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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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1984 - 1989111990 - 19981
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Now showing 1 - 9 of 12
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Comparative pathology of aflatoxicosis in the duck and fish with special reference to the immune system
    (Centre of Excellence in Pathology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1998) George, K C; KAU; Rajan, A
    Pathological responses of ducklings and juvenile Indian carps Labeo rohita in experimental aflatoxicosis were studied. Both the ducklings and fishes were given sublethal toxic levels of aflatoxin B1. The ducklings and fishes were exposed to aflatoxin B1 for 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks respectively and they were sacrificed at the end of the experiment and samples for haematological, serum protein profile, histological and ultrastructural investigations were collected. Pathological changes were studied with special reference to the humoral and cell – mediated immune responses. Among the haematological parameters, total erythrocyte count, total leucocyte count and packed cell volume were found to be reduced in fishes. The reduction was directly proportional to the duration of aflatoxin treatment. In the fishes, there was moderate fall in the total proteins and the albumin. The electrophoretic picture of the serum of the fishes also showed fall in the albumin fractions. In the ducks there was severe reduction in the albumin level and this was reflected in the electrophoretic picture as well as A: G ratio. In both the ducks and the fishes humoral immune response was suppressed due to aflatoxin treatment. Antibody titres against sheep RBC fell in the experimental groups of the ducks and the fishes. The cell - mediated immunity was assessed in the ducks and the fishes by intradermal PHA – M response, count of ANAE positive lymphocytes in the peripheral blood and leucocyte migration inhibition test. In the ducks and the fishes of the aflatoxin treated groups, there was significant fall in the skin sensitivity response and also in the number of ANAE positive lymphocyte. These findings clearly established that CMI was suppressed by aflatoxin . The histological and electron microscopic studies revealed severe degenerative and necrotic changes in the hepatocytes in the ducks and fishes. However, hepatosis was more severe in the fishes whereas in the ducks biliary proliferation was a prominent feature. The hepatic changes could be correlated with the changes in the plasma protein profile in the duck and the fish. The lymphoid organs of the duck and the fish (thymus, spleen, bursa of Fabricius and anterior kidney) showed extensive necrosis and degenerative changes. These changes clearly established the reason for the immunosuppression and low leucocytic counts observed in the aflatoxin fed ducks and fishes. The kidneys of the duck and the fish exhibited nephrotic changes. Degenerative changes were also observed in the brain and the heart of the two species. The pathologic changes due to aflatoxicosis were comparable in the ducks and fishes.
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    ArticleItemOpen Access
    Genetic divergence in dessert varieties of banana
    (Kerala Agricultural University, 1988) Mercy, K A; George, K C; KAU
    Fifty six dessert varieties of banana grown at the Banana Research Station, Kannara were observed for 12 different morphological characters and the data were subjected to analysis of variance. Significant differences were recorded among all the varieties with regard to different morphological characters. By using D2 analysis the varieties were grouped into seven clusters which were homogeneous within and heterogeneous between. The same clustering pattern was obtained in the canonical analysis. The characters which were contributing maximum towards divergence were finger length and peduncle'length. The characters which were contributing minimum towards divergence were leaves per plant and girth. The same results were obtained through both the methods.
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    ArticleItemOpen Access
    Comparison of different statistical techniques for assessing soil heterogeneity
    (Kerala Agricultural University, 1988) Lizy, M J; George, K C; Jacob Thomas, M; KAU
    A uniformity trial on colocasia was conducted at the College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Kerala Agricultural University, during kharif 1984. Biometrical observations on 16 characters as indicated in Tables 1,2 and 3 were taken from all plants. The nature of soil heterogeneity was studied from the productivity contour map. The map revealed that the field could be considered heterogeneous in nature. Based on the mean square analysis, we could not predict any general trend of fertilty variation existing in the field. The low serial correlation coefficients established that fertile areas occur in patches. The'b' value was found higher for yield than for other characters. While comparing all the four methods we could assume that the method of serial correlation, is more reliable than all other methods.
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    ArticleItemOpen Access
    Relative efficiency of plots and blocks for field experiments in brinjal
    (Kerala Agricultural University, 1985) Jacob Thomas, M; George, K C; Hariharan, V; KAU
    For field experiments with brinjal, taking the efficiency of the smallest plot as unity, RE values of various plots were computed. The efficiency was the highest for the smallest plot. There is a genera! decrease of block efficiency with increasing block size. More compact block of the same size shows higher efficiency. Blocks of identical size and shape, but consisting of long plots also show a some what higher efficiency than bloks with short plots of the same size. Arrangement of plots in more than one row decreased block efficiency and the effect is more pronounced with long plots. The number of replication required for a given level of accuracy decreased with an increase in plot size and increasing the number of replication rather than plot size was found more advantageous for a fixed experimental area.
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    ArticleItemOpen Access
    Optimum size and shape of plots for field experiments in brinjal
    (Kerala Agricultural University, 1986) Hariharan, V; Jacob Thomas, M; George, K C; KAU
    A uniformity trial in brinjal (Solatium melongena L). was conducted at main campus of the Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, during the third crop season, 1980. Observations on yield, number of fruits and primary branches were recorded. The variability among plots of different sizes and shapes was determined by calculating coefficient of variation (CV). It was observed that an increase in the plot size in either direction decreased the CV. But decrease was more rapid along N-S direction. Long and narrow plots showed lower CV than approximately square plots. The observed relation between plot sizes and variance was in conformity with Smith's variance law. At larger plot sizes the regression line showed a tendency to come down although negligible. The optimum plot size observed through smith's method and maximum curvature method was almost same. From the above consideration a plot size of 8.64 m2 (9.6 m X 0.9 m) was found to be most advisable for conducting most of the field experiments in brinjal.
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    ArticleItemOpen Access
    Balancing of first order residual effect through orthogonal latin squares
    (Kerala Agricultural University, 1986) Sathianandan, T V; George, K C; KAU
    A general method of construction of designs that are balanced for first order residual effects, when the number of treatments is prime or power of a prime number, using orthogonal latin squares has been given. The residual effects are more efficiently estimated in this type of designs and are useful in long term experiments like perennial crop experiments, feeding trials etc.
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    ArticleItemOpen Access
    Construction and analysis of a generalised confounded asymmetrical factorial design
    (Kerala Agricultural University, 1986) Santy George; George, K C; KAU
    The present study deals with the construction and analysis of confounded asymmetrical factorial designs. The authors have attempted to give a general method of construction with the help of two lemmas. The general method of analysis suggested by the authors can be used for symmetrical as well as asymmetrical factorial designs. An easy method of obtaining the divisions of the contrast to obtain SS in ANOVA is also explained. This method has also been illustrated through a practical example.
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    ArticleItemOpen Access
    Optimum size and shape of plots under colocasia (Colocasia Esculenta L.)
    (Kerala Agricultural University, 1987) Lizy, M J; George, K C; Jacob Thomas, M; KAU
    A uniformity trial on colocasia was conducted at the experimental field of the College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Kerala during April-September, 1984. At the time of harvest the observations regarding the yield characteristics were recorded. From the study of the size and shape of the plot it was found that an increase in plot size in either direction decreased the coefficient of variation. For a given size of the plot, the best shape was that having more number of rows than columns. The heterogeneity coefficient b in the Smith's equation for yield was 0.6057. The optimum plot size found out by maximum curvature method and by modified maximum curvature method was approximately 3 m2. When the cost of experimentation was considered, a plot size of 1.636 m2 was found optimum for conducting experiments with colocasia.
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    ArticleItemOpen Access
    Genetic divergence in culinary varieties of banana
    (Kerala Agricultural University, 1987) Mercy, K A; George, K C; KAU
    Thirty culinary varieties of banana grown at the Banana Research Station, Kannara, Kerala were observed for 13 different morphological characters and the data were subjected to analysis of variance. Significant differences were recorded among all the varieties with regard to different morphological characters. By using D2 analysis the varieties were grouped into 12 clusters which were homogeneous within and heterogeneous between. The same clustering pattern was obtained in the canonical analysis except for the variety 'Ashmonthan'. This variety was in the first cluster through canonical analysis. The characters which were contributing maximum towards divergence were bunch weight and hand weight. The characters which were contributing minimum towards divergence were girth and height. The same results were obtained through both the methods.