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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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20202
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Subject: Seed Science and Production Technology × Author: Jyothish Babu, E × Author: KAU × Start date: 2020 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Influence of storage structure on seed longevity in rice (Oryza sativa L.)
    (Department Seed Science and Technology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2020) Jyothish Babu, E; KAU; Rose Mary, Francies
    Ageing of seeds is an inevitable natural deteriorative phenomenon, eventually resulting in loss of vigour and viability. Adopting appropriate storage, ensuring optimum storage environment have been advocated to slow down the pace of the deteriorative process during storage, maintain the seed quality and prolonging seed longevity. Considering the above, a study to elucidate the effect of different storage structure on seed longevity and quality of short duration rice varieties (Experiment 1) and medium rice varieties (Experiment 2) was conducted at College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, Thrissur, during 2019 - 2020. The storage experiments were conducted following a completely randomized design with four varieties replicated thrice under five storage conditions (SC1 to SC5), each varying from the other with respect to the type of roofing and provision of ventilation. The short duration varieties used in Experiment 1 were Harsha, Matta Triveni, Manurathna and Kanchana, while, the medium durations varieties in Experiment 2 were, Aiswarya, Sreyas, Jyothi and Uma. The quality parameters of seeds stored in SC1 (Asbestos + ventilation), SC2 (Asbestos + without ventilation), SC3 (R.C.C. + ventilation), SC4 (R.C.C. + without ventilation) and SC5 (Asbestos + forced ventilation) were recorded at the start of storage and subsequently at monthly intervals for a period of nine months. The temperature and relative humidity in each storage condition were recorded at weekly intervals. Varieties, storage conditions, the period of storage and their interactions were found to exert significant influence on seed quality and longevity in both short duration and medium duration varieties. Irrespective of the varieties and the storage conditions, the seed quality parameters viz., germination (%), vigour indices (VI-I and VI-II) and field establishment (%), declined over the storage period, whereas an increase in seed moisture content (%), electrical conductivity of seed leachate (dSm-1) and seed microflora, was observed. Germination and longevity of varieties Matta Triveni and Harsha was higher than that of varieties Manurathna and Kanchana. Seed longevity was higher (8 months each) in varieties Harsha and Matta Triveni compared to varieties Manurathna and Kanchana (7 months each). The seed vigour indices (VI-I and VI-II), field establishment (%) of Matta Triveni were significantly high, while the estimates of seed moisture (%) and EC of seed leachate were significantly low in Kanchana. In case of medium duration varieties, although germination was higher in varieties Aiswarya and Shreyas compared to Jyothi and Uma, the longevity of seeds in all varieties was retained for eight months. Germination, vigour (VI-II) and field establishment (%) was significantly high in Aiswarya, while the seed moisture and EC of seed leachate was found to be significantly low in Sreyas. Variety Uma registered significant low seed quality parameters. In both short and medium duration varieties, the quality of seeds stored under ventilated conditions (SC1, SC3 and SC5) was found to be the significantly superior to those stored in non-ventilated structures (SC2 and SC4). Irrespective of the type of roofing (Asbestos or R.C.C), seed longevity in ventilated godowns were found to be retained above IMSCS, one month longer (8 MAS) than when stored under nonventilated environment (7 MAS). The interaction between varieties, storage condition and the period of storage, indicated that seed longevity in all medium duration varieties stored under ventilated storage and non-ventilated storages was eight and seven months respectively. Unlike in the medium duration group, the longevity of all the longevity of short duration varieties Matta Triveni and Harsha was higher by a period one month i.e., 8 MAS, when stored under ventilated environments conditions viz., R.C.C. + ventilation (SC3), Asbestos + ventilation (SC1) and Asbestos + forced ventilation (SC5) as against 7 MAS under non-ventilated storage [Asbestos + without ventilation (SC2), R.C.C. + without ventilation (SC4)] High temperature and relative humidity within the storage environment strongly influenced germination and seed longevity. The decline in germination was found to be more pronounced when the seed was exposed to high temperatures in the early period of storage i.e., between 1 and 13th week, while high RH during the 2nd half of the storage period (i.e., between 24th and 36th week), proved to be detrimental to seed longevity. Among the storage structures, the temperature and RH inside ventilated storage (SC3, SC1 and SC5) was relatively lower than that in non-ventilated structure (SC4 and SC4). Marginal variations in temperature and RH was evident between the ventilated stores, with the least estimate in Asbestos + forced ventilation (SC5). However, most quality parameters and longevity of seeds in these conditions were on par with each other. From the above results, it can be summarized that storing seeds in ventilated storage structures, was clearly advantageous over storing them under non-ventilated conditions. Only marginal variations in seed quality parameters was observed between the ventilated conditions. Neither did storing seed in godowns with provision for forced ventilation improve the longevity of stored seeds over those with provision for natural ventilation. Incurring additional expenditure on installation, maintenance and operation of forced ventilation system did not to confer any additional benefits. Considering all the above, it would be more advantageous to store seeds under ventilated conditions with provision for natural ventilation.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Influence of storage structure on seed longevity in rice (Oryza sativa L.)
    (Department Seed Science and Technology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2020) Jyothish Babu, E; KAU; Rose Mary, Francies
    Ageing of seeds is an inevitable natural deteriorative phenomenon, eventually resulting in loss of vigour and viability. Adopting appropriate storage, ensuring optimum storage environment have been advocated to slow down the pace of the deteriorative process during storage, maintain the seed quality and prolonging seed longevity. Considering the above, a study to elucidate the effect of different storage structure on seed longevity and quality of short duration rice varieties (Experiment 1) and medium rice varieties (Experiment 2) was conducted at College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, Thrissur, during 2019 - 2020. The storage experiments were conducted following a completely randomized design with four varieties replicated thrice under five storage conditions (SC1 to SC5), each varying from the other with respect to the type of roofing and provision of ventilation. The short duration varieties used in Experiment 1 were Harsha, Matta Triveni, Manurathna and Kanchana, while, the medium durations varieties in Experiment 2 were, Aiswarya, Sreyas, Jyothi and Uma. The quality parameters of seeds stored in SC1 (Asbestos + ventilation), SC2 (Asbestos + without ventilation), SC3 (R.C.C. + ventilation), SC4 (R.C.C. + without ventilation) and SC5 (Asbestos + forced ventilation) were recorded at the start of storage and subsequently at monthly intervals for a period of nine months. The temperature and relative humidity in each storage condition were recorded at weekly intervals. Varieties, storage conditions, the period of storage and their interactions were found to exert significant influence on seed quality and longevity in both short duration and medium duration varieties. Irrespective of the varieties and the storage conditions, the seed quality parameters viz., germination (%), vigour indices (VI-I and VI-II) and field establishment (%), declined over the storage period, whereas an increase in seed moisture content (%), electrical conductivity of seed leachate (dSm-1) and seed microflora, was observed. Germination and longevity of varieties Matta Triveni and Harsha was higher than that of varieties Manurathna and Kanchana. Seed longevity was higher (8 months each) in varieties Harsha and Matta Triveni compared to varieties Manurathna and Kanchana (7 months each). The seed vigour indices (VI-I and VI-II), field establishment (%) of Matta Triveni were significantly high, while the estimates of seed moisture (%) and EC of seed leachate were significantly low in Kanchana. In case of medium duration varieties, although germination was higher in varieties Aiswarya and Shreyas compared to Jyothi and Uma, the longevity of seeds in all varieties was retained for eight months. Germination, vigour (VI-II) and field establishment (%) was significantly high in Aiswarya, while the seed moisture and EC of seed leachate was found to be significantly low in Sreyas. Variety Uma registered significant low seed quality parameters. In both short and medium duration varieties, the quality of seeds stored under ventilated conditions (SC1, SC3 and SC5) was found to be the significantly superior to those stored in non-ventilated structures (SC2 and SC4). Irrespective of the type of roofing (Asbestos or R.C.C), seed longevity in ventilated godowns were found to be retained above IMSCS, one month longer (8 MAS) than when stored under nonventilated environment (7 MAS). The interaction between varieties, storage condition and the period of storage, indicated that seed longevity in all medium duration varieties stored under ventilated storage and non-ventilated storages was eight and seven months respectively. Unlike in the medium duration group, the longevity of all the longevity of short duration varieties Matta Triveni and Harsha was higher by a period one month i.e., 8 MAS, when stored under ventilated environments conditions viz., R.C.C. + ventilation (SC3), Asbestos + ventilation (SC1) and Asbestos + forced ventilation (SC5) as against 7 MAS under non-ventilated storage [Asbestos + without ventilation (SC2), R.C.C. + without ventilation (SC4)] High temperature and relative humidity within the storage environment strongly influenced germination and seed longevity. The decline in germination was found to be more pronounced when the seed was exposed to high temperatures in the early period of storage i.e., between 1 and 13th week, while high RH during the 2nd half of the storage period (i.e., between 24th and 36th week), proved to be detrimental to seed longevity. Among the storage structures, the temperature and RH inside ventilated storage (SC3, SC1 and SC5) was relatively lower than that in non-ventilated structure (SC4 and SC4). Marginal variations in temperature and RH was evident between the ventilated stores, with the least estimate in Asbestos + forced ventilation (SC5). However, most quality parameters and longevity of seeds in these conditions were on par with each other. From the above results, it can be summarized that storing seeds in ventilated storage structures, was clearly advantageous over storing them under non-ventilated conditions. Only marginal variations in seed quality parameters was observed between the ventilated conditions. Neither did storing seed in godowns with provision for forced ventilation improve the longevity of stored seeds over those with provision for natural ventilation. Incurring additional expenditure on installation, maintenance and operation of forced ventilation system did not to confer any additional benefits. Considering all the above, it would be more advantageous to store seeds under ventilated conditions with provision for natural ventilation.