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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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2020 - 20212
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Subject: Vegetable Science × Author: KAU × Author: Sherinlincy, A × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Evaluation of biostimulants in growbag culture of organic Amaranthus (Amaranthus tricolor L.)
    (Department of Vegetable Science, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2021) Sherinlincy, A; KAU; Refeekher, M
    The study entitled “Evaluation of biostimulants in growbag culture of organic Amaranthus (Amaranthus tricolor)’’ was conducted in the Department of Vegetable Science, College of Agriculture, Vellayani in order to evaluate the effect of biostimulants under different application methods in growbag cultivation of organic amaranthus. Amaranthus variety Arun was raised in seed bed and transplanted 21 days after sowing to growbags. Experiments were laid out in CRD with two factors replicated thrice for evaluation of biostimulants and method of application. Foliar application and wick fertigation were the two methods of application under the study for which wick fertigation were installed using pvc pipes and glass wool wicks were used. Biostimulants such as humic acid (3%), humic acid fulvic acid mixture (3%), moringa leaf extract (3%), vermiwash (3%), cow urine (ten times diluted), salicylic acid (50 mgL-1) were compared with RDF (0.22:0.11:0.11 g/plant) and distilled water (control) at weekly intervals. Humic-fulvic acid mixture @ 3% through foliar application significantly increased the height of plant (85.83 cm), leaf length (15.08 cm) and leaf width (6.80 cm). Vermiwash @ 3% through wick fertigation exhibited the highest number of leaves per plant (118.83). Humic – fulvic acid mixture @ 3% through foliar application was also effective in increasing the branches per plant (11.66) while distilled water through wick fertigation recorded least number of branches per plant (4.66). Longest root length (34.16 cm) was recorded when humic acid @ 3% were applied through foliar application compared to control (18.66 cm). Late bolting was recorded with humic acid @ 3%, humic-fulvic acid mixture @ 3% and RDF through foliar application. Earlier bolting was recorded in salicylic acid @ 50 mgL-1 through wick fertigation. Application of salicylic acid @ 50 mgL-1 through wick fertigation significantly increased the leaf/stem ratio (0.50) which was at par with vermiwash @ 3% through wick fertigation (0.45). The total fresh weight of leaves per plant was significantly higher (225.85g) for humic – fulvic acid mixture @ 3% followed by RDF and humic acid @ 3%. At first, second and third harvest, significantly higher yield per cutting was recorded in ten times diluted cowurine (30.64g), RDF (171.62 g), humic – fulvic acid mixture @ 3 % (170.73g) through foliar application respectively while the lowest was recorded by distilled water through wick fertigation. Humic – fulvic acid mixture @ 3% through foliar application also recorded highest yield per plant (646.01 g) compared to distilled water through foliar application (180.72 g). Humic acid @ 3% through foliar application enhanced vitamin C content (98.20 mg100g-1) while ten times diluted cow urine through wick fertigation recorded the lowest vitamin C (57.14 mg100g-1). Oxalate content was observed low for moringa leaf extract @ 3% through wick fertigation with 0.69 mg. Moringa leaf extract @ 3 % through foliar application enhanced the carotenoid content (7.38 mg100-1g). Ten times diluted cow urine through foliar application produced highest calcium content (3.70 mg100-1g). Biostimulants as well as method of application had no significant effect on stem girth and soil parameters such as soil pH, EC, organic carbon, available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. In conclusion, biostimulants and foliar method of application was found to be effective for improving growth, yield and quality of amaranthus in growbag organic cultivation. Among the biostimulants, humic – fulvic acid mixture @ 3% produced the highest plant height, leaf length, leaf width, branches per plant, fresh weight of leaves, yield and B:C ratio (1.35) compared to control (0.22).
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Evaluation of biostimulants in growbag culture of organic Amaranthus (Amaranthus tricolor L.)
    (Department of Vegetable Science, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2020) Sherinlincy, A; KAU; Refeekher, M
    The study entitled “Evaluation of biostimulants in growbag culture of organic Amaranthus (Amaranthus tricolor)’’ was conducted in the Department of Vegetable Science, College of Agriculture, Vellayani in order to evaluate the effect of biostimulants under different application methods in growbag cultivation of organic amaranthus. Amaranthus variety Arun was raised in seed bed and transplanted 21 days after sowing to growbags. Experiments were laid out in CRD with two factors replicated thrice for evaluation of biostimulants and method of application. Foliar application and wick fertigation were the two methods of application under the study for which wick fertigation were installed using pvc pipes and glass wool wicks were used. Biostimulants such as humic acid (3%), humic acid fulvic acid mixture (3%), moringa leaf extract (3%), vermiwash (3%), cow urine (ten times diluted), salicylic acid (50 mgL-1) were compared with RDF (0.22:0.11:0.11 g/plant) and distilled water (control) at weekly intervals. Humic-fulvic acid mixture @ 3% through foliar application significantly increased the height of plant (85.83 cm), leaf length (15.08 cm) and leaf width (6.80 cm). Vermiwash @ 3% through wick fertigation exhibited the highest number of leaves per plant (118.83). Humic – fulvic acid mixture @ 3% through foliar application was also effective in increasing the branches per plant (11.66) while distilled water through wick fertigation recorded least number of branches per plant (4.66). Longest root length (34.16 cm) was recorded when humic acid @ 3% were applied through foliar application compared to control (18.66 cm). Late bolting was recorded with humic acid @ 3%, humic-fulvic acid mixture @ 3% and RDF through foliar application. Earlier bolting was recorded in salicylic acid @ 50 mgL-1 through wick fertigation. Application of salicylic acid @ 50 mgL-1 through wick fertigation significantly increased the leaf/stem ratio (0.50) which was at par with vermiwash @ 3% through wick fertigation (0.45). The total fresh weight of leaves per plant was significantly higher (225.85g) for humic – fulvic acid mixture @ 3% followed by RDF and humic acid @ 3%. At first, second and third harvest, significantly higher yield per cutting was recorded in ten times diluted cowurine (30.64g), RDF (171.62 g), humic – fulvic acid mixture @ 3 % (170.73g) through foliar application respectively while the lowest was recorded by distilled water through wick fertigation. Humic – fulvic acid mixture @ 3% through foliar application also recorded highest yield per plant (646.01 g) compared to distilled water through foliar application (180.72 g). Humic acid @ 3% through foliar application enhanced vitamin C content (98.20 mg100g-1) while ten times diluted cow urine through wick fertigation recorded the lowest vitamin C (57.14 mg100g-1). Oxalate content was observed low for moringa leaf extract @ 3% through wick fertigation with 0.69 mg. Moringa leaf extract @ 3 % through foliar application enhanced the carotenoid content (7.38 mg100-1g). Ten times diluted cow urine through foliar application produced highest calcium content (3.70 mg100-1g). Biostimulants as well as method of application had no significant effect on stem girth and soil parameters such as soil pH, EC, organic carbon, available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. In conclusion, biostimulants and foliar method of application was found to be effective for improving growth, yield and quality of amaranthus in growbag organic cultivation. Among the biostimulants, humic – fulvic acid mixture @ 3% produced the highest plant height, leaf length, leaf width, branches per plant, fresh weight of leaves, yield and B:C ratio (1.35) compared to control (0.22).