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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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1989 - 198912010 - 20151
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Author: Mini, V × Start date: 1988 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Induced mutations in cowpea
    (Department of Agricultural Botany, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1989) Mini, V; KAU; Vijayagopal, P D
    Seeds of cowpea ( vigna unguiculata) cultivar kuruthola-payar were subjected to induced mutagenesis using four doses of gamma rays (10 to 40 krad) and four doses of EMS (0.5 to 2.0 per cent) and their effects in the M1 and M2 generations were studied. The germination percentage was observed to decrease prgogressively with the increase in dose of both mutagens although the reduction was more drastic with EMS. Reduction in survival percentage was observed with increase in the dose of gamma rays and EMS. The growth of shoot and root and plant height were reduced by both the mutagens, although gamma rays showed greater shoot inhibition and EMS showed greater root inhibition. The pollen fertility as well as seed fertility decreased linearly with increase in doses of both the mutagens. Chlorophyll chimeras were observed only in the 30 krad and 40 krad gamma ray treatments. Morphological variations noticed included plants with alterations in the number, size and shape of leaflets. The chlorophyll mutation frequency estimated on M2 progeny row basis showed an increase with increasing doses of gamma rays, except in the 40 krad treatment, which showed a slight decrease. In the case of EMS, maximum mutants were observed at the lowest dose. The chlorophyll mutation frequency estimated on M2 seedling basis showed dose-dependence. The frequencies of the different types of chrolophyll mutants did not show any dose-relationship. The segregation ratio of chlrophyll mutants was higher for EMS than gamma irradiation. The viable mutation frequencies did not show any definite relationship with the doses in both the mutagen treatments. The mutagenic effectiveness in inducing chlrophyll mutations was high at the lowest dose of both mutagens. On the basis of lethality, 20 krad of gamma rays was the most efficient, while on the basis of injury and sterility, 10 krad was the most efficient. With EMS, the 0.50 per cent treatment was the most effective as well as the most efficient treatment on the basis of lethality, injury and sterility. The mutagenic efficiency in inducing chlorophyll mutations was higher for gamma rays with respact to lethality and injury, while on the basis of sterility, EMS proved to be more effcient than gamma rays.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Assessment and management of micronutrient deficiencies in Onattukara
    (College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2015) Mini, V; KAU; Usha, Mathew
    A study on “Assessment and management of micronutrient deficiencies in Onattukara” was undertaken with an objective to assess the available micronutrient status of the Onattukara region to develop a multi micronutrient mixture for balanced crop nutrition and to evaluate the effect of multi micronutrient mixture on growth and yield of okra. Two hundred georeferenced soil samples were drawn at random from twenty soil series of the Onattukara region representing different crop production systems and analysed for 13 soil fertility parameters. The results of the analysis of various soil parameters were integrated in GIS for the preparation of thematic maps. The overall fertility status of this region indicated that the soil was very strongly acidic with high level of phosphorus, low oxidisable organic carbon and available potassium and wide spread deficiencies of calcium, magnesium, boron and zinc. Observational trials were conducted at 18 different locations to assess the response of the okra crop to adhoc recommendations by KAU for micronutrients. Micronutrient application increased the yield up to eighty percent in these trials. Micronutrient fertilizer requirement was computed based on the available micronutrient status of the region and crop requirement. A multi micronutrient mixture having a composition of Zn (9.5%) + B (2.6%) +Cu (1.2%) +Mg (2.4%) +N (0.46%) @ 20kg ha-1 was developed and the effect of multi micronutrient mixture was assessed in the field experiments using okra variety Varsha Uphar as the test crop in two seasons during September- December in 2013 and February -May in 2014. The field experiment consisted of nine treatments and the treatments were T1 (Absolute control), T2 (Package of Practices (POP) ), T3 (Soil test based POP and secondary nutrients), T4 (Treatment 3 + computed dose of micronutrients mixture), T5 (Treatment 3 + 25% less of computed dose of micronutrients mixture),T6 (Treatment 3+ 25% more of computed dose of micronutrients mixture), T7 (Treatment 3+ foliar application of 0.5% solution of computed dose of micronutrients mixture), T8 (Treatment 3+ foliar application of 0.5% solution of 25% less of computed dose of micronutrients mixture) and T9 (Treatment 3 + foliar application of 0.5% solution of 25% more of computed dose of micronutrients mixture). Growth, yield and quality of okra increased significantly due to multi micronutrient mixture. Application of soil test based NPK and secondary nutrients + foliar application of 0.5 per cent solution of computed dose of micronutrient mixture @ 5 kg ha-1 in two splits at 15 DAS and 35 DAS (T7) yielded significantly higher (11.3 tha-1) over rest of the treatments. T7 recorded 80 per cent more yield than T3, which was the soil test based package of practices (POP) and secondary nutrients and more than double the yield of POP. Soil application of this mixture @ 20kg ha-1 (T4) was also significantly superior to the POP recommendations. Soil status of micronutrients in the experiment site before the experiment was Zn (0.27 mg kg-1), Cu (0.21 mg kg-1) and B (0.17 mg kg-1). After two consecutive application of multi micronutrient mixture, the soil status of Zn, Cu and B were in the range of 0.62 to 1.58 mg kg-1, 0.74 to 0.99 mg kg-1 and 0.19 to 0.31 mg kg-1 respectively. Even after continuous application of micronutrients for two seasons the critical status was not attained for Cu and B in soil. So application of micronutrient fertilizers customized for agro ecological units and crops ensures increased yield and sustain soil health. In general the highest nutrient content and uptake in shoot and fruit were recorded by T7. The highest B: C ratio of 3.02 was also recorded by T7. From the investigation it can be concluded that foliar application of micronutrient mixture @ 5kg ha-1 in two splits at 15 DAS and 35 DAS was superior to soil application with respect to yield, quality and B: C ratio. The study revealed that micronutrient deficiency is one of the yield barriers which can be broken down by including micronutrient fertilizers in the nutrient schedule of crops.