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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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1983 - 19852
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Author: Thomas Mathew × End date: 1987 × Start date: 1981 × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Influence of Irrigation on germination, growth and yield of sesamum
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1985) Thomas Mathew; Mohamed Kunju, U
    A field study was undertaken at the Rice Research Station, Kayamkulam, during the third crop season of 1983-84 to find out the influence of irrigation on germination, growth and yield of sesamum, with eleven main plot treatments as time of sowing and three sub plot treatments as frequency of irrigation. There were 33 different treatment combinations The study revealed that the optimum soil moisture for maximum germination of sesamum seed is 12.72 per cent. Moisture contents above or below this adversely affect the germination percentage. Optimum soil moisture for germination could be achieved by irrigating the plots to field capacity and sowing one day after the irrigation. Dry matter production, number of seeds per capsule, distribution of dry matter in capsule, seed yield, oil content, oil yield and shelling percentage were highest in the treatment where sowing was done one day after the initial irrigation. Maximum uptake of N, P and K was also observed in this treatment. One irrigation at the vegetative phase or two irrigations one at the vegetative and the other at the reproductive stages have favourably influenced the growth characters like plant height, number of leaves, number of branches and nodes, leaf area, dry matter production, number of capsules per plant, capsule weight per plant, number of seeds per capsule, seed weight per plant and seed yield per ha. The oil content, oil yield and the uptake of N, P and K were also maximum in the above Irrigation treatments. The study revealed that irrigating the plot to field capacity and sowing the seeds one day after irrigation has resulted in obtaining maximum germination and optimum plant density. Similarly irrigation during the growth phases have also increased the seed yield. Maximum seed yield of 859 kg/ha. was produced by sowing the seeds one day after Initial irrigation followed by giving one irrigation each during the vegetative and reproductive phases.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Evaluation of super mother palms of coconut by seedling progeny analysis
    (Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1983) Thomas Mathew; KAU; Gopimony, R
    Seedling progeny analysis was conducted in super mother palms of coconut (annual yield not less than 3Q0 nuts) in comparison with control mother palms (average mother palms with annual yield not less than 60 nuts). The aim was to evaluate these super palms for their prepotent ability to produce quality seedlings. The super mother palms were selected from different locations in Trivandrum and Quilon districts, and from the same locations, control mother palms were also selected. A seed lo t froi north Kerala (Badagara) collected by the State Department of Agriculture was also included. Observations were recorded on mother palms, samples on seed nuts collected from these palms, and on seedlings raised in a replicated field trial. Critical analysis of the compiled data showed super mother palms to be significantly superior to control palms In number of bunches and nuts per bunch. But the two types of mother palms failed to show significant differences in nut., and seedling characters. Among super palms, T4 showed superiority over rest of palms in mother palm, seed nut, and seedling characters. This super palm also registered the highest recovery of quality seedlings indicating its superior prepotent ability. Estimates on recovery of quality seedlings from total number of seed nuts was found to be more reliable than the recovery from total number of seedlings, as a measure of prepotency. Selection of super mother palms as prepotent trees, on the basis of nut yield alone was found to be non-viable Instead, a balance between nut size and number of nuts per bunch is sought. Significant correlations between seedling vigour index and seed nut characters (weight of unhusked nut, husked nut, and meat) led to elucidation of the linear relationships between vigour Index and seed nut characters for use as ready reckoners for improving mother palm selection programme. Significant correlations between seedling vigour index and seed nut characters (weight of unhusked nut, husked nut, and meat) led to elucidation of the linear relationships between vigour Index and seed nut characters for use as ready reckoners for improving mother palm selection programme. Studies on genetic parameters showed that a high amount of genetic factor is Involved in the expression of seed nut characters (weight of unhusked nut, husked nut, and meat) and seedling characters (germination percentage, height, girth-at-collar, number of leaves, leaf area, and age at leaf splitting) as evidenced by high GCV, heritability, coheritability and genotypic correlation values. The results obtained in this seedling progeny analysis will get absolute confirmation only on completion of an adult Progeny analysis