and refrigerated condition. The result revealed that, paddy straw was the best substrate for oyster mushroom cultivation giving early spawn run, mushroom production and maximum yield for all species. Coir pith and rice husk were found to be the least effective, resulting in poor growth and yield. Nutritional analysis of mushrooms grown on different substrates revealed that, the components varied with substrates and species. The minimum pest incidence was observed in paddy straw followed by saw dust while the incidence of weed fungi was absent in saw dust. Among the different species studied, minimum pest incidence was noticed in P. tuber-regium followed by P. florida and P. sajor-caju. The weed fungi incidence was minimum in P. sajor-caju followed by P. eous. Studies on the effect of different substrates on the microbial population associated with growth and yield of oyster mushrooms revealed that the population of bacteria increased with time whereas in case of fungi, the maximum number was observed during spawn run than harvest stage. The bacterial population was maximum in saw dust during harvesting stage in all the species, whereas the weed fungi was (Penicillium, Aspergillus and Trichoderma) was maximum in saw dust for P. florida and in paddy straw for P. sajor-caju, P. eous and P. tuber-regium. Among the substrates, paddy straw gave higher amount of crude protein. Among the different species studied, sporophores of P. florida recorded maximum crude protein content. The total carbohydrate content was maximum in mushrooms grown on saw dust. Oyster mushrooms grown on banana sheath recorded maximum total free aminoacid. Among the different species studied, P. sajor-caju gave higher amount of total carbohydrate and total free aminoacid. None of the substrates evaluated had show marked effect on the crude fibre and moisture content whereas significant variation was observed among the species. Among the different species, P. tuber-regium gave higher amount of moisture and crude fibre. Nutrient components such as N, P, Fe and Zn content was found to be maximum in mushrooms grown on paddy straw. Mushrooms grown on areca sheath gave maximum K and Mg content whereas those grown on rice husk produced the highest Mn content. Sporophores of P. florida recorded significantly higher amount of N, P, Mg, Zn and Mn whereas K content was maximum in P. sajor-caju. The sporophores of P. eous gave maximum Fe content. Based on the results of first experiment, paddy straw was selected as the best substrate and used for the second experiment to evaluate organic amendments namely rice bran (4,5 & 6 per cent), neem cake (1,3 & 5 per cent), dry azolla (4,5 & 6 per cent), vermiwash (5, 10 & 15 per cent) and dry biogas slurry (1:0.25, 1:0.5 & 1:1). Except dry biogas slurry, all organic amendments had superior effect in reducing the time for spawn run and increasing the yield. The performance of different species varied with organic amendments. The maximum yield was obtained in treatment with 15 per cent vermiwash followed by 4 per cent dry azolla. Among the different species, P. sajor-caju recorded maximum yield followed by P. eous. Crude protein, nitrogen and total carbohydrate content were maximum in mushrooms grown on paddy straw amended with dry biogas slurry at 1:1 proportion whereas the maximum total free aminoacid content was obtained from treatments with lower concentrations of dry azolla. Among the different species, P. florida gave significantly higher amount of crude protein and nitrogen whereas P. sajor-caju recorded maximum total carbohydrate. The total free aminoacid content was maximum in H. ulmarius. Moisture and crude fibre content varied significantly with species. Among the species, P. tuber-regium recorded maximum moisture and crude fibre content. Paddy straw amended with 5 per cent neem cake gave maximum P content. Potassium content was found maximum in mushrooms grown on paddy straw amended with 6 per cent dry azolla. Sporophores of P. florida recorded significantly higher amount of P and K. Investigations on the shelf life of oyster mushrooms showed that, mushrooms stored under refrigerated conditions gave maximum shelf life up to seven days. Mushrooms packaged in PP bags with out ventilation, mushrooms kept under vacuum packaging and mushrooms packaged in pin pricked PP bags were found as the best treatments with minimum PLW and decay per cent under room temperature. Under refrigerated conditions, mushrooms packaged in pin pricked PP bags and in PP bags without ventilation were found to have the maximum shelf life.