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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Open Access
Production potential of two fodder grasses under different management practices
(Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1986) Raghavan Pillai, G; KAU; Madhavan Nair, K P
Open Access
Study of bacterial leaf spot of betel vine- biochemical changes and control
(Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1986) Koshi, Abraham; KAU; James, Mathew
The bacterial leaf spot is one of the most serious diseases of betel vine in Kerala. The bacterium is one of the most serious disease of betal vine. Confidering the seriouness of the disease , studies were undertaken on the different aspects of the disease and to find out a suitable control /management practice.
Open Access
Dietary protein and energy requirements of caged layers
(Department of Poultry Science, College of Veterinary and Animal Science, Mannuthy, 1986) Jalaludeen, A; KAU; Ramakrishnan, A
A 4 x 4 factorial trial designed to study the dietary requirements of protein and energy for caged egg type layers under the hot - humid conditions of Kerala is presented in this thesis. Single Comb White Leghorn strain cross pullets (IWN x IWP ) of the Mannuthy centre of AICRP on Poultry for eggs formed the experimental subjects. The birds were randomly alloted to 16 dietary protein-energy combination groups. The dietary protein levels employed were 14,16,18 and 20 per cent and that of energy levels were 2400, 2500, 2600 and 2700 Kcal ME per kg diet. General observations of the experiment were recorded over 12, 28 day periods. The varying levels of protein and energy employed in this study did not have any significant influenced on body weight gain. Birds fed 18 per cent dietary protein had significantly higher hen-day egg production and it was significantly lower for birds fed 14 percent dietary protein. Egg production observed between 16 and 20 per cent and that between 18 and 20 per cent protein were not statistically significant. Hen-day egg production was not influenced by various dietary energy levels employed. The daily feed intake per bird per day was not affect by the le4vels of protein and energy employed in this experiment. A dietary protein levels of 16, 18 and 20 per cent showed significantly superior feed efficiency, when expressed both in terms of feed per dozen egg as well as feed per kilogramme egg. Feed conversion efficiency was not influenced by verying energy levels employed. The egg weight was significantly influenced both by protein and energy levels. However, the changes exerted due to feeding of various dietary combinations did not show any definite trend. The ,mean shell thickness was significantly influenced by dietary protein levels whereas energy did not have any effect. There was a statistically significant decrease in albumen index and Haugh unit score and albumen index was influenced significantly by the energy level in the diet. The yolk index decreased with increase in protein content in the ration, whereas it was inconsistent with the dietary energy levels. Biochemical parameters such as haemoglobin, serum protein, serum inorganic phosphorus and packed cell volume were not influenced either by protein or energy levels. The level of dietary protein did not influence the serum lipid levels whereas the dietary energy had influenced. The dietary- protein-energy combinations in the diet significantly influenced liver lipid and liver lipid and liver protein. The values obtained on carcass analysis were well within the normal biological limits and did not show any specific effect due to different dietary treatments . All the birds showed a positive nitrogen balanced irrespective of the protein or energy levels in the diet. On the basis of these results it can be inferred that the levels of dietary protein and energy required for optimum production for layers raised in cages are 16 per cent and 2400 Kcal ME per kg, respectively. However, in practical feed formulation where amino acids balancing especially that of the critical amino acids being a problems in developing countries it is suggested that a dietary protein level of 18 per cent can be considered as optimal. FINDINGS : A 4 x 4 factor
Open Access
Selection studies in chicken for egg number on part records
(Department of Poultry Science, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciencs, Mannuthy, 1986) Maheswar, Rath; KAU; Unni, A K K
All India co-ordinated Research Project on Poultry Breeding for egg located at Kerala Agricultural University, Mannuthy , Trichur is maintaining two strains of white Leghorn which are subjected to selection for high egg production since 1978. The criterion of selection has been IDS method of index selection by combining the information on sire and dam family averages with the individual’s performances, for egg number up to 280 days of age. The present investigation was planned with the following objectives. -To evaluate the response of intrapopulation selection for part period egg production. -To estimate the genotypic and phenotypic parameters for different traits. -To evaluate the the correlated responses in unselected traits. -To measure the time trend in genetic parameters. -To measure the interstrain variation for some economic traits. To achieve these objectives data collected over a period of five generations, including base generation, on the experimental populations were utilized. Chicks hatched during 1979-80 hatching year of each strain constituted the foundation stock (S0). Thereafter both strains were subjected to four generations of selection. Standard managemental throughout experimental period. practices were followed uniformly The traits measured were egg number up to 280 day of age (EP), age at first egg in days (ASM), body weight in grammes at 20 and 40 weeks of age (20 wk-40 wk BW ) and egg weight (BW) in grammes at 30.40 weeks of age. The average effective number of male breeders, female breeders and progenies with complete records were 40, 238.4 and 1165.8 in IWN and 39.8, 232.2 and 1076.6 in IWP strains, respectively, over generations. The effective populations size over generations were 136.62 in IWN and 135.33 in IWP strains. The coefficient of inbreeding increased by two per cent in both populations over four generations of selections which would be the upper limit due to intentional avoidance of sib matings. Since hatch effects were significant for most of the traits, data were corrected for hatch effects before analysis by fitting least square constants. The heritability of each trait and correlations between traits were estimated initially intra generation-strain basis following variance and covariance component anaylsis and then pooled over generations within strain to provide mean estimates. The heritability estimates of various traits obtained in this study were consistent with several earlier reports. Sexlinked effects appeared to be important in the inheritance of EP 20 WK, BN, EW and ASM in IWP strain whereas maternal effects wee important for 40 WK, BN. But sex-linked effects for 40 weeks BN appeared to be important in IWN. The genetic and phenotypic correlations of the present study were close to several earlier reports both in direction and magnitude. The genetic parameter estimates did not show any significant time trends due to four generations of selection in both populations. The realized phenotypic response per generation obtained from regression of generation means on generation number were 8.30 + 1.60 eggs in IWN 5.37 + 1.6-0 eggs in IWP strains, which were significantly different from zero. The correlated response per generation for ASM, 20wk BN, 40 wk BN and BN due to selection for part period egg number were-4.26 d, 28.46 g, - 10.32 g, -0.28 in IWN and –4.45 d, 37.28 g, -13.80 g, -0.02 g in IWP strains, respectively. The realized gains in selected and unselected traits agreed well with the predicated response in direction but not in magnitude, except 40 wk in IWP which was in opposite direction. For all the traits the realized gains were found to be higher than the predicted gains except BN of IWP which was less than the predicated response. Difference were highly significant between the two strains for all the traits under study in the generation except S2 for BN : S0 for ASM, 20 wk BN: S3 for 40 wk BN : S0, S1 and S3 for BN.
Open Access
Calcium and phsophorus requirements of caged layers
(Department of Poultry Science, College of Veterinary and Animal Science, Mannuthy, 1986) Brahma, T C; KAU; Ramakrishnan, A
A 4 x 4 factorial arrangement to determine the dietary requirements of calcium and phosphorus for caged layers under the hot-humid agro-climatic conditions of Kerala is presented in this thesis. Two hundred fifty six single comb White leghorn strain cross pullets (IWN x IWP ) of the Mannuthy Centre of AICRP on Poultry foe eggs formed the experimental birds. The birds were randomly assigned to 16 dietary calcium-phosphorus combination groups. The dietary calcium levels employed were 2.50, 3.00, 3.50 and 4.00 per cent and that of phosphorus levels wee 0.50 , 0.60, 0.70 and 0.80 percent the observations of the experiment were recorded over 10,28 day – periods The percent hen-day egg production and feed efficiency (both on egg number and egg mass) were significantly (P < 0.01) superior in birds fed 4.00 percent dietary calcium. The dietary levels of phosphorus had not exerted any influence on hen-day egg production and feed efficiency. The feed intake and egg weight were not influenced either by the dietary levels of calcium or phosphorus or both. The egg shell quality (specific gravity and shell thickness ) was significantly (P < 0.01 ) better in egg laid by hens fed 3.50 and 4.00 percent dietary calcium. The percent egg shell was significantly (p< 0.01) highest with 3.50 percent calcium. However, percent egg shell between 3.50 and 4.00 percent dietary calcium was not statistically different. The egg shell quality (specific gravity, shell thickness and percent shell) was significantly (P< 0.01) poorest with 2.50 percent calcium diet. The dietary phosphorus levels had not exerted any significant influence on egg shell quality (specific gravity, shell thickness and percent shell). The serum calcium level, serum inorganic phosphorus level and percent tibia ash were not influenced by the levels of dietary calcium and phosphorus . The serum alkaline and acid phosphatase levels did not give any clue as to the adequacy of the dietary calcium and phosphorus level employed. The calcium intake was higher with higher levels of dietary calcium. There was a trend of increased absolute calcium retention as the calcium level in the diets increased but it was not statistically significant. Dietary phosphorus levels positively improved absolute retention calcium. The mortality among birds were nit suggestive of any influence due to dietary calcium and phosphorus. The results of experiments revealed that in terms of any of the major economic traits used for evaluating the dietary calcium adequacy of caged layers, 4.00 percent calcium was found to be superior over the other levels. In respect of dietary phosphorus, the levels of 0.50 per cent seems to be adequate but the absolute retention of phosphorus was negative at this level of incorporation irrespective of calcium levels. Therefore, it will be more logical to set the requirements of dietary phosphorus at 0.60 per cent than at 0.50
Open Access
Genetic variability, path analysis and stability parameters in sugarcane
(Department of Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1986) Sreekumar, S G; KAU; Gopinathan Nair, V
Investigations on genetic variability, path analysis and stability parameters wore conducted at the Sugarcane Research Station, Thiruvalla, Sugarcane Research Centre, Chittoor and Horticultural Research Station, Ambalavayal. The analysis of data collected from 48 clones evaluated at Thiruvalla revealed that the clones showed significant differences for all the 21 characters except Juiciness at 10th month in the first ratoon crop. The germination count on the 45th day, shoot count on the 180th day, number of late shoots at harvest, number of millable canes per plot, cane yield per plot and sugar yield per plot recorded moderate to high heritabiiity in the broad sense coupled with high genetic advance both in the plant and in the first ratoon crops indicating that selection based on these characters will be effective in improving cane and sugar yields. Correlation studies revealed that cane yield per plot had significant positive genotypic correlations with germination count on the 43th day, shoot count on the 180th day, number of millable canes per plot, cane weight and length of cane both in the plant and the first ratoon crops. Therefore, improvement in any one or more of these characters will result In a simultaneous improvement in the yiold of cane. Tho quality characters such as Juiciness, brix, pol and C.C.S. percentages at 12th month had positive but non-significant correlations with cane yield In ths plant crop and the first ratoon crop, suggesting difficulty in the simultaneous improvement of cane yield and quality characters through direct selection. The number of late shoots at harvest had highly significant positive genotypic and phenotypic correlations with the yield of cane in the first ratoon crop indicating that the number of late shoots at the time of harvest can be considered as a reliable criterion for the selection of clones with good yielding ability in the ratoon crop. Sugar yield recorded significant positive gonotypic correlations with cane yield and tho components of cane yield such as germination count on the 45th day, number of millable canes per plot, cane weight and length of cane. Sugar yiola also had significant positive genotypic correlations with brix, pol and C.C.S,percentages at 12th month, Tho significant positive gonotypic correlations of sugar yield with cane yield and its important components suggests that by increasing the cane yield, sugar yield per plot can be increased.
Open Access
Strain variation in Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn [Thanatephorus cucumeris (Frank) Donk] causing sheath blight of rice
(Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1986) Vijayan, M; KAU; Chandrasekharan Nair, N
Symptoms of sheath blight disease usually develop towards the tillering stage of the rice crop. Discolouration initially appearing on the sheath at or above the water level develop into ellipsoidal lesions. The lesions are light greenish gray in colour with dark brown margin. As the disease progress the lesions coalesce and become oblong to irregular in shape. In severe condition the lesions encircle the culm and cause rotting of the sheath. The disease then spreads to the leaves and such plants are killed. Sclerotia and silvery threads of the fungal mycelium appear on the affected regions under high humid conition. The casual organism was Isolated and identified as Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn. The hyphae branched near the distal septus with a costriction at the branch base. Hyphae were multinucleate and in culture showed brown pigmentation. Nature sclerotia were subglobose with rough regular surface.
Open Access
Agronomic investigations on 'TARO' (Colocasia esculenta L.) variety - Thamarakannan
(Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1986) Mohan Kumar, C R; KAU; Sadanandan, N
In order to standardize the cultural and fertilizer requirement of two (Colocasia esculata) two separate field experiments were conducted during 1983-84 and 1984-85 at the College of Agriculture, Vellayani. The first experiment (Experiment A) with treatments consisting of two sources of planting material (side and mother corn) four spacing (60 x 30, 45 x 45, 60x 45, 60x60 cm) and five sources of mulching (Green leaf, Coconut coir/husk waste, Water hyacinth, black polythene and no mulch) was conducted in asplit plot design. The second experiment (Experiemnt B) was a 3 x 2 partially confounded factorial design with three levels each of nitrogen (40,80,120 kg ha-1), P2O5 (25, 50,75 kg ha-1), K2O (50, 100,150 kg ha-1) and two times of application (two split application of N and K and three split application of N and K) with two replication
Open Access
Effect of application of plant protection chemicals on the survival of Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn
(Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1986) Lulu Das; KAU; Chandrasekharan Nair, M
In Kerala, the incidence of sheath blight of rice is endemic causing great economic loss. The present investigation was undertaken to make a critical assessment of the efficacy of various palnt protection chemicals, viz., fungicides, insecticides and herbicides on the incidence and intensity of sheath blight of rice and on the survival of the pathogen. The organism was isolated from naturally infected rice fields and its pathogenicity proved. Studies on the viability of sclerotia revealed that they sclerotia remained viable upto 210 days in all the different types of soils namely sandy, clayey and loamy. The organism could survive on straw bits upto 180th ady only.

Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur

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