Thumbnail Image

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.

Browse

2000189
Reset filters
Author: KAU × End date: 2000 × Start date: 2000 ×
Reset filters

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 9 of 189
  • Thumbnail Image
    Institutional PublicationsItemOpen Access
    Protocol for production and trial shipment of banana variety Nendran (Musa AAB)
    (Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, 2000) KAU
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Immunodiagnosis of bovine gastrothylacosis using coproantigens
    (Department of parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2000) Kandasamy, A; KAU; Devada, K
    A study was conducted on the prevalence of paramphistomatidosis in Thrissur from June 1999 to May 2000, feasibility of coproantigen detection by ELlSA and comparison of sensitivity of ELlSA using coproantigens and ELlSA using serum antibodies in diagnosis of gastrothylacosis, caused by Gastrothy/ax crumenifer, in cattle. It was noted from the registers maintained at the University Veterinary Hospitals at Kokkalai and Mannuthy and that at the Department of Veterinary Parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, that out of a total number of 1534 faecal samples from bovines examined, 253 (16.5 per cent) animals were found to be positive for amphistome eggs with the maximum prevalence (23 per cent) in June and July. Generally the infection was prevalent throughout the year. An indirect ELlSA using rabbit hyperimmune serum against somatic antigens of G. crumenifer was performed to detect coproantigens in faecal samples collected from 100 known G. crumenifer infected cattle. Seventy four samples were found to contain detectable levels of coproantigen indicating a sensitivity of 74 per cent. Serum samples collected from the same infected cattle were tested for antibodies to G. crumenifer by an indirect ELlSA using somatic antigens. Fifty one samples were found positive for antibodies indicating a sensitivity of 51 per cent. It was seen that when 43 cattle were positive for both coproantigens and serum antibodies, 18 cattle were negative for both of them. Although 31 cattle which were negative for serum antibodies were found positive for coproantigens, eight cattle negative for coproantigens were found positive for serum antibodies. The results showed that coproantigen detection, which revealed a higher sensitivity than the detection of serum antibodies by ELlSA, is feasible for the diagnosis of gastrothylacosis in bovines.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Institutional PublicationsItemOpen Access
    Budget estimate 1999 – 2000
    (Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, 2000) KAU
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Developing and testing of a collector-cum-storage types solar water heater for domestic use
    (Department of Farm Power Machinery and Energy, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 2000) Bijukumar, K; KAU; Mohammad, C P
    The present study was undertaken to desi~n and develop a collector-cum-storage type solar water heater of 30 litre capacity to supply hot water for domestic use. Five solar water heaters with different absorber plate positions were constructed. The storage tanks with dimensions of 67 xIl7 x 10 cm were made by using fibre glass, and the top of these storage tanks were covered using single plain glass plates of 71 x 51 x 0.4 cm size. The position of the absorber plate was varied by changing the width of the spacers (4 nos. at an angle of 400 with the side aluminium sheet), which connects bottom aluminium plate and top absorber plate. The absorber plate was of 65 x 45 cm size. The top face of the absorber plate was painted black to absorb maximum solar. radiation. The absorber plate positions were lcm, 3cm, 5cm, 7cm and 9cm from the top glass cover plate and were designated as SWHl 0, SWH30, SWH5.0, SWH7.0 and SWH9.0 respectively. The absorber plate position was optimized by testing the solar water heaters under two different test conditions. Solar water heater II (SWH3.0) outperforms other solar water heaters under the two test conditions. Maximum outlet temperature of 64°C af 3pm and maximum efficiency of 55.72% also at 3pm were observed in solar water heater 11. So it is optimized that the position of the absorber plate should be at 3cm from . the top glass plate. The solar warer heater can easily be handled by a single person since the weight is only 9.5kg. The operating cost per unit of thermal energy obtained withthe solar water heater was found to be 25 paise per kWh.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Irrigation scheduling and moisture conservation in water melon
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2000) Ajith, C B; KAU; Joseph, P A
    An experiment was conducted at the Agricultural Research Station, Mannuthy, Thrissur during the period from December 1998 to March 1999 to study the influence of levels of irrigation and moisture conservation methods on the growth and yield of water melon (Citrullus fanatus) grown in rice fallows. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with three replications. The treatments consisted of combinations of four moisture conservation methods (control, application of paddy waste as surface mulch, uniform incorporation and bottom layer application @ 1/3 pit volume) and four levels of irrigation (IW /CPE ratio of 0.6, 1, 1.4 and farmer's practice of daily irrigation @ 20 lit pit"), The study revealed that incorporation of moisture conservation materials increased the growth attributes like length of vine, number of leaves per vine, leaf area and dry matter production and yield attributes like weight of fruits and number of fruits per plant. Among moisture conservation methods surface mulch and uniform incorporation of paddy waste were found to be superior in most of the cases. Watermelon responded very well to irrigation. Biometric characters (length of vine, number of leaves per vine, leaf area and dry matter production) and yield attributing characters (weight of fruits and number of fruits per plant) were favourably influenced by frequent irrigations. The fruit yield increased with increase in frequency of irrigation and was maximum at IW /CPE ratio of 1.4. Results of soil moisture studies revealed that incorporation of moisture conservation material' increased the soil moisture content, consumptive use and water use efficiency. The consumptive use increased with the frequency of irrigation. The top 15 cm of the soil layer accounted for the highest soil moisture depletion. The depletion was more from the deeper layers in the drier regimes. Field and crop-water use efficiencies were higher in less frequently irrigated treatments. Higher levels of irrigation increased N, P and K content of leaves. No convincing change in leaf N, P, K content could be brought about by the incorporation of paddy waste. Economic analysis showed that incorporation of paddy waste could increase the net profit. Net profit as well as net return per rupee invested were the highest with scheduling irrigation at IW/CPE ratio of 1.4. Among the treatment combinations, the best combination was surface application of paddy waste with irrigation at IW/CPE ratio of 1.4 followed by the combination of surface mulching and fanner's practice of daily irrigation.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Character association of seeds on plant morphology in snakegourd (trichosanthes anguina L.)
    (Department of Olericulture, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2000) Ashok, P; KAU; Rajan, S
    The research project 'Character association of seeds on plant morphology in snakegourd (Trichosanthes anguina L.)' was carried out in College of Horticulture, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, Thrissur during the period 1999-2000. The study envisaged to find out the association of various seed characters on the vegetative characters of snakegourd, classification of accessions based on the seed index, growth index and yield index as obtained from principal component analysis and to formulate keys for varietal identification. The 25 accessions were catalogued based on the IBPGR descriptor list. Significant differences for various seed characters, growth characters and yield characters were noticed among the accessions. Correlation studies have shown that the number of seeds per fruit strongly associated with days to male flower opening and fruit maturity. Seed size index was strongly associated with leaf size. The highest seed index value for TAl 08, the highest growth index value for TA 118 and the highest yield index value for TA 114 were obtained as revealed from principal component analysis . . Twenty five accessions were grouped into different clusters based on the seedindex, growth index and yield index. Based upon the seed characters (seed size, seed coat colour and 100 seed weight), growth characters (leaf lobes, leaf pubescence and tendril length) and fruit characters (fruit skin colour, fruit girth, fruit length and fruit weight) keys were developed for varietal identification.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Analysis of animal husbandary information in the farm feature pages of leading malayalam dailies
    (Department of Extension, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2000) Sathumadhavan, T P; KAU; Subhadhra, M R
    Study was a content analysis of animal husbandry information in farm . feature pages of four Malayalam dailies, namely Malayala Manorama, Mathrubhoorni,. Desabhimani and Deepika, for the period January to December 1999. Variables studied were space provided to different categories of animal husbandry news, modes of presentation, frequency of occurrence of news, seasonality, readability, relevancy and accuracy. Research findings revealed that the studied dailies provided less than one fourth space of farm feature pages for publishing animal husbandry information. Large animal category got more than 50 per cent coverage with three-fourth space occupied by articles on cows. Poultry articles occupied one-fourth space of animal husbandry information of farm feature pages. Where as small animals and pet animals occupied 17 per cent and seven per cent space respectively. News articles occupied maximum column length in all dailies studied. Frequency of occurrence of news articles, illustrations and question answers were found to be more when compared to other modes of presentation. Seasonality studies r.evealed that more than half the number of dairy articles and one eighth of poultry articles were seasonal. Average readability of dairy articles according to Fog index was 5.45 with more reading easiness. More than 50 per cent of dairy articles were found to be relevant. Just above two-third of scientific messages of dairy articles were accurate, whereas accuracy of general articles were found to be nearly 50 per cent.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Effectiveness of instructor controlled interactive video (ICIV) in dissemination if farm technology
    (Department of Agricultural extension, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2000) Radhakrishnan, D; KAU; Ranjan Karippai, S
    The study was aimed at bringing out the effectiveness of Instructor Controlled Interactive Video (ICIV) in popularising agricultural technologies among the farming community. The impact of the different treatments of ICIV with different video formats was also experimented. The study was conducted among 150 vegetable growers from Nadathara grama panchayath of Thrissur district. The respondents were farm women cultivating vegetables. IPM in vegetables was chosen as the message to be disseminated. The dependent variables of the study were knowledge gain and symbolic adoption of IPM practices in vegetables. The set of 11 independent variables chosen covered the psychological and situational factors of the respondents. The distribution of. respondents based on knowledge gain and symbolic adoption showed that majority of respondents were in high category after participating in ICIV. Out of 11 independent variables studied six variables were correlated significantly with knowledge gain. Five variables showed non significant relationship. Multiple regression analysis showed that 62 per cent variation in knowledge gain was contributed by the independent variables. Correlation analysis of independent variables with symbolic adoption showed that five independent variables had a positively significant relationship with symbolic adoption. One variable was negatively significant with symbolic adoption. Remaining five varied showed non significant relationship. Multiple regression analysis concluded that 59.2 per cent variation in symbolic adoption was brought about by related independent variables as a whole. The significant 'F' value indicated that all the treatments were effective in terms of knowledge gain and symbolic adoption. Students 't' test was carried out to compare the treatments. ICIV with 'Feature' mode of video presentation and ICIV with 'Skill demonstration' mode of video presentation were the most effective modes in maximising knowledge gain and symbolic adoption.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Parasexual hybridization of piper nigrum and piper colubrinum through protoplast fusion
    (Department of Plantation Crops And Spices,College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2000) Resmi, Paul; KAU; Rajendran, P C
    Black pepper is the most important export oriented commodity and foreign exchange earner among the Indian spices. Ravages due to diseases, particularly the most devastating Phytophthora foot rot caused by Phytophthora capsici is one of the major constraints in the production of black pepper all over the world. Piper colubrinum, a wild relative of black pepper is found to be immune to foot rot disease. Non – existence of cultivar level tolerance or resistance against foot rot disease in black pepper necessitated the incorporation of incompatible wild relatives through parasexual hybridization. This study was undertaken in the Department of Plantation Crops and Spices and the Plant Tissue Culture laboratory of the Centre for Plant Biotechnology and Molecular Biology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara between September 1998 to April 2000. The cultures of P. nigrum and P. colubrinum were initiated in test tubes and were maintained at 26 + 20C temperature and 60 to 80 per cent humidity. The green leaves excised from axenic cultures of both the species were treated with cell wall degrading enzymes, cellulose and pectinase maintained at proper osmotic concentration. In P. nigrum maximum yield was observed at 1.4 per cent cellulose and 0.34 per cent pectinase. Cellulase and pexctinase at a concentration of 1.0 per cent and 0.217 per cent respectively recorded highest yield in P. colubrinum. In both the species 0.6 M osmoticum was found to be optimum to maintain the osmotic potential of the isolation solution. Highest yield of protoplasts was recorded in both the species during 21 h of digestion. Filtration-centrifugation technique was found to be superior in purifying the Piper protoplasts compared to the sucrose floatation method. Centrifugation at 1000 rpm for three minutes was found to be best for purifying P. nigrum protoplasts. For purifying P. colubrimum protoplasts, 600 rpm for three minutes was found to be optimum. Highest viability was noticed at 0.55 M and 0.65 M osmoticum in 1.0 per cent cellulose and 0.28 per cent pectinase during 21 h of digestion in P. nigrum. In P. colubrinum, maximum viability was observed at 0.4 M osmoticum in the enzyme mixture 1.0 per cent Cellulase and 0.186 per cent Pectinase during 18 h of incubation. Protoplasts of both the species when cultured on modified MS medium formed no cell wall and have not undergone any division. A age of the cultures advanced, proptoplast viability decreased in P. nigrum and P. colubrinum. All the protoplasts died by the second week in both the species. The protoplasts of both the species were heterogenous in terms of size. Fusion of the protoplasts was not observed after PEG treatment in the present study.