Thumbnail Image

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.

Browse

1988 - 198911990 - 19971
Reset filters
Author: Bindu, R × Author: KAU × End date: 1999 × Start date: 1980 × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
Reset filters

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Productivity of tuber crops under alley cropping of tropical trees
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1988) Bindu, R; KAU; Ashokan, P K
    An experiment was conducted in the coconut gardens of Agricultural Research Station, Mannuthy during the period from May 1987 to February 1988 to evaluate the productivity of various tuber crops under the alleys of coconut (Cocoa nucifera L)+ eucalyptus (Eucalyptus teraticornis), coconut+subabul (Leucaens leucocephala (Lamk) de Wit, coconut+glyricidia (Glyricidia maculata) and coconut + ailanthus (Ailanthus tryphysa Roxb). The tuber crops raised in the alleys were amorphophallus (Amorphophallus campapulatus (Roxb) B1. ex Decne); Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz), colocasia (Colocasia esculenta L) and greater yam (Dioscorea alata L). The experiment was laid out in randomised block design in plots of size 7.5 x 7.5 m and replicated 5 times.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    In vitro pollination ,embryo rescue and germination studies in ginger
    (Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1997) Bindu, R; KAU; Valsala, P A
    Investigations were carried out for the refinement of in vitro pollination techniques in ginger developed at the Plant Tissue Culture laboratory, Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of horticulture, mainly to identify the conditions required for the germination of in vitro produced seeds of ginger. The study was carried out from 1994 to 1996. Investigations were carried to study the effect of season, cultivars and position of flowers in the inflorescence on pollen fertility and viability. The results showed that pollen fertility and viability were influenced by the season and genotype but not by the position of flowers on the inflorescence. The pollen viability was high in inflorescences produced during the early and mid period of the flowering seasons. So scheduling the pollination works for the early and mid period of the flowering seasons may lead to more seed set. The cultivars SG-66 and Rio-de-Janeiro exhibited more pollen fertility and viability. So chances of seed set will be more in crosses involving these cultivars as male parents. Crossing studies showed that Rio-de-Janeiro as female parent can be crossed with Kuruppampady, SG-66, Nadia and as a male parent can be crossed with Kuruppampady, Nadia, SG-66 and Bajpai. So the high yield potential of Rio-de-Janeiro can be transferred to cultivars suitable for dry ginger production. Selfing studies showed that the cultivars viz., Rio-de-Janeiro, Kuruppampady, SG-66, Nadia, Bajpal, SG-603 and SG-543 can be selfed by the in vitro pollination and fertilization techniques. The in vitro fertilized ovules developed into mature seeds in the medium of ½ MS with 2, 4-D 0.1 to 1.0 mg 1-1 and BAP 5 to 20 mg 1-1. The effect of 2, 4-D could be replaced by NAA 0.5 to 2 mg 1-1 or IAA 0.05 to 0.2mg 1-1. The results of seed viability test with tetrazolium salt showed that seeds of 40 and 80 DAP are viable so seeds from 40 DAP onwards can be subjected to germination studies. The studies on germination of ginger seeds showed that primary treatments like water soaking, incubating on moist filter paper, moist sand or basal medium (both solid and liquid state) did not favour germination of ginger seeds. Incubating the seeds in ½ MS + 6 per cent sucrose along with 2, 4-D 0.1 to 1.0 mg 1-1 or NAA 0.5 to 2.0 mg 1-1 and BAP 5 to 20 mg 1-1 had no influence on germination of ginger seeds. The combination of NAA 0.5 mg 1-1 or IAA 0.05 to 0.2 mg 1-1 with 2iP 2.5 to 5 mg 1-1 had no influence on seed germination. GA3 5 to 10 mg 1-1 and ethylene 5 to 10 mg 1-1 also did not favour seed germination. Seed treatments like chemical and mechanical scarification, stratification, washing the seeds in running water and subjecting the embryos to stress condition by dehydrating hydrated seeds for 12 h or soaking the seeds in 12 per cent each of Mannitol and PEG-4000 solution did not influence germination. Embryo rescue involving transfer of embryo along with endosperm to culture media with varying combinations of auxins and cytokinin also did not promote development of embryo to seedling.