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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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ThesisItem Open Access Developing a framework of social audit for evaluating projects on climate resilient agriculture in Malawi(Department of Agriculture Extension,College of Agriculture, Vellanikkara, 2020) Joseph Timothy Before; KAU; Jiju P AlexSocial audit as a tool for evaluating development projects and has been found to be efficient for appraising projects in various sectors like health, natural resource management, agriculture, community development, water sanitation and hygiene, land conservation etc. In spite of the interventions by governments and non-governmental organization to ensure food security, agricultural development projects in most countries around the world had been affected with number of issues including climate change, corruption, lack of participatory evaluation mechanism as well as poor involvement of communities in decision making processes. The scenario is not different in Malawi either, specifically Phalombe district which faces a number of climate change problems like floods and droughts throughout the year. The present study which followed expo-facto design was undertaken to assess the effectiveness of projects on climate resilient agriculture that are implemented in Phalombe, Malawi. The study analyzed the outcomes, constraints and impact of selected projects and evolved a framework of social audit for evaluating such projects. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) and the results have been presented quantitatively and descriptively. A total of 120 respondents from three Extension Planning Areas of Tamani, Kasongo and Mpinda were purposively selected for the study since they had participated in climate resilient agriculture projects. The sample also included 15 staff from the three NGOs that were selected for the study. It was found that 96 female farmers (78.3%) and 24 males (21.7%) had participated in the study which showed that more women were taking part in climate resilient agriculture projects compared to men. The research also revealed that manypeople who participated in climate resilient agriculture projects were married and most of them had education upto primary school level (84.2%). Secondary level education was found to have been acquired by 8.3% of the total respondents. Lower level of education was found to contribute to poor demanding of transparency and accountability from NGOs. Assessment of the agreement of respondents on severity of constraints showed that Kendall’s coefficient of concordance W= 0.5, significant at 1 per cent which proved that there was high degree of concordance among the 120 respondents in ranking the constraints according to their importance. The major constraints identified by the beneficiaries were: drying up of water resources, drought/ flood, small quantity of food, late delivery of inputs and poor involvement in decision making The results also showed that both beneficiaries and stakeholders agreed that AEDO and AEDC, NGO staff, Village Headman, Lead farmer, VCPC, ACPC, VDC, Community Policing, ASHP and Community Development Assistant should be part of social audit process. The components identified for social audit of climate resilient agriculture included training programmes, muster rolls, materials procured, input distribution, cash distribution and funding. Based on the study it could be proposed that all actors mentioned in the study should be part of the process. The framework of social audit formulated as part of the study suggested the important aspects that should be subjected to social audit. This would help devise efficient ways of conducting social audit of climate resilient projects in Malawi as it had been evolved through a participatory process involving all the stakeholders of climate resilient development projects in agricultural sector.ThesisItem Open Access Estimation of glacier stored water in bhaga basin, Himalayas(Academy of Climate Change Education and Research, Vellanikkara, 2020) Gopika, J S; KAU; Nameer, P OThesisItem Open Access Climate-forest fire linkages in selected protected areas in Kerala(Academy of Climate Change Education and Research, Vellanikkara, 2020) Sreedevi, K; KAU; Gopakumar, SThesisItem Open Access Long - term changes in the Indo-Sri Lankan Upwelling System, a perspective to study the impact of climate change in a tropical ocean(Academy of Climate Change Education and Research, Vellanikkara, 2020) Parvathy, V S; KAU; Muraleedharan, K RThesisItem Open Access Vulnerability and adaptation study of women exposed to extreme weather events in Thrissur district(Academy of Climate Change Education and Research, Vellanikkara, 2020) Aiswarya, T Pavanan; KAU; Chitra, ParayilThesisItem Open Access Flood frequency analysis and modelling of flood using HEC-HMS for a river basin: a case study(Department of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, Kelappaji Collge of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 2020) Riyola, George; KAU; Asha, JosephMeenachil river basin, located in southern part of Kerala, is an area frequently liable to flood. The area is predominant with agricultural land and falls under the tropical humid zone, where water resources planning and management is necessary for irrigation scheduling, flood control and design of various engineering structures. In view of the importance of water resources management especially in this humid region, it is necessary to understand the rainfall-runoff relationship along with its land characteristics. HEC-HMS model which is widely used rainfall-runoff modelling was chosen for the simulation of watershed responses and generation of flood hydrographs of Meenachil sub basin. The simulated runoff is useful for well-planned programmes in water resource management and future prediction of runoff for flood mitigation strategies in the catchment. Hence, an attempt was made to conduct flood frequency analysis for predicting the magnitude of flood for different return periods and to calibrate and validate the HEC-HMS model for simulating the flood hydrographs of Meenachil sub basin. Flood frequency analysis was carried out using annual maximum discharge data for 34 years (1985-2018) using HEC-SSP software. The HEC-HMS model for the sub basin was developed using SCS-UH, SCS-CN and Muskingum methods to find out the loss rate, runoff transformation and routing of flood respectively. Flood frequency analysis clearly indicated the good capability of the Gumbel and Log-Pearson Type III distribution function to predict flood magnitudes of the river flow in the sub basin of Meenachil River. Test statistic values of Chi-Square and Kolmogorov-Smirnov test showed the best fit of both the distributions for the basin. HEC-HMS model of the sub basin was developed with good accuracy. The performance indices of the model NSE and R² were obtained above 0.7. The Error in Peak Flow and Error in Volume were figured below 20% where as RSR was found 0.5 and below. All these values indicated satisfactory performance of HEC-HMS model simulation both in calibration and validation. The close agreement of simulated stream flow and observed stream flow indicated that the model was able to simulate flood hydrograph and present credible results for the sub basin.ThesisItem Open Access Nutrients and tillage interactions in rice fallow cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) production(Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellanikkara, 2020) Vandana, G Pai; KAU; Prameela, PAn experiment entitled “Nutrients and tillage interactions in rice fallow cowpea production” was conducted during 2017-2019 at College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara of Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur. The study consisted of two experiments. Experiment-1 was a pot culture study undertaken during 2017, to find out optimum dose of potassium and magnesium sulphate for cowpea. The experiment was laid out in CRD with 14 treatments and three replications. The treatments included three levels of K2O (10, 20 and 40 kg/ha), and four levels of MgSO4 (40, 60, 80 and 100 kg/ha). Apart from K: MgSO4 @ 10:80 kg/ha (KAU package of practices) and soil test based nutrition (K: MgSO4 @12:80 kg/ha) were also included. Nitrogen and P2O5 were applied at the rate of 20 and 30 kg/ha, respectively, uniformly to all pots. A bush type variety of cowpea Anaswara released from Kerala Agricultural University was used in the study. In the pot culture experiment, application of K2O: MgSO4 @ 40: 40 kg/ha and 40:100 kg/ha resulted in taller plants. At 60 DAS, POP based nutrient application registered more number of branches (12.7 /plant), which was on par with K2O: MgSO4 @ 10:60 (T2), 20:40 (T5), 20:100 (T8), 40:40 (T9), 40:80 (T11), 40:100 (T12) kg/ha as well as to soil test based nutrition (T14). Highest number of root nodules (201) and higher dry matter production at harvest (44 g/plant) was observed in application of K: MgSO4 @ 40:100 kg/ha (T12). An increase in dry matter production of cowpea was observed with magnesium sulphate nutrition. Various levels of K and Mg resulted in significant variation in chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll content. Application of potassium and MgSO4 @ 40:60 kg/ha resulted in higher number of pods and grain yield (40.3 g/plant) and it was statistically comparable to T11 and T12 (K2O: MgSO4 @ 40:80 & 40:100 kg/ha). Based on grain yield, treatments K: MgSO4 @ 20:60 kg/ha, 20:80 kg/ha, 40:60 kg/ha, 40:80 kg/ha were selected for field trial along with soil test based nutrition as control. The second experiment aimed at assessing the effect of various tillage practices, and varied doses of potassium and MgSO4 on growth and yield of cowpea and to work out economic viability. Field experiments were undertaken in rice fallow during 2017 and 2018 (November/December - March/April). Soil of the filed was high in organic carbon, available N, but deficient in available P, K, and Mg. The experiment was laid out in RBD and the treatments were factorial combinations of three types of tillage and varied doses of potassium and magnesium sulphate and it was replicated thrice. Zero tillage (ZT- M1), minimum tillage (MT- M2) and conventional tillage (CT- M3) were the major factors and five nutrient doses (S1-S5) were soil test based nutrition (S1- 11-13 kg K2O/ha along with 80 kg MgSO4/ha), 20 kg K2O/ha along with 60 kg/ 80 kg MgSO4/ha (S2 & S3) and 40 kg K2O/ha along with 60 kg/ 80 kg MgSO4/ha (S4 & S5). N and P2O5 were applied at the rate of 20 kg/ha and 30 kg/ha in all plots. Seeds were dibbled at spacing of 30 cm x 15 cm. In zero tillage, herbicide glyphosate was sprayed @ 0.85 kg/ha two weeks before sowing. In minimum tillage, strip tillage using spade was adopted at a spacing of 30 cm. In conventional tillage, land was ploughed twice followed by formation of small ridges and furrows at a spacing of 30 cm. The plot size was 6 m x 4.2 m. Germination percentage of cowpea (at 7 DAS) was significantly higher in conventional tillage (79 %), whereas, it was very low in zero till (44 %) and intermediate in MT (58 %). Tillage systems and potassium, magnesium sulphate doses had no significant effect on plant height of cowpea, and at 60 DAS average height was 47.5 cm, 52.9 cm and 48.4 cm under zero tillage, minimum tillage and conventional tillage, respectively. At 45 DAS and 60 DAS minimum tillage resulted in higher number of branches per plant whereas, plants in conventional tillage showed earliness in 50 % flowering. Significantly higher LAI was recorded in zero tillage, followed by minimum and conventional tillage. Application of K: MgSO4 @ 40:80 kg/ha also resulted in higher LAI. Zero tillage along with K: MgSO4 @ 40:80 kg/ha (M1S5) recorded the highest LAI. Tillage had no significant effect on chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total chlorophyll content and on chlorophyll a/b ratio. Whereas, potassium and magnesium sulphate application had significant effect on chlorophyll content. Application of K: MgSO4 @ 20:60 kg/ha and K: MgSO4 @ 40:80 kg/ha resulted in higher as well as comparable chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll content. Among interactions ZT with K: MgSO4 @ 12:80 kg/ha (soil test) and CT along with K: MgSO4 @ 20:60 kg/ha higher chlorophyll a content. Dry matter production at early growth stage was higher under conventional tillage, followed by minimum tillage and zero tillage. Whereas, at 75 DAS, highest dry matter was registered under minimum tillage (3240 kg/ha). However, at 90 DAS, both minimum and conventional tillage resulted in higher as well as comparable dry matter (2043 kg/ha and 2085 kg/ha). Root length and root spread were higher under zero tillage followed by MT and CT. Application of K: MgSO4 @ 40:60 kg/ha also resulted in higher root spread. Zero tillage with K: MgSO4 @ 40:60 kg/ha (45.2 cm) resulted in longest roots and higher root spread (2695 cm2). Conventional tillage along with supply of K and MgSO4@ 40 and 80 kg /ha registered shortest roots and lower root spread. Pooled analysis showed that, among various tillage systems, significantly higher grain yield was realized under minimum tillage (735 kg/ha). This was followed by conventional tillage (648 kg/ha) and zero tillage (618 kg/ha) which were on par. Among varied potassium and magnesium doses, application of K: MgSO4 @ 40:60 kg/ha was found to be the best (grain yield of 806 kg/ha). Hence combination of minimum tillage along with K: MgSO4 @ 40:60 kg/ha resulted in the highest grain yield (915 kg/ha). Uptake of nutrients at 30 DAS followed the order of CT>MT>ZT. At harvest, higher uptake of potassium, and magnesium was noted in K: MgSO4 @ 40:60 kg/ha under minimum tillage. There was no significant variation with respect to grain protein content of cowpea due to various tillage practices whereas higher content was registered with application of K: MgSO4 @ 40:80 kg/ha (26.2 %).ThesisItem Open Access Analysis of soil and water conservation investments in Kerala and farm level financial gains(Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Agriculture, Vellanikkara, 2020) Lokesh, S; KAU; Indira Devi, PClimate change is expected to increase stress on water resources which impacts the agricultural production and farmers’ livelihoods. Tropical high range regions like Wayanad are more vulnerable to climate change because of the faster rate of temperature increase and irregular rainfall pattern. Soil and Water Conservation (SWC) measures assumes significance in such situations in which the gradient, land use and rainfall factors trigger top soil loss. The SWC measures in Wayanad is promoted through four major schemes which are heavily subsidised by the State and Central Governments. This study was taken up with the specific objectives viz., to analyse the institutional credit flow towards soil and water conservation investments in Kerala, to assess the household level investment on soil and water conservation, understand the local preferences for soil/water conservation methods, assess the farm level economic viability and finally efficiency of such investments and understand the farmers’ perceptions on effectiveness of conservation measures. The study was based on both primary data and secondary data. Secondary data on institutional credit support, refinance and rainfall pattern was compiled from various issues of Economic Review, Government of Kerala; Annual Reports and potential linked credit plan documents of NABARD. The samples for the primary data were identified based on the multistage random sampling method. The major interventions in SWC are implemented through four schemes viz. Arable Land Treatment (ALT), Drainage Line Treatment (DLT), Drought Mitigation Scheme (DMS) and Western Ghats Development Scheme (WGDP). Total sample of 360 farmers (30 beneficiaries x 4 schemes x 3 taluks) were identified from the list of beneficiaries collected from the Department of Soil and Water Conservation. One neighboring farmer each to the sample farm was also interviewed. The data was collected through personal interview method employing a structured and pretested interview schedule. The analysis was done using appropriate statistical tools. The major findings of the study are as follows: Institutional credit support to agriculture in Kerala was ₹ 67,089 crore during 2017-18, wherein crop loans constituted major share (72%). The Commercial banks were leading with 65 per cent share. NABARD refinance support to agriculture amounted to ₹ 10024.29 crores. There has been an increasing preference for Non-Farm Sector, which enjoyed two third of total refinance support. Among the major institutions, RRB’s enjoyed the highest share of 33 per cent. In the farm sector, plantation and horticulture sector (31.26%) remained the prime sector in refinance support during the period 1990-91 to 2017-18. The institutional credit support to Wayanad agriculture was ₹ 2469.89 crores (2017-18) which registered a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 18.97 per cent (2007-08 to 2017-18). Though crop loans constituted for 86 per cent of the total credit, the CAGR of term loans was faster (22.77%). Commercial banks were the main provider of credit and plantation and horticulture sector and dairy development sectors were given priority in lending. Considered as the hot spot of climate change in Kerala, the district was regularly facing drought situation and water scarcity was reported as one of the major problems. The irrigated agriculture in the district (44.72% of the respondents) was mainly depending on open wells and facing challenges as the water was enough to irrigate only during 2-3 months. Most of the respondents were middle aged, literate and marginal farmers. The SWC, on an average attracted an investment of ₹ 2,49,217 per household. Overall, nearly 50 per cent (177) of the respondents have adopted SWC structures on individual basis and have paid a share of 10 per cent at the rate of ₹ 24,922/household. About 40 per cent of the respondents adopted on group basis paying a share of five per cent. However, none of the respondents bothered to undertake the annual maintenance of the SWC structures. Impact of SWC measures on cropping pattern, productivity, production and farm income were assessed by comparing it with the situation before the investment. The SWC measures have facilitated the area expansion of ginger (56.94%), banana (38.53%), rubber (32.71%) and turmeric (31.65%). The significance of SWC measures was evident through the positive effect on productivity in all the crops. The significant area expansion and productivity gains in ginger, banana, rubber and turmeric has translated into substantial production gains (95.24% in ginger, 81.80% in banana, 64.77% in rubber, 49.60% in turmeric). The farm income increased to the tune of 45.61 per cent, the major increase being from ginger (95.24%), banana (81.80%), rubber (64.77%) and turmeric (49.60%) cultivation. All the major crops (coffee, pepper, arecanut and banana) performed well with positive indicators of financial viability and efficiency. The relative economic performance with respect to net returns was in the order of arecanut (₹ 4,24,074/ha), banana (₹ 3,42,202), coffee (₹ 2,73,365/ha) and black pepper (₹ 1,86,929/ha). The efficiency of investment as indicated by the BC ratio was in favour of arecanut (5.55) followed by coffee (3.96), banana (3.53) and black pepper (3.26). SWC is expected to improve the water availability and irrigation. Resource use efficiency analysis was done to assess whether it has contributed significantly to the returns. The results confirmed that irrigation has significantly contributed to the returns in arecanut, coffee and pepper. The economic viability of SWC investments was estimated to assess the economic worthiness of the investment as it involves substantial part of public money. The NPW of the investment was positive in all the schemes and averaged at ₹ 3,02,792/farm. DLT scheme was proven to be the best in terms of NPW. The efficiency in investment as measured by the BC ratio was highest in ALT (9.37) which averaged at 2.33, thus confirming the economic efficiency of the investment. IRR averaged at 28 per cent, which is significantly higher than the opportunity cost of capital (interest on fixed investments). The analysis justifies the social investment of SWC, as it leads to higher production and returns which supports the agricultural profession and welfare of the farmers. The impact of SWC measures on farm enterprise diversification, tree diversity, employment generation and ground water level were also found to be positive and helped in improving farm income. The positive externalities of SWC measures were acknowledged by the neighbouring farmers and they were reported to be motivated to adopt the same. However, the adoption of water saving technologies were found to be rather low. The decision to adopt SWC in any farm is decided by demographic, social, economic and institutional factors. Age, education levels, family size and number of literate persons in the family and knowledge on soil erosion influenced the decision to adopt the SWC, in all the cases irrespective of the scheme. Organizational membership also influenced the decisions making except in the case of WGDP scheme. The institutional credit delivery and refinance support in Kerala need to give more focus towards capital formation investments through LT credit support. The analysis justifies the public allocation and investment in SWC measures in farm holdings. The quantified positive impacts and externalities of SWC schemes can be used in educational and awareness creation programmes for wider implementation of the schemesThesisItem Open Access Production dynamics of strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) in Kerala(Department of Fruit Science, College of Agriculture, Vellanikkara, 2020) Anu Kurian; KAU; Ajith Kumar, KStrawberry is a unique soft fruit crop known for its tantalizing aroma, bright red colour, juicy texture, sweetness and high nutritive value. This is a highly remunerative crop and give quickest returns with in a short period of six months. Temperature and photoperiod are the most important environmental factors that affect the transition from vegetative to flowering phase of strawberry. Previous studies conducted in the department have proved that strawberry can be grown in the plains as well as in hills of Kerala during September to March even in the open condition. The suitable genotypes and good management practices are of paramount importance for successful cultivation of strawberry. With this brief background, the present investigation titled “Production dynamics of strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) in Kerala” was undertaken to identify suitable cultivars, better nutrient management, better spacing, suitable growing systems and media for the homestead cultivation of Kerala. Total of four experiments were designed for the study. The study was conducted using eight strawberry varieties under two different agroclimatic zones of Kerala. In Central mid-lands, cv. Winter Dawn recorded signficantly higher number of leaves and number of crowns per plant, whereas in High ranges, cv. Winter Dawn was found significantly superior for maximum plant height, number of leaves and number of crowns per plant. The attributes viz., number of clusters, flowers and fruits per plant were recorded in cv. Winter Dawn which was followed by cv. Sabrina-1 in both locations. Maximum harvesting period was recorded in cv. Winter Dawn in Central mid-lands while it was maximum in cv. Sabrina-1 in High ranges. Quality attributes such as TSS/acidity ratio was recorded maximum in cv. Sweet Charlie under both locations. Winter Dawn recorded maximum ascorbic acid content in both locations while cv. Crystal recorded maximum anthocyanin content. Maximum β-Carotene content was recorded in cv. Sabrina-1 in Central mid-lands while it was maximum in cv. Hadar in High ranges. Evaluating all the parameters during crop period, both Sabrina-1 and Winter Dawn showed stability in their sensory qualities in Central mid-lands. In High ranges, it was recorded in cv. Sweet Charlie. Nine different nutrient combinations were studied using cv. Winter Dawn in Central mid-lands of Kerala. Among the different nutrient combinations, FYM (30 t ha-1), N, P2O5, K2O @ 75:20:100 kg ha-1 (T8) recorded maximum vegetative attributes, number of flowers, fruits and yield per plant (79.92 g) and quality parameters such as TSS and TSS/acidity ratio. Maximum content of total sugars, ascorbic acid and highest sensory score were recorded in the nutrient combination FYM (30 t ha-1), N, P2O5, K2O @ 100:40:50 kg ha-1 (T9). Physiological attributes such as leaf area index was found to maximum in the nutrient combination FYM (t ha-1), N, P2O5, K2O kg ha-1@ 30:100:40:50 (T9), while the relative growth rate was recorded maximum in FYM (30 t ha-1), N, P2O5, K2O @ 75:20:100 kg ha-1 (T8) and 20 t ha-1, 50:40:100 kg ha-1 (T4). Among the nutrients, uptake was maximum in nitrogen and it ranges from 10.66 to 58.65 kg ha-1. The nutrient potassium which favours fruit formation was found maximum in the nutrient combination FYM (30 t ha-1), N, P2O5, K2O @ 75:20:100 kg ha-1 (T8) which ultimately resulted in maximum yield per plant. Different nutrient combinations had significant difference on nutrient content of strawberry fruits except copper content. The highest B/C ratio (0.91) was recorded for the nutrient combination, FYM (30 t ha-1), N, P2O5, K2O @ 75:20:100 kg ha-1 (T8). Six different spacing trials were studied using strawberry cv. Winter Dawn in both Central mid-lands and High ranges. Vegetative attributes viz., plant height, number of leaves and number of crowns were maximum in closer spacing of 20 cm x 20 cm in both Central mid-lands and High ranges which have led to the maximum production of flowers, clusters, fruits and yield per plant (100.03 g; 271.69 g) in both locations. Quality attributes viz., TSS, TSS/acidity ratio and total sugars were found maximum in wider spacing of 30 cm x 50 cm (T2) in Central mid-lands. In High ranges, maximum total sugars was recorded at a spacing of 30 cm x 60 cm (5.37 %) while maximum ascorbic acid and β-Carotene content were recorded at a spacing of 30 cm x 50 cm (T2). The total sensory score was found maximum in 30 cm x 50 cm (T2) in Central mid-lands while it was maximum in 30 cm x 60 cm (T1) in High ranges. Closer spacing of 20 cm x 20 cm did not have significant influence the quality attributes however it recorded highest B/C ratio in both Central mid-lands (1.21) and High ranges (3.28). Six different growing systems viz., hanging pots, hanging pipes, hanging bottles, vertical garden, grow bags and raised beds and four different growing media viz., Soil: Cocopeat: FYM, Soil: Cocopeat: Vermicompost, Cocopeat: Perlite: FYM and Cocopeat: Perlite: Vermicompost in 1:1:1 ratio were studied using cv. Winter Dawn in Central mid-lands. Vegetative attributes viz., plant height, number of leaves, plant spread and number of crowns were recorded maximum in growbags and raised beds with growing medium, Soil: Cocopeat: Vermicompost (1:1:1) which led to the maximum production of number of flowers, clusters, fruits and yield per plant (86.26 g). Quality attributes viz., TSS, TSS/acidity ratio and total sugars were recorded maximum in raised beds with growing medium Cocopeat: Perlite: Vermicompost (1:1:1). The overall sensory score was found maximum in fruits grown in raised beds with medium Soil: Cocopeat: FYM (1:1:1). The highest B/C ratio (1.36) was recorded with raised beds with Soil: Cocopeat: Vermicompost (1:1:1) as growing medium. On evaluation, it is found that cv. Winter Dawn showed significantly superior performance in vegetative, flowering, fruit and yield attributes with resistance to serious pests and diseases. Hence, it can be recommended as a best variety for strawberry cultivation in Kerala. Among the different nutrient combinations, FYM (30 t ha-1), N, P2O5, K2O @ 75:20:100 kg ha-1 (T8) was found suitable for better nutrient recommendation for strawberry. Though closer spacing of 20 cm x 20 cm recorded maximum yield but wider spacing would enhance the quality of fruits. Grow bag is found the best suitable growing system with growing medium Soil: Cocopeat: Vermicompost at 1:1:1 ratio, for home gardening of strawberry.
