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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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1982 - 198911990 - 19961
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Subject: Plant Pathology × Author: KAU × Author: Vilasini, T N × End date: 1999 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Effectiveness of soil solarization for the control of soft rot disease in ginger
    (Department of Plant Pathology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1996) Vilasini, T N; KAU; Peethambran, C K
    The effectiveness of soil solarisation for the control of soft rot disease in ginger was studied at the College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, Thrissur during March 1992 to December 1993. The beds were inoculated with Pythium aphanidermatum, five days before the solarisation. Transparent, 150 guage polyethylene sheets were used for solarizing the beds. Maximum soil temperatures recorded were 63.00, 59.00 and 46.50 at 5, 10 and 15 cm depths in solarized soil, while, that in non-solarized soils were 49.50, 43.00 and 40.00C, respectively, at 5,10 and 15 cm depths. Temperature in the solarized soil at 5 cm depth was above 50.00 C for the entire solarisation period and above 55.00 C for 38 days, while, at 10 cm depth the temperature was above 50.00 C for 35 days and above 55.00 for five days. The soil temperature at 15 cm depth never reached 50.00 C during the solarisation period. Based on the soil and air temperature recorded, two simple regression equations at 5 and 10 cm depths, one simple equation at 15 cm depth and one multiple regression equation at 10 cm depth were developed for predicting soil temperature under polyethylene mulch. Rate of germination in ginger was enhanced by solarisation. Significant effect of solarisation was observed in controlling the pre and post-emergence rotting in ginger. Increasing the period of solarisation from 30 to 45 days did not result in a corresponding reduction in the pre-emergence rotting. Trichoderma incorporated neem cake amended 30 day solarized treatment was highly effective and recorded cent percent control of the soft rot disease, while, maximum disease incidence (90.67%) was in Trichoderma incorporated neem leaves amended 45 days solarized plots. Reduction in Pythium population ranging from 79.49 to 99.1 per cent was observed in solarized plots immediately after the removal of polyethylene sheets. Solarization reduced the total fungal, bacterial, actinomycetal and Pseudomonas sp. population in the field. Plants grown in solarized plots showed better colonization of VAM and Azospirillum. Significant reduction in the nematode population was recorded by solarisation. Solarization had a profound suppressive effect on the weed population and it lasted till harvest. Solarization effect was more pronounced in dicots. Eventhough, solarisation substantially reduced weed population, its effect was less in the edges. Bulbostylis barbata, Cynodon dactylon and Cyperus rotundus survived the solarisation effect. Increased growth response of ginger plants was observed as a result of solarization. Growth parameters like height, number of leaves/plant, number of tillers, number of roots, leaf length, leaf breadth, fresh weight of shoots and rhizomes were influenced by solarisation. Significant increase in the yield was obtained through solarisation. Trichoderma incorporated and neem cake amended 30 days solarized treatment gave the maximum yield/plant (623.23 g) and also per plot yield (10159.57 g), which was 5361 per cent more than that of control. Availability of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium was improved by solarisation. The initial cost of solarization is comparatively high, an amount of Rs. 52,500/- is required for solarizing one hectare of ginger field. An additional profit generated from this technique was Rs. 40,136/ha for 30 days solarisation.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Quick wilt disease of pepper-II: techniques for screening pepper varieties against quick wilt disease caused by Phytophthora palmivora(Butler) butler
    (Department of Plant Pathology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1982) Vilasini, T N; KAU; Abi Cheeran
    The present study on the quick wilt disease of pepper (Piper nigrum Lin.) was conducted at the College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara. The objective of this study is to find out a rapid and perfect technique to screen large number of Piper types (both open polinatede and hybrid seedlings) against Phytophthora palmivora (Sutler) Butler, the quick wilt (foot rot) organism of black pepper. P. palmivora is capable of producing phytotoxin in vitro. The leaves of P. nigrum assayed with the propagule-free dialysed culture filtrate of P. palmivora, produced necrotic symptoms typical of the natural infection. Five liquid media were tested for production of toxic metabolite by the pathogen. Out of this, Richards + yeast extract broth was found to be the best medium followed by potato dextrose broth which is on par with thiamine enriched synthetic liquid medium for Phytophthora. Seventeen p. nigrum types (open pollinated, hybrid and panniyur-1) were screened against P. palmivora. Three different plant parts namely, leaves (both detached and undetached), stem cuttings and roots were inoculated with viable pathogen and bio-assayed with propagule-free dialysed culture filtrate. The enoculation of the pathogen and administration of propagule-free dialysed culture filtrate on the leaves of potted pepper plants and detached leaves showed the same symptom expression as that of the natural infection of the pathogen. All the pepper types tested were found highly susceptible to leaf infection. Undetached leaves were found better to study the resistance of pepper plants to the disease, due to slow and steady development of symptom on inoculation with the pathogen. Stem cuttings of all the P. nigrum types were inoculated with zoospore suspension and bio-assayed with propagule-free dialysed culture filtrate. The lesion development in both cases were typio of the natural infection of the pathogen. All the pepper types tasted for the stem reaction showed no significant difference between the types, with respect to the symptom expression. The roots of cuttings were inoculated with zoospore suspension and assayed with propagule-free dialysed culture filtrates. In all the pepper types tested by both methods, the entire root system were found decayed within three days after the administration of culture filtrate and within five days on inoculation with zoospore suspension. All the seventeen P. nigrum types tested were found highly susceptible to root infection.