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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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1977 - 197911980 - 19871
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Subject: Plant Pathology × Author: KAU × Author: Suharban, M × End date: 1988 × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Monographic studies on edible species of pleurotus and standardisation of the techniques for large scale cultivation
    (Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1987) Suharban, M; KAU; Chandrasekharan Nair, M
    Mushrooms have long been recognized as a food because of their nutritive value and flavour and hence are grown on commercial scale on many parts of the world. In recent years cultivation of Pleurotus species are becoming popular in many of the tropical areas. No effort has been made in the past to collect, identify, describe and catalogue the Pleurotus mushroom flora of Kerala and standardise the techniques for their large scale cultivation. The present study was therefore initiated to achieve the above objectives. Collection, identification and description of the Pleurotus flora naturally occurred in and around the College of Agriculture and parts of Trivandrum district were carried out with the help of a data sheet. Twenty species of Pleurotus properly identified were further subjected to detailed study. A key was constituted to enable easy identification of gill the twenty described species. Out of the twenty species described, eight species are new records for India. Among the common cultivable species of Pleurotus. P .sajor-caju was found to be the most suitable mushrooms for the warm humid climatic condition of Kerala. The optimum temperature for maximum growth of this mushroom was found to be between 15 to 50 *C. Comparative efficacy of various containers and substrates used for spawn production revealed that Maize and empty wine bottle were the best substrate and container respectively for spawn production. Trials on cultivation of P. sajor-caiu on logs of common trees revealed Mango tree log to be the best in getting higher yield. Polythene bag was found to be the best container in supporting maximum sporocarp formation. Straw of local varieties of rice were better than high yielding varieties of rice in supporting sporocarp, formation. Comparative efficacy of straw made into bits and small twists with six species of Pleurotus revealed higher yield of 775 g per kg of substrate with spawn of Pleurotus- sajor-caju establishing its superiority for cultivation in Kerala. Cultivation of P .saior-caju in different seasons of the year revealed that this mushroom can be successfully cultivated in Kerala all through the year on paddy straw.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Studies on the leaf spot and post harvest diseases of banana, and their control
    (Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1977) Suharban, M; KAU; Paily, P V
    Varietal susceptibility of different cultivars to the leaf spot diseases of banana was studied in an existing plantation, consisting of 18 varieties in the Instructional Farm, Vellayani. It was found that Robusta and Chakkarakeli were the most susceptible while Venattumonthan and Mass being the least susceptible. Different types of leaf spots viz., Cordana leaf spot, Deightoniella leaf spot, Helminthosporium leaf spot, Septoria leaf spot and Cercospora leaf spot were studied, and the fungi associated with them were also isolated, Growth and sporulation of all these fungi were studied in different media. Power oil was observed to be the best fungicide eventhough there was no significant difference between power oil, Difolatan and Bavistin in the fungicidal control of leaf spot diseases. It was found that carbondioxide does not have any role in enhancing the keeping quality. Both partial filling and complete filling of the gas were seem to enhance deterioration. When higher concentrations of benomyl were tried it was found that 600 ppm was superior to all other treatmentsIn 500 gauge polythene bags. Eventhough different fungicides like Bordeaux mixture, benomyl and lime water were tried in different gauges of polythene bags viz., 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450 and 500, 600 ppm benonyl in 200 gauge polythene bags was found to be the best in preserving the fruits followed by lime water, and Bordeaux mixture