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
Diallel analysis in rice bean(Vigna umbellata( Thunb.) ohwi & ohashi)
(Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1999) Preeti, S V; KAU; Radha Devi, D S
A diallel analysis in ricebean (Vigna umbellata (Thunb.) Ohwi and Ohashi) was carried out in the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, during 1997 - '98. The experimental material consisted of six parental lines and 30 F I hybrids, laid out in Randomised Block Design with three replications. The six parents were 3 LG, 5 LG, 6 LG, 8 LG, 9 LG, and 100 LG obtained from the germ plasm collection maintained at NBPGR, Thrissur. The observations were recorded on yield and yield attributing characters. Significant differences were detected among the mean performance of the genotypes, for all the characters studied. The combining ability analysis carried out by Method I, Model I of Griffing's approach (1956), revealed that the parent, 8LG was the best general combiner for most of the yield attributing traits. Among the crosses, 8LG x 3 LG exhibited outstanding sea for seed yield per plant. The crosses involving 8 LG were found to be good specific combiners. The combinations involving 3 LG and 6 LG also gave good specific combining ability effects. The numerical analysis by Hayman's approach indicated overdominance for almost all characters, which was confirmed by graphical analysis. The dominance of decreasing alleles in the parents was indicated by the negative value of F for all characters except, plant height, length of pods and number of seeds per pod. An almost equal distribution of genes with positive and negative effects was indicated by the ratio of H2 to 4H} for all the characters. The regression coefficient of covarince between parents and their offsprings in each array (Wr) on variance of all progenies in each parental array (Vr) did not- differ from unity, for plant height, length of pods, seed yield, 100 seed weight, days to maturity and protein content, indicating that assumption of non-allelic interaction was satisfactory for these characters. The Vr - Wr graph indicated that the parents were genetically divergent for days to first flowering, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, 100 seed weight, days to maturity, root weight and nodule weight. Manifestation of heterosis was seen for all the characters studied. Among the hybrids, 8 LG x 3 LG was the most outstanding for yield and yield related characters. The crosses, 8 LG x 9 LG, 8 LG x 100 LG, 6 LG x 9 LG, 100 LG x 8 LG and 6 LG x 3 LG also performed better in yield and yield attributing characters. In general, hybrids involving 8 LG and 6 LG were found to be heterotic.
Open Access
Anthracnose disease of vegetable cowpea [Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis (L.) verdcourt]
(Department of Plant Pathology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1999) Praveen Kumar, M; KAU; Sally Mathew, K
A study on vanous aspects of anthracnose disease of cowpea was conducted at College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during 1997-98. Etiological studies revealed Colletotrichum lindemuthianum (Sacc. and Magn.) Br. and Cav. as the main pathogen causing anthracnose disease in Kerala and the pathogen was found to be seed borne. Among the 50 genotypes tested, Kanakamony was found immune to the disease and seven genotypes were highly resistant to the disease. In ( disease management studies, all fungicides, botanicals and antagonist Trichoderma viride were equally effective under in vitro and field conditions. As far as disease control, yield and C:B ratio were concerned, mancozeb was found to be the best treatment. Summer season was found to be the best season for cowpea cultivation in areas where anthracnose is a problem. In crop loss assessment, significant difference was noticed between carbendazim treated and untreated plots in case of disease infection and yield, and yield loss of 53.85 per cent was recorded under natural condition due to this-disease.
Open Access
Biocontrol of rhizome rot of ginger using selected antagonists
(Department of Plant Pathology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1999) Julie George, K; KAU; Sukumaravarma, M
Rhizome rot of ginger cas used by Pythium aphantdermatum (Edson) Fitzpatrick is one of the most destructive diseases of ginger in Kerala. The pathogen was isolated and its pathogenecity was established by Koch's postulates in ginger variety Rio-de-Jenerio. Among the various food bases evaluated, for the mass multiplication of selected antagonists, rice hull was found to be significantly superior to all others to obtain maximum growth for Trichoderma viride and Aspergillus flavus. For Aspergillus niger, rice bran was found to be significantly superior. The results on the effect of various treatments on germination showed that there was no significant difference among the treatments. The effect of antagonists on the pre- emergence rotting and post-emergence rotting (rhizome rot) were studied. In plots where antagonists (T viride, Aflavus or A. niger) or fungicides (mancozeb or copper oxychloride) were applied either as seed treatment or as soil incorporation at the time of planting, the pre-emergence rotting was not observed. The plot in which the antagonists T. vtride, A. mger and At flavus were applied in combination at 60 and 120 OAP, recorded the minimum rhizome rot incidence compared to other treatments. The plots in which the antagonists were applied twice, i.e., 60 and 120 OAP, the rhizome rot incidence was minimum compared to the plots with only one time application of antagonists. The maximum population of the pathogen P. aphanidermatum. was observed in plot where A. flavus was applied in combination with mancozeb. The multiplication of selected antagonists, 7: viride, A. flavus and A. niger in soil was found out by estimating their population at different stages. The population of T. virtde was maximum in plots where it was applied in combination with mancozeb in most of the period. The soil application of the combination of antagonists T. viride, A. flavus and A. niger did not affect the multiplication of anyone of them in soil. In general, soil incorporation of antagonists was found to helping in their mulitplication profusely compared to the seed treatment. The incorporation of the antagonists A. flavus and A. niger to the plots, twice was found to be superior than applying them only once, for getting maximum multiplication of propagules in soil. The result on the compatibility of antagonist with fungicide in field condition revealed that the antagonist T viride was quite compatible with mancozeb whereas A. flavus and A. niger were compatible with both fungicides tested (mancozeb and copper oxychloride). The treatments which was found to be superior in minimising the incidence of rhizome rot of ginger viz., T 16 (soil incorporation of T vir/de, A. niger at 60 and 120 DAP) and TI9 (soil incorporation of I: viride, A. niger and A. flavus) also recorded the maximum yield of ginger.
Open Access
Short course on: crop resource management in humid tropics: (3.8.1999 to 12.8.1999)
(Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, 1999) KAU
Open Access
Progress report upto 30-09-1999: Kerala agricultural university, college of veterinary and animal sciences, Pookot, Wayanad
(Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, 1999) KAU
Open Access
Studies on wave refraction along shoreline near cochin: project report
(Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, 1999) Varma, K K; KAU
Open Access
Effect of processing and freezing procedures on the acrosome morphology of buck spermatozoa
(Department of Animal Reproduction, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1998) Ranjini, A; KAU; Prabhakaran Nair, K
Six pooled semen samples (two ejaculates) of good quality from five Malabari crossbred bucks were processed and frozen in two different protocols to evaluate the effect of processing and freezing procedures on the acrosome morphology of buck spermatozoa. In protocol I, the samples were diluted 10 fold in Tris buffer before centrifuging twice and the final pellet was re-suspended in the non glycerolated fraction of Tris yolk diluent. The sample was glycerolated (six per cent), equilibrated (four hours), frozen (eight minutes), and thawed (250 C for 30 seconds). In protocol 11, centrifugation was done only once, after 15 fold dilution in Tris buffer. The re suspended pellet was glycerolated (seven per cent), equilibrated (three hours), frozen (10 minutes) and thawed (60° C for 10 seconds). The semen characters such as motility, live sperm, sperm abnormalities and acrosome abnormalities were evaluated at the end of washing and initial extension (stage I), cooling to 5° C (stage II), glycerolisation and equilibration (stage Ill) and freezing and thawing (stage IV). The results were compiled to evaluate the effect of different processing and freezing procedures on the semen characters in general and acrosome morphology in particular. The semen sample used for split sample dilution had a mean volume of 1.3282± 0.067 ml, creamy in colour, DDDD density, ++++ mass activity, pH of 7.275 2± 0.040 and a concentration of 2972 2± 293 millions per ml. No significant difference in the above semen characters were found between bucks. The initial sperm motility of 82.000 2± 0.606 was found to drop significantly during processing and freezing and the final post thaw motility obtained was 44.000 2± 0.790 in protocol I. Similarly in protocol II the initial motility dropped from 81.375 2± 1.089 to 44.750 2± 1.075 at the end of stage IV. Even though there was significant drop in motility between stages in both the protocols, there was no significant difference in the corresponding stages of the two protocols. It could be inferred that good post thaw motility was obtained in both the protocols. The fact that a single washing and centrifugation was only adopted in protocol II makes it a more acceptable procedure for buck semen freezing. The mean live sperm percentage of fresh semen was evaluated using both NE and NEG staining technique. The percentage of live sperms of 90.050 2± 0.801 was found to decrease to 54.250 2± 0.593 after freezing and thawing in protocol by NE staining. Similarly in protocol 11, the mean percentage of live sperms was found to reduce to 53.125 2± 0.793 with the same staining. Even though there was significant difference in the live sperm percentage between stages within protocol I and II no significant difference in the live sperm percentage between the corresponding stages of protocol I and I I . With NEG staining the initial live sperm percentage of 80.850 ± 1.494 was found to drop to 54.875 ± 0.677 in protocol I as against 53.400 ± 0.730 in protocol II. While there was significant difference in the live sperm percentage between stages within protocol I and II there was no variation between corresponding stages of the two protocols. A significantly lower percentage of live sperms was recorded with NEG staining when compared with NE staining probably on account of the fact that the differentiation of live and dead sperm was difficult in the former staining method as live sperms were stained light blue instead of colourless. The mean percentage of abnormal sperms of 3.050 ± 0.245 in fresh semen did not register any significant increase during processing. However, there was significant increase in the percentage of sperm abnormalities during freezing and thawing with the final abnormality percentage of 7.125± 0.706 in protocol I and 6.300± 0.36 in protocol II. The initial acrosomal abnormality of 8.825 in the fresh semen steadily rose to 23.375 in protocol I as against 19.825 in protocol II at the end of stage IV. There was no significant difference in the percentage of various acrosomal abnormalities between corresponding stages of the two protocols. However, there was significant increase in the acrosomal abnormalities during glycerolisation, equilibration, freezing and thawing under both the protocols. It was concluded that the processing and freezing under two different protocols did not significantly alter the post thaw motility, percentage abnormal and dead sperms and acrosomal abnormalities. A good post thaw motility and low acrosomal abnormality was obtained with a single washing of buck semen with 15 fold Tris buffer which was comparable with double washing with 10 fold Tris buffer.
Open Access
Final report (01.04.1995 to 31.03.1999)
(Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, 1999) KAU
Open Access
Evaluation of slow release fertilizers for important crops in Kerala Final report
(Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, 1999) KAU

Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur

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