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

20112
Reset filters
Author: Delphy, Rocha × Author: KAU × End date: 2011 × Start date: 2011 × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
Reset filters

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Influence of host plant on the physiological attributes of field grown sandal (santalum album L.).
    (Department of Tree Physiology and Breeding,College of forestry, Vellanikkara, 2011) Delphy, Rocha; KAU; Ashokan, P K
    Effects of host plant, casuarina on the carbon assimilation, water and nutrient absorption in field grown sandalwood was studied at College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, Thrissur during the year 2009-2011. Radioisotopic study to understand the trans-haustorial translocation from the host to field grown sandalwood tree and anatomical studies of sandalwood haustoria were also taken up during the investigation. The investigations were carried out in a six year old sandal-field, where sandalwood tree with and without host were established as a part of an earlier research project. The experiment was laid out with single tree plants, in RBD with three treatments viz, T1 - Sandalwood tree without host (Casuarina) (Host plant dead naturally within 2 years after establishment of sandal), T2 - Sandalwood tree with host (Casuarina), T3 - Sandalwood tree with host (Casuarina) and the host plant cut and removed at six year stage of growth. The host plant casuarina did not influence the height and diameter (dbh) of the sandalwood tree significantly during its six years growth. Sandalwood trees growing with host showed higher rate of photosynthesis (carbon assimilation) than sandalwood trees growing without host. Sandalwood tree growing without specific host can extend its root for finding a host in its vicinity, and forming haustorial connections, for meeting its water and nutrient requirements. Sandalwood trees grown with host showed higher plant water potential than sandalwood trees grown without host. Plant water potential has decreased significantly after the removal of host plant from the sandalwood pit. It also resulted in leaf wilting and leaf fall in sandalwood tree, indicating the contribution of the host in maintaining higher water potential in sandalwood trees. Sandalwood trees growing with host showed higher leaf N, P and K content. The N, P and K content of the sandalwood tree leaf decreased considerably after the removal of the host plant. The removal of host did not show any significant effect on leaf micronutrient content of sandalwood tree. Sandalwood growing without host also formed haustoria with roots of host plants growing in the adjacent pit. The sandalwood growing with host in the same pit showed higher number of haustoria. Total number of haustoria was higher on the primary root of the host followed by secondary and tertiary roots. Size of the haustorium, the depth of the penetration, the length of the penetration peg and area of coverage of endophyte was higher in the case of secondary root haustoria than in tertiary. Anatomical study of sandalwood haustoria showed that elongated parenchyma cells of the haustorium projected towards the host root xylem, making vascular connection between sandalwood tree root and the host plant root. Radioactive phosphorus (32P) labelling on host plant, casuarina and tracing in sandalwood tree and other hosts revealed that there is inter-translocation of nutrients between sandalwood and host plants, sandalwood and sandalwood, host and host. The data indicated that a network of roots of sandalwood tree and the hosts are formed through haustorial connection resulting in xylem-translocation. Peak count of 32P was obtained on the eighth day of its application. Radiotracer studies on different sandalwood tree-host associations showed that association of sandalwood and cocoa as host was efficient in haustorial translocation of 32P. Labelling of wild grasses growing around sandalwood tree with 32P revealed that, sandalwood also depends on wild grass for meeting its nutrient requirements.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Influence of host plant on the physiological attributes of field grown sandal (Santalum album L.)
    (College of forestry, Vellanikkara, 2011) Delphy, Rocha; KAU; Ashokan, P K
    Effects of host plant, casuarina on the carbon assimilation, water and nutrient absorption in field grown sandalwood was studied at College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, Thrissur during the year 2009-2011. Radioisotopic study to understand the trans-haustorial translocation from the host to field grown sandalwood tree and anatomical studies of sandalwood haustoria were also taken up during the investigation. The investigations were carried out in a six year old sandal-field, where sandalwood tree with and without host were established as a part of an earlier research project. The experiment was laid out with single tree plants, in RBD with three treatments viz, T1 - Sandalwood tree without host (Casuarina) (Host plant dead naturally within 2 years after establishment of sandal), T2 - Sandalwood tree with host (Casuarina), T3 - Sandalwood tree with host (Casuarina) and the host plant cut and removed at six year stage of growth. The host plant casuarina did not influence the height and diameter (dbh) of the sandalwood tree significantly during its six years growth. Sandalwood trees growing with host showed higher rate of photosynthesis (carbon assimilation) than sandalwood trees growing without host. Sandalwood tree growing without specific host can extend its root for finding a host in its vicinity, and forming haustorial connections, for meeting its water and nutrient requirements. Sandalwood trees grown with host showed higher plant water potential than sandalwood trees grown without host. Plant water potential has decreased significantly after the removal of host plant from the sandalwood pit. It also resulted in leaf wilting and leaf fall in sandalwood tree, indicating the contribution of the host in maintaining higher water potential in sandalwood trees. Sandalwood trees growing with host showed higher leaf N, P and K content. The N, P and K content of the sandalwood tree leaf decreased considerably after the removal of the host plant. The removal of host did not show any significant effect on leaf micronutrient content of sandalwood tree. Sandalwood growing without host also formed haustoria with roots of host plants growing in the adjacent pit. The sandalwood growing with host in the same pit showed higher number of haustoria. Total number of haustoria was higher on the primary root of the host followed by secondary and tertiary roots. Size of the haustorium, the depth of the penetration, the length of the penetration peg and area of coverage of endophyte was higher in the case of secondary root haustoria than in tertiary. Anatomical study of sandalwood haustoria showed that elongated parenchyma cells of the haustorium projected towards the host root xylem, making vascular connection between sandalwood tree root and the host plant root. Radioactive phosphorus (32P) labelling on host plant, casuarina and tracing in sandalwood tree and other hosts revealed that there is inter-translocation of nutrients between sandalwood and host plants, sandalwood and sandalwood, host and host. The data indicated that a network of roots of sandalwood tree and the hosts are formed through haustorial connection resulting in xylem-translocation. Peak count of 32P was obtained on the eighth day of its application. Radiotracer studies on different sandalwood tree-host associations showed that association of sandalwood and cocoa as host was efficient in haustorial translocation of 32P. Labelling of wild grasses growing around sandalwood tree with 32P revealed that, sandalwood also depends on wild grass for meeting its nutrient requirements.