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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: Dhaniklal, G × End date: 2007 × Start date: 2000 × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Influence of host plants and soil moisture stress on the water relations in sandal
    (Department of Tree Physiology and Breeding, College of Forestry,Vell, 2006) Dhaniklal, G; KAU; Asokan, P K
    The influence of host plants and soil moisture stress on water relations in sandal was investigated in a pot culture experiment at College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara. Five host plants, Divi divi (Caesalpinia coriaria Jacq.), Casurina (Casuarina equisetifolia J.R & H.G. Forst), Pongamia (Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre), Lantana (Lantana camara L.) and Erythrina (Erythrina indica Lamk.) were selected for this study. The results showed that Sandal seedlings with and without host showed similar height increment, except when erythrina was the host. The host plant had no influence on most of the growth parameters of sandal seedlings. The collar diameter of sandal seedlings with and without host was on par during the early seedling stage and by the end of the experimental period it showed a significant difference. There was no significant difference in the number of leaves, leaf area and root length of sandal with different hosts. Haustorial connections were not recorded even after the experimental period. Sandal seedlings with Erythrina indica as host decreased the pre dawn water potential. Water stress decreased the seedling height, collar diameter, number of leaves, leaf area, shoot dry weight and total dry weight of sandal seedlings. Fully irrigating the pots once in three days resulted in better growth of sandal seedlings as compared to irrigation once in six days. Water stress increased the root length and root dry weight. Root length was found to be more for sandal seedlings which were irrigated once in six days compared to that, irrigated once in three days. Water stress decreased leaf area of sandal seedlings. Transpiration rate at 14:00 hrs was found to be more than that of transpiration at 8:00 hrs. Transpiration rate decreased with increase in soil moisture stress. Pre dawn water potential was lower for sandal seedlings irrigated once in six days compared to that irrigated once in three days. As the haustorial connections were not observed even after 270 days after planting it can be concluded that the difference in the seedling growth parameters of sandal with some of the hosts is due to the above and below ground competition for sun light, water and nutrients.