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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: Silviculture and Agroforestry × Author: Abijith, R × End date: 2018 × Start date: 2018 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Selection and evaluation of superior planting materials of Ailanthus triphysa (Dennst.) in Thrissur
    (Department of Silviculture and Agroforestry, College of Forestry, Vellanikkara, 2018) Abijith, R; Jamaludheen, V
    A nursery and field experiment was conducted to evaluate the superior performance of selected candidate plus trees of Ailanthus triphysafrom the Thrissur District, Kerala. The demand of this timber was very much increased because of its fast growing nature and diversity of utilizations. Hence, the tree improvement of this species is the need of the hour that might result increased quality and reduced rotation time. The possible gain expected through the phenotypic selection can also be directly utilised by the tree growers. The candidate plus trees were identified and selected by adopting the comparison tree method. The seeds collected were used to study the germination parameters at tree nursery of College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University. The initial growth performances of the progenies of the selected CPTs were evaluated at nursery in a completely randomised design and also at the field in a randomised block design and the data were statistically analysed using Analysis of Variance technique. The progenies of the selected CPTs showed significant variation in their initial growth parameters. The highest germination per cent of 83.50 was exhibited by CPT-11 and the lowest of 67 per cent by CPT-1. After the six months of observation in the nursery, CPT-11 attained the maximum height of 88.67cm and lowest height by CPT-5 (76.33cm). The maximum plant height (99 cm) and girth (21.04 cm)in the field was also exhibited by CPT-11. The CPT-11, CPT-10 and CPT-9 were the top performers compared to other selections. The CPT-1 was the inferior in the nursery and also in the field. The CPTs that exhibited superiority in germination percentage, germination value and mean daily germination also exhibited distinctively superior growth in the nursery and in the field. In fact, the identification and selection of superior quality planting materials of Ailanthus triphysahas a greater role in the tree improvement. The single tree selection is the best method for the production of superior progenies and this can be useful for the future afforestation and seedling production for getting high quality timber with short rotation period. From this study we recommend CPT-11, CPT-10 and CPT-9 for achieving these objectives.