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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: Amrutha, E A × Author: KAU × End date: 2019 × Start date: 2018 × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Physiological studies on growth , yield and quality enhancement of chilli (Capsicum annuam L.) under different nutrient management
    (Department of Plant Physiology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2019) Amrutha, E A; KAU; Sudarsana Rao, V
    Chilli is a very important vegetable crop and has a great demand in the processing industry and export market. Chilli crop is more responsive to fertilizer application. Application of fertilizers in excess not only causes environmental problems but also reduces nutrient use efficiency, increases the cost of production and reduces the benefit-cost ratio. Nanotechnology is a newly emerging tool for solving these problems. Nano fertilizer has a particle size less than 100 nm. Due to its small size and water soluble nature it is easily absorbed by plants. The present study was carried out to understand the influence of soil and foliar application of nano NPK fertilizer and to compare with conventional fertilizers on growth, yield and quality attributes of chilli. The investigation on “ Physiological studies on growth, yield and quality enhancement of chilli (Capsicum annum L.) under different nutrient management ” was conducted at Regional Agricultural Research Station, Pillicode from September, 2018 to February, 2019. The experiment consisted of nine treatments with three replications laid out in randomized block design. The treatments were T1 : Control (soil test based nutrient management); T2 : Nano NPK granules (4:4:4); T3 : T1 + Nano NPK foliar @ 0.5 %; T4 : T1 + NPK 19:19:19 foliar @ 0.5 %; T5 : T2 + Nano NPK foliar @ 0.5 %; T6 : T2 + NPK 19:19:19 foliar @ 0.5 %; T7 : Organic POP (KAU, 2009); T8 : Organic POP + Nano NPK foliar @ 0.5 % and T9 : Absolute control. Nano NPK granules were applied as a basal dose and also as top dressing at 30 and 60 days after transplanting @ 0.33 g/plant. Foliar spray of Nano NPK and NPK 19:19:19 were given at 35, 65, 80 and 95 days after transplanting. Morphological observations namely plant height, leaf area per plant, number of leaves per plant, number of branches per plant, number of fruits per plant and fruit length were recorded to be maximum in the treatment, nano NPK granule with NPK 19:19:19 foliar spray (T6) followed by nano NPK granule with nano NPK foliar spray (T5). Integrated use of nano NPK granules with nano NPK foliar spray application (T5) enhanced the duration of crop and increased the root volume followed by T6 . Higher values of growth indices such as RGR, LAI and total dry matter production was observed in T6 (nano NPK granule and NPK 19:19:19 foliar spray) followed by T5 (nano NPK granules with nano NPK foliar spray). Physiological parameters such as transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, chlorophyll content, leaf relative water content, specific leaf weight, quantum yield (Y(II)), Fv/Fm and electron transport rate (ETR) were statistically on par in all the treatments and was significantly higher than absolute control (T9). Differential application of NPK 19:19:19 foliar spray (T6) and nano NPK foliar spray (T5) along with nano NPK granules increased the fruit yield by 28.07 % and 26.54 % respectively over control (T1). Organic management (T7) alone and organic management with nano NPK foliar spray (T8) recorded 25.54 % and 16.04 % lesser fruit yield than control (T1). However fruit quality parameters like ascorbic acid and oleoresin contents were maximum in the treatment receiving an organic management with a foliar spray of Nano NPK (T8). Maximum benefit cost ratio (1.73) was recorded in treatment T6 (nano granule with 19:19:19 foliar spray) followed by treatment T5 (nano granule with nano NPK foliar spray (1.61) compared to other treatments. The results obtained from the experiments indicated that the application of nano NPK fertilizer both as soil and foliar treatments has a direct positive effect on morphological and yield parameters, which is on par with the treatment involving soil application of nano NPK granules and NPK 19:19:19 foliar spray.