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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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1990 - 19914
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Author: Gopinathan Nair, V × End date: 1991 × Start date: 1990 ×
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Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    ArticleItemOpen Access
    Variability and heritability of yield and quality components in the ratoon crop of sugarcane
    (Kerala Agricultural University, 1990) Sreekumar, S G; Gopinathan Nair, V; Sukumaran Nair, S; KAU
    Evaluation of the first ratoon crop of 48 hybrid sugarcane varieties in RED with three replications at the Sugarcane Research Station, Thiruvalla revealed that certain characters viz., germination count on the 45th day, shoot count on the 180th day, number of millable canes per plot and cane yield per plot had high genotypic coefficient or variation, heritability in the broad sense and genetic advance. Hence they are amenable to genetic improvement through selection and may be considered as dependable selection criteria for the improvement of cane and sugar yields in the first ratoon crop of sugarcane.
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    ArticleItemOpen Access
    Inter-relations of yield and its components in sesame
    (Kerala Agricultural University, 1990) Sverup John; Gopinathan Nair, V; KAU
    One hundred sesame types were evaluated in replicated trials in rice fallows. There was positive and significant genotypic correlation of yield of seeds with number of capsules on branches, number of capsules per plant, number of branches, number of fruiting axils per unit length and weight of 1000 seeds. Number of days to flowering, maturing, height of the plant, height up to first capsule, length and circumferance of capsule and number of seeds per capsule exerted negative and significant genotypic correlation with yield of seeds. The quality characters such as seed oil content and seed protein content did not have significant genotypic correlation with yield of seeds. The maximum positive direct effects on yield of seeds was exerted through number of capsules per plant followed by number of branches. The indirect effects of other characters via. these characters on yield of seeds were considerable. Hence it can be inferred that number of capsules per plant and number of branches are to be given importance in selection programme. The proposed plant architecture for higher productivity during summer can be dwarf in stature, profuse branching, early flowering and maturing, bearing large number of capsules with large sized seeds.
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    ArticleItemOpen Access
    TG-3, a variety of groundnut suitable for cultivation under partial shade in coconut gardens
    (Kerala Agricultural University, 1991) Sreekumar, S G; Gopinathan Nair, V; Saraswathy, P; KAU
    Comparative evaluation of eight varieties of groundnut was conducted at the Regional Agricultural Research Station of NARP (SR), College of Agriculture, Vellayani for three years during 1984, 1986 and 1987 kharif seasons. The field experiment ( 8 x 3 RBD) was conducted at the interspaces of coconut garden under partial shade for identifying a suitable groundnut variety with high yield and shade tolerance. The pooled analysis of the data for three years revealed that the variety TG 3 was consistently superior in dry pod yield. Therefore, it was recommended for inclusion in the package of practices recommendations of the Kerala Agricultural University as a suitable variety for cultivation as intercrop in coconut garden under partially shaded conditions.
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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.