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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
    Interactive effect of UV radiation and elevated temperature on rice growth and physiology
    (Department of Plant Physiology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2018) Amjath, T; KAU; Girija, T
    Rice is a staple food for more than half the world’s population. The growth and productivity of the crop is intimately associated with climatic variants. Among different climatic factors, temperature and incidence of UV-B radiation are important. The incidence of stress (Temperature and UV) at different stages of growth determines the productivity of the crop. Hence the present study was undertaken with the prime objective of evaluating the interactive effect of UV-B radiation and elevated temperature at different phenophases of Uma rice variety and its effect on growth and productivity. The study was carried out at College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during Jan to May- 2018. The UV-B radiation and atmospheric temperature were maximum during this season. 14 days old Uma seedlings were used as plantingmaterial. It was grown under four different conditions, namely T1(10C lesser than ambient+ low UV-B), T2 (10 C higher than ambient+ low UV-B), T3 (20 C higher than ambient+ low UV-B), T4 (Open condition). The plants were kept in the polyhouses for 30 days during three phenophases of the crop viz, seedling to active tillering (P1), active tillering to early reproductive (P2) and early reproductive to harvest (P2) and returned to ambient condition to complete their life cycle. Morphological, biochemical, physiological and yield parameters were analyzed during the growth period. Exposure of plants to T1 (10 C below ambient) had least negative influence on growth, physiology and yield of the crop across different developmental stages. A 10C increase in temperature above ambient (T2) in phase 1 improved the yield and yield parameter. However the impact was negative under same condition during phase 2 (P2) and phase 3 (P3). Maximum deleterious effects were observed in T3 during phase 2 and 3. Plants grown in open condition had lower plant height and higher number of tillers as compared to plants grown in polyhouse condition (T1, T2 and T3). Number of days to heading was less in plants grown under high temperature conditions (T2 and T3). The photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate were maximum in T2 condition in all the three phases of growth. Analysis of biochemical parameters showed that the IAA content was 67 percent lesser in plants grown under open condition as compared to ployhouses during P1. Similar decrease was also found in the case of gibberellic acid and chlorophyll. Amylose content of the grain were significantly reduced in the plants grown under T2 and T3 conditions during P2 and P3. Plants exposed to temperature above ambient level (T2 and T3) during P2 and P3 stages recorded a reduction in yield. Maximum yield reduction was observed in T3 condition which was 13 percent in P2 and 56 percent in P3. Reduction in spikelets number and pollen viability were the main reasons. The study indicates that plants were most sensitive to high temperature stress during the P2 and P3 stages, which can contribute to drastic yield decline while, the early stress can have a positive influence on yield.