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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: Deepa, S × Author: KAU × End date: 2020 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Integrated nutrient management in a Rice-Rice cropping system
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1998) Deepa, S; KAU; Balachandran Nair, G K
    An experiment entitled "Integrated nutrient management in a rice- rice cropping system" was condcuted at Cropping Systems Research Centre, Karamana during the second crop season of 1995-96, to study the effect of long term application of manures and fertilizers on the availability and uptake of nutrients and changes in the physico-chemical properties of the soil for sustained productivity. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with twelve sets of treatments and four replications. The twelve sets of treatments incldued four treatments of different levels of recommended fertilizers, treatments of integration of chemical fertilizers with organic sources like farm yard manure, crop residues (rice straw) and green manure, along with one each of unfertilized control and farmers practice of manuring. Organic manure addition in different forms was found to have pronounced effect on various growth and yield attributing characters of rice when applied in combination with chemical fertilizers. When compared to other treatments, application of 25 or 50 per cent of recommended N through farm yard manure in kharif followed by 75 or 100 per cent of recommended NPK through chemical fertilizers in rabi, gave higher tiller number, root production, productive tiller number, thousand grain weight, grain yield, and straw yield. Integration of organic manures with inorganic fertilizers improved the N, P and K uptake by the plant at all growth stages and at harvest. Highest Nand K uptake were recorded when 50 per cent N, supplied through farm yard manure in kharif season. Highest P uptake was recorded when 25 per cent of N supplied through crop residue in kharif. In general the available N,P,K and organic carbon contents of the soil were slightly improved due to combined application of organic and inorganic sources of fertilizers. Application of farm yard manure to meet 50 per cent of N along with 100 per cent recommended dose of fertilizers recorded maximum available NPK and organic carbon Bulk density was lowest under treatment receiving 50 per cent recommended N through farm yard manure in kharif. Incorporation of paddy straw, to meet 25 per cent N along with chemical fertilizers enhanced water holding capacity and cation exchange capacity of the soil.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Physiological, anatomical and molecular analysis of coconut palms (Cocos nucifera L.) affected with yellowing.
    (Department of Plant Physiology,College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2011) Deepa, S; KAU; Manju, R V
    Kerala the ‘Land of coconut’ occupies first position in area and production of coconut in India but the productivity is below the national average. This is because of unproductive and senile palms, lack of adaptation of recommended cultivation practises and serious incidence of pests and diseases. The root (wilt), an endemic disease of Kerala causes an annual loss of 968 million nuts. Recently another type of yellowing characterised by mid whorl yellowing shedding of immature nuts and drying of inflorescence without showing characteristic ribbing symptom is rapidly spreading in many parts of Kerala. There is no research report available in this emerging problem in the coconut growing tracts of Kerala. Since there is rampant spreading of yellowing to other coconut cultivated areas causing a serious reduction in nut yield, this problem demands immediate attention. Hence an experiment was conducted in the Department of Plant Physiology, College of Agriculture, Vellyani to generate the basic information on the causative agents and on the changes of physiological, molecular and anatomical realms of coconut affected by mid whorl yellowing. A wide variation was observed in the physiological parameters like total pigments, relative water content, carbohydrate fractions, proteins, phenols and antioxidants betweenpalms with yellowing and control palms. The palms with yellowing showed a significant reduction in the total chlorophyll, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoid content when compared to the healthy palm. Relative water content was lower for all the palms with yellowing compared to the control palm and the healthy palms were maintaining a better water status and membrane integrity. All the selected palms with yellowing recorded an accumulation of reducing sugars compared to the healthy palms. The trend was similar for starch content except for palms with general yellowing. The control palms recorded maximum protein content compared to other palms with yellowing. A significant increase in the phenolic compounds was observed in palms with yellowing compared to the healthy palms. This results point to an activated defense system. The 14th leaf starting from the first fully opened one is the most widely used leaf for nutrient analysis as recommended by the IRHO. (Fremond et al., 1966).The 14th leaf data from the control palms and palms with different types of yellowing were analysed. The data showed that there were significant reductions in the levels of major nutrient nitrogen, phosphorus and also in the levels of magnesium and the micronutrient manganese in case of palms showing mid whorl yellowing compared to the control palm. But significantly higher levels of accumulation were found in case of potassium, calcium, iron and copper. These variations in the nutrient levels can have an influence on symptom development in coconut palms. The maximum yield was recorded for the control palm. Chlorophyll degradation and loss of structural integrity were evident from the anatomical studies of leaf tissues in case of palms with yellowing. Vascular browning which extended to the cortex and the vascular disintegration in the roots of affected palms were seen on anatomical analyses. A pure quality DNA was obtained by modified CTAB DNA isolation protocol. Molecular analyses using nested PCR showed that with the phytoplasma specific universal primers P1/P7-R16F2n/R16R2 provided an amplicon ) in the positive control and palms with inner and middle whorl yellowing and the primers R16mF2 /R16mR1 -R16F2n/ R16R2 provided an amplicon for the positive control and palms with inner, middle and general yellowing. The root (wilt) phytoplasma specific semi- nested primers IF7/7R3- IF7/7R2 provided an amplicon of 493 bp only for the positive control and no amplification was seen in any of the selected palms. The control palm and the palms affected with outer whorl yellowing provided no amplification at all for any of the primers tested. Amplification of phytoplasma specific universal primers in palms with mid whorl yellowing indicates that phytoplasma has got a role in development of the specific symptom. This demands immediate attention and extensive studies on the etiology, changes in biochemical profile, anatomy etc. Salient Findings Amplification of phytoplasma specific universal primers in palms with mid whorl yellowing indicates that phytoplasma has got a role in development of the mid whorl yellowing symptom. But in case of the root (wilt) phytoplasma specific primers, there was no amplification in palms with mid whorl yellowing. This suggests that the mid whorl yellowing of coconut palm which is an emerging problem in Kerala may not be associated with the root (wilt) disease. The results of biochemical and physiological analyses of the selected palms clearly indicate an altered primary metabolism, source-sink relation and a complexity in the nutriophysiology. These altered conditions can act as predisposing factors for the development of specific symptoms. The anatomical analyses showed damages of roots in the palms with mid whorl yellowing. They will have internal browning of vascular elements, extending into the cortex and also disintegration of vascular elements. Future line of work Detailed analysis of nutriophysiology, source-sink relation and hormonal profile. Studies on soil factors like nutrient level and water status. Extension of anatomical studies to different type of tissues. Extension of molecular studies into identification of specific phytoplasmal strains associated with mid whorl yellowing of coconut palms. Development of management strategy for the improvement of the field performance and productivity of coconut palms with mid whorl yellowing.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Field evaluation of commercial organic manures and growth promoters in bush type vegetable cowpea (Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis)
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2005) Deepa, S; KAU; Sukumari, P
    In a field study conducted in the college of Agriculture, Vellayani, three commercial organic manures viz. Haritha Super (4.0: 4.4 : 2.0 NPK), Poabs Green (2.7 : 1.2 : 2.0 NPK) and Bharath Meal (1.5 : 2.2 : 2.5 NPK) were compared with FYM (1.0 : 0.4 : 0.5 NPK) and Enriched Vermicompost (2.0 : 1.25 : 1.0 NPK) as the organic component of integrated nutrient management in bush type vegetable cowpea in combination with and without two growth promoters viz. Panchagavyam and Vermiwash. Feasibility of using the commercial organic manures as an alternative for FYM was also looked into. All the organic manures tested in the field experiment (FYM, Haritha super, Poabs Green, Bharath Meal and Enriched Vermicompost) were applied on Nitrogen equivalent basis in accordance with Package of Practices (POP) recommendation of Kerala Agricultural University (KAU). The POP recommendation for bush type vegetable cowpea is 20 t FYM + 20 : 30 : 10 kg NPK ha-1. When FYM was substituted with other organic manures on nitrogen equivalent basis P and K supplied by these organic manures were accounted for while calculating the quantity of inorganic phosphatic and potassium fertilizers to be applied in each treatment. Germination percentage in the various treatments ranged between 97.66 to 99 per cent and it did not vary significantly. All the significantly influenced growth characters such as height of plant, number of primary branches per plant, LAI and dry matter production recorded maximum values in Enriched Vermicompost applied crop and least values in Haritha Super applied crop. Yield attributing characters in vegetable cowpea significantly influenced by organic manures include number of flowers and number of pods per plant, fresh weight of pod and length of pod. All the significantly influenced yield attributing characters recorded superior value for Enriched Vermicompost. Enriched Vermicompost was found to be significantly superior with respect to total and marketable crop yield. Among the quality parameters crude protein content of pod was significantly superior for Enriched Vermicompost. Haritha Super produced pods of lowest protein content. Shelf life of pods in Enriched Vermicompost and Bharat Meal were the same and was 14 per cent higher than that in FYM. N and P uptake were superior for Enriched Vermicompost where as K uptake in Enriched Vermicompost and Bharat Meal were on par and superior to other organic manure treatments. Post harvest available N and P2O5 content of soil was highest in Haritha Super treated plots which was significantly higher than all other organic manures. Post harvest available K2O status was the highest in Poabs Green compared to all other organic manures. Among the growth promoters, Panchagavyam was significantly superior to Vermiwash with respect to characters such as days to 50 per cent flowering, marketable yield, percentage pest incidence, post harvest N and organic carbon content of soil. Panchagavayam and Vermiwash were on par with respect to number of flowers per plant at 30 and 60 DAS, protein content of pods, crop uptake of N and K. Both the growth promoters were significantly superior to water spray in their influence on days to 50 per cent flowering, number of flowers per plant at 30 and 60 DAS, percentage pest incidence, protein content of pods, N and K uptake and post harvest soil organic carbon content. Significant interaction effects were obtained in the case of number of flowers per plant at 60 DAS, marketable yield, percentage pest incidence and organic carbon content of soil after the experiment All the organic manures, growth promoters and their interactions had significant influence on Benefit Cost Ratio (B: C). Among the organic manures B: C in Enriched Vermicompost was the maximum. Among the growth promoters B: C in Panchagavyam (1.04) was the maximum. Maximum B:C was recorded in the treatment combination M5G2 (Enriched Vermicompost + Panchagavyam) (1.68) which was on par with M5G3 (Enriched Vermicompost + Vermiwash) (1.48 ), M1G2 (FYM + Panchagavyam) ( 1.56) and M1G3 (FYM + Vermiwash) ( 1.51). The treatment combination M2G1 (Haritha Super + Water Spray) recorded the least B:C ( 0.39 ) From the growth and yield point, FYM can be substituted with the commercial manures such as Haritha Super, Poabs Green and Bharath Meal. But FYM is more desirable from the economic point. Among the five organic sources tested Enriched Vermicompost is the best organic component of integrated nutrient management both in terms of yield and economics of production. Panchagavyam is a better growth promoter than Vermiwash in regulating marketable yield of vegetable cowpea.