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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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Author: Ajith, P M × End date: 2001 × Start date: 2001 × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Variability and path analysis in bush type vegetable cowpea
    (Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2001) Ajith, P M; KAU; Sunny K, Oommen
    The present investigation aimed at evaluation of variability for yield and its association with yield related characters along with their direct and indirect influence on yield was carried out at the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Agriculture, Vellayani. Data for the study was generated from a field experiment conducted during the period 2000-2001. Twenty genotypes of bush type vegetable cowpea which included six improved varieties and 14 local cultivars were evaluated for yield and related characters in a field experiment in randomised block design with three replications. Analysis of variance revealed high variability among the genotypes for all the characters studied viz., days to 50 per cent flowering, number of days to first harvest, length of harvest period, duration, length of main stem, number of primary branches, number of pod clusters per plant, number of pods per cluster, number of pods per plant, pod length, pod girth, pod weight, number of seeds per pod and yield of green pods per plant. High phenotypic arid genotypic coefficients of variation were observed for length of main stem, number of primary branches and pod weight. The variety Vu 6 (Arka Garima) recorded the highest vegetable pod yield and pod weight. Vu 1 (Arka Suman) recorded the highest number of pods per plant. High heritability along with high genetic advance was seen for all the characters considered. Pod yield per plant showed high positive genotypic correlation with number of pods per plant, pod weight, number of pods per cluster, number of pod clusters per plant and pod girth. Path analysis revealed that number of pods per plant and pod weight were the main yield contributing characters due to their high direct effect on pod yield.