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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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1985 - 198941990 - 19911
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Author: Gopinathan Nair, V × Author: Pushkaran, K × End date: 1991 ×
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    ArticleItemOpen Access
    Evaluation of groundnut for kharif uplands and summer rice fallows
    (Kerala Agricultural University, 1985) Pushkaran, K; Gopinathan Nair, V; KAU
    A widely divergent collection of 93 groundnut varieties was screened to select the bestsuited variety for the kharif uplands and summer rice fallows. They were evaluated in preliminary trials in uplands as well as in rice fallows. The varieties exhibited wide diversity for important economic traits within and between seasons and many of them were far superior to the recommended varieties. Based on the performance in the preliminary trials, thirty one varieties including the recommended varieties (TMV 2 and TMV 7) were selected for comparative yield trials. They were tested in two seasons each in uplands and rice fallows. The varieties differed in yield and other economic traits in both seasons. The performance of the same variety, m general, varied from upland to rice fallows. TG 14 in uplands and TG 3 in rice fallows were the top ranking varieties. Spanish Improved was found to be a high yielder at both seasons. Five promising varieties were selected and they along with 3 standards were further tested in multi-locational trials at 5 locations in summer rice fallows and 6 locations in kharif uplands. The multi-locationa! trials further confirmed that TG 14 and TG 3 were the highest yielders in uplands and rice fallows respectively. Spanish Improved was also another high yielder at both seasons.
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    ArticleItemOpen Access
    Correlation and path analysis in groundnut in the summer rice fallows
    (Kerala Agricultural University, 1988) Pushkaran, K; Gopinathan Nair, V; KAU
    Pod yield and seventean other characters were studied in eighty groundnut varieties raised in summer rice fallows. Correlation coefficients at the genotypic and phenotypic levels were computed between these characters and path analysis for pod yield was carried out considering eight components. Dry pod yield was highly correlated positively with plant height on the 50th day, length of top, fresh weight of pods, number of mature pods and number of immature pods both at the genotypic and phenotyic levels. Pod yield was also correlated highly and positively with number of flowers and haulms yield phenotypically. Pod yield recorded highly significant negative correlation with duration upto flowering, number of branches and leaves on the 50th day and number of flowers while it was moderate with number of branches. Positive correlation of duration upto flowering and maturity and lack of significant correlation of the latter with pod yield suggest the possibility of recombining high yield with short duration. Fresh weight of pods had the highest positive direct effect on dry pod yield. Number of leaves, flowers and mature pods also had positive direct effects in that order. Number of mature pods exarted positive indirect effects via fresh weight of pods, number of basal primary branches, haulms yield and 100 pod weight. Length of top, numbar of basal primary branches, haulms yield and '00 pod weight had negative direct effects on pod yield, of which that by haulms yield was the highest.
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    ArticleItemOpen Access
    Viable mutations inducted by gamma rays in groundnut
    (Kerala Agricultural University, 1988) Pushkaran, K; Gopinathan Nair, V; KAU
    A field experiment entitled 'Time of application of pre-emergence herbicides on phytotoxicity and weed control in semi-dry rice' was conducted during first crop season (Virippu) of 1933 i.e., from May to September at Agricultural Research Station, Mannuthy under the Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, Thrissur. The objective of the trail was to find out the best time of application of pre-emergence herbicided on phytotoxicity and weed control in semi-dry rice. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three replications. Treatments included in the trail were pre-emergence application of herbicides such as pendimethalin, thiobencarb, butachlor and oxyfluorfen at 0, 3, 6 and 9 days after sowing with handweeded and unweeded plots as the controls. The dominant weeds found in the experiment field were Digitaria sanguinalis and Cynodon dactylon among grasses, Cyperus rotundus and Cyperus iria among sedges and Cleome viscosa and Ageratum conyzoides among broadleaved weeds. The population of grasses was reduced by the application of oxyfluorfen at 6 DAS and pendimethalin upto 6 DAS. Hanweeding was significantly superior than the herbicides in lowering the number of sedges and broadleaved weeds. At 30 DAS the highest weed control efficiency was recorded by oxyfluorfen. Though phytotoxic symptoms were developed in rice seedling where oxyfluorfen was applied at 6 and 9 DAS, it later recovered by about two weeks. Pendimethalin and oxyfluorfen treated plots gave the highest number of tiller/m2. Chlorophyll content of leaves and dry matter production of rice were more in pendimethalin treated plots. Yield attributing characters and yield were higher in plots treated with pendimethalin at 3 DAS. Total returns and return per rupee invested were higher in the case of pendimethalin at 3 DAS and oxyfluorfen at 9 DAS.
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    ArticleItemOpen Access
    Path analysis in groundnut
    (Kerala Agricultural University, 1989) Pushkaran, K; Gopinathan Nair, V; KAU
    Eighty groundnut varieties were raised in a randomised block design with three replications in upland during kharif. Pod yield and 17 characters were studied. Correlation coefficients at the genotypic and phenotypic levels were computed between pod yield and other characters and among themselves. Path analysis for dry pod yield was done considering eight important component characters. Dry pod yield was highly correlated positively with fresh weight of pods, haulms yield, number of mature pods, number of immature pods, duration upto maturity and 100 pod weight at the genotypic level. Negative significant correlation was seen for pod yield with plant height at the 50th day, height of main shoot and length of top. Fresh weight of pods had the highest positive direct effect followed by 100 pod weight, haulms yield and number of mature pods whereas length of top, number of flowers, number of basal primary branches and number of leaves exerted negative direct effect to dry pod yield in that order.
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    ArticleItemOpen Access
    Genetic parameters for groundnut in summer rice fallows
    (Kerala Agricultural University, 1991) Pushkaran, K; Gopinathan Nair, V; KAU
    Genetic parameters for 15 metric characters in 80 divergent varieties of groundnut grown in the summer rice fallows were estimated. The varieties differed significantly in respect of all the characters. The pcv was higher than gcv for all the characters. High estimates of gcv, heritability and genetic advance were obtained for number of branches, flowers and leaves, spread of flowering and 100 pod weight whereas the values were low for fresh weight of pods and dry pod yield. So also the high pcv for dry pod yield suggests that the genetic improvement for the economic trait through selection for summer rice fallows is meagre. Oil content, shelling percentage and duration up to flowering and maturity registered high heritability, but low genetic advance.