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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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  • ThesisItemOpen 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.
  • ThesisItemOpen 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.
  • ThesisItemOpen 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.
  • Institutional PublicationsItemOpen Access
    Short course on: crop resource management in humid tropics: (3.8.1999 to 12.8.1999)
    (Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, 1999) KAU
  • Institutional PublicationsItemOpen Access
  • Institutional PublicationsItemOpen Access
    Studies on wave refraction along shoreline near cochin: project report
    (Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, 1999) Varma, K K; KAU
  • Institutional PublicationsItemOpen Access
    Final report (01.04.1995 to 31.03.1999)
    (Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, 1999) KAU
  • Institutional PublicationsItemOpen Access
    Evaluation of slow release fertilizers for important crops in Kerala Final report
    (Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, 1999) KAU
  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Developing baked and confectionery products based on sweet potato
    (Department of Home Science, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1999) Elizabeth, Augustine; KAU; Chellammal, S
    A study on ‘Developing baked and confectionery products based on sweet potato' was conducted with major objective to develop value added baked and confectionery products based on sweet potato flour. The study comprised of standardisation of raw materials, product development, assessing nutritional significance, organoleptic quality studies, preference tests and shelf life studies. The five baked and five confectionery products was formulated with sweet potato flour as the basic ingredient. Three combinations were tried with different proportions of sweet potato flour. The other ingredients added to sweet potato flour were maida, egg, sugar, ghee and skimmed milk powder. The selection of best combination was based on amino acid scores chemical scores and cost benefit ratio. A combination with 50 per cent sweet potato flour and 50 per cent maida was selected as the ideal combination, since it secured higher amino acid score and chemical score. The cost of the combination was also found to be satisfactory. The nutritional composition of the food product revealed that the product contained all the nutrients in optimum quantity. The nutritional quality of the developed food products after processing with reference to calories, proteins, β carotene, calcium, phosphorous and zinc were determined through suitable laboratory techniques. ISI type tests specified to such products were administered to the developed foods and the values were comparable with ISI specification. Organoleptic studies of the developed food products was assessed by two groups of consumers viz., college students and technical experts. The parameters tested were appearance, colour, flavour, texture and taste. The analysis revealed that both the baked and confectionery products got highest scores. Baked products had a slightly higher mean score, compared to confectionary products. In the preference tests of the developed products conducted among farm women of Venganoor, Srikariyam and Kaliyoor panchayath and entrepreneurs in Thiruvananthapuram city were also showed the same result. Moisture and insect infestation were-lower in flour stored in glass and plastic containers. Effect of storage on moisture and over all acceptability were revealed that there was an increase in moisture content during the fourth week of storage period. There was an increase in moisture during storage and the difference was statistically significant. The overall acceptability was found to be decreased after storage. There was no insect infestation in the developed products during the storage period. The assessment of microbiological quality revealed that all the products were attacked by different types of microorganisms. The result of the present study suggest that new methods of processing could be introduced to add value to the crop and it is possible to develop different types of processed products based on sweet potato products which may result in increased consumption of tuber in the future and also for building up a healthy rural population.