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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 Physiology × Author: Amritha Lekshmi, M G × Author: KAU × End date: 2019 × Start date: 2018 × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Physiological and biochemical studies on growth, development and yield of ginger (Zingiber officinale rosc.)as influlenced by bioinoculants and phosphorus fertilization
    (Department of Plant Physiology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2018) Amritha Lekshmi, M G; KAU; Viji, M M
    The experiment entitled " Physiological and biochemical studies on growth,development and yield of ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) as influenced by bionoculants and phosphorus fertilization," was undertaken at Department of Plant Physiology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 2016-18. The objective of the study was to elicit information on the physiological, biochemical attributes on plant growth, development and yield of ginger as influenced by bioinoculants such as mycorrhiza and Trichoderma viride combined with phosphorus fertilization. In this study ginger cultivar maran was grown in pots under completely randomized block design (CRD). Different levels of ‘P’ were applied to soil in pots viz. low (P2O5 -50% POP), medium (P2O5 as per POP) and high (P2O5 double dose of POP). The pots were inoculated with AMF or Trichoderma or both together in combination as per the treatments during the time of planting. Control plants were also maintained. The treatments were T1- control(P2O5 as per POP ),T2(P2O5 as per POP +AMF),T3 (P2O5 as per POP +Trichoderma), T4( P2O5 as per POP +AMF+ Trichoderma),T5 (P2O5-50% of POP),T6 ( P2O5-50% of POP +AMF),T7( P2O5-50% of POP +Trichoderma),T8 (P2O5-50% of POP +AMF+ Trichoderma ), T9 (P2O5-Double dose of POP), T10 (P2O5-Double dose of POP +AMF),T11 (P2O5-Double dose of POP +Trichoderma) and T12(P2O5-Double dose of +AMF+ Trichoderma). Effect of microbial inoculation and phosphorous fertilization on growth parameters such as shoot height, number of leaves , number of tillers and fresh ginger yield were observed at fourth ,sixth and eighth month. T6 recorded highest plant height up to sixth month but at eighth month, T8 recorded 42% increase in shoot height over control. T8 recorded maximum number of leaves and was found on par with T4 and T6. At maturity stage 64.2 % increases in number of tillers were observed in both treatments T4 and T6 than control. At final stage maximum fresh weight of ginger was recorded in T8 .At fourth month highest rhizome fresh weight was recorded in treatment T8 and was on par with T4. At sixth month maximum rhizome fresh weight was noticed for the treatment T8 and was on par with T6 .Plants which did not receive any microbial inoculation showed less values for all the above parameters at all stages. Physiological parameters such as photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance and leaf temperature did not show any significant difference at maturity stage. Treatment T8 recorded maximum value at fourth and sixth month for these parameters. A significant difference was observed among the treatments for chlorophyll and carotenoid content. Total chlorophyll content showed an increase in trend but at maturity chlorophyll content decreased in all treatments due to senescence. Throughout the growth stages, T8 recorded significantly higher value for chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll content. Chlorophyll stability index and cell membrane stability index of the plants under different treatments were found to be significantly different and treatment T8 recorded maximum value in all stage of analysis. Uptake of major nutrients such as N, P, K, Ca and Mg increased with microbial inoculation. Treatment T8 with combined inoculation of AMF and trichoderma and half dose of ‘P’ showed 49.2%, 58.4%, 120.6% and 20% increase in total protein, total sugar, phenol and reducing sugar content respectively at maturity stage. Significant difference existed for AMF colonisation percentage and AMF spore count between the treatments. Treatment T8 recorded maximum value for both the parameters along with T4 and T6.At sixth month AMF colonisation reached 100% for treatment T8. A decrease in trend was observed at final stage due to wilting of roots. Effect of microbial inoculants on yield parameters such as fresh weight, dry weight, rhizome thickness, rhizome spread and harvest index were studied. Treatment T8 recorded 35.5% and 39.2% increase in fresh and dry ginger yield over control. Highest rhizome spread was observed in treatment T8 and was found on par with T4 and T12 and the lowest value was obtained in control and T5. Rhizome thickness was recorded maximum in the treatment T8 and was found on par with T3, T4, T6 and T10. At maturity stage there was significant difference among the treatments for the harvest index. Volatile oil content at maturity stage ranged between 1.5% to 3% for different treatments. Treatment T8 recorded 65.7% increase in volatile oil content over control. Treatment T8 recorded highest oleoresin content (65.8%) and was on par with T6. Starch content also recorded highest value for treatment with half dose of phosphorus and combined application of microbes. This treatment recorded 28.8 % increase in starch content than control. Decrease in crude fibre content increase the quality of ginger. Microbial inoculation resulted in reduction of crude fibre content in ginger rhizomes. Maximum fibre content was recorded for the treatment T9 followed by control. Least value was recorded for treatment T8. Gingerol content was estimated by HPLC analysis. Gingerol is an important phytochemical which impart medicinal property to ginger. Microbial inoculation significantly changed gingerol content .Treatment T4 (0.96%) followed by T8 (0.85%) recorded highest value. Arbuscular mycorrhizal and trichoderma inoculation along with phosphorous fertilization has significantly improved growth ,yield and quality of ginger not only through increasing nutrient uptake, but also viz. stimulating photosynthetic parameters and biochemical properties of the ginger particularly under low phosphorous fertilization. Number of tillers, number of leaves and yield was recorded maximum for the treatments with microbial application. This was mainly due to increase in uptake of nutrients, especially in rhizome of ginger. Microbial inoculation increased total protein content, reducing sugar, total sugar content in ginger. However, these benefits in response to the microbial inoculation generally decreased when there was an increase in P fertilizer added to the soil, suggesting that phosphorous reduced AMF colonization and the corresponding effects. Microbial inoculation resulted in enhanced production of phenolic compounds such as gingerol (65.4 % increase over control) in rhizomes. Therefore the best treatment identified is half dose of phosphorous and combined inoculation of AMF and trichoderma. Hence it is concluded that microbial inoculation could replace fertilization application, especially the recommended dose of ‘P’ fertilization up to 50 %. It enhanced growth, development and yield of ginger. It is a feasible technique for the production of ginger plants with increased quantities of oleoresin and volatile oil and also to improve the medicinal value of ginger by increasing gingerol content.