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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 Studies on the performance of two groundnut varieties, TMV-2 and TMV-9, under graded doses of phosphorus and potassium.(Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1978) Purushothaman Nair, N; KAU; Sadanandan, NThesisItem Open Access Study on adoption of soil conservation measures by farmers in scheme areas of Trivandrum District(Department of Agricultural Extension, College Of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1978) Balakrishna Pillai, G; KAU; Nair, G TThe magnitude of the problem of soil erosion is so high in Kerala mainly due to the undulating topography and high intensity of rainfall. More than 10 lakhs hectares of undulating land have to be protected from the hazards of erosion by effective soil conservation measures . The results of studies conducted on the soil loss by the soil conservation station. Konni has shown that the soil loss where slope was 30 per cent was 241.56 tonnes per acre per year. Attempts are made to control the serious loss of top soil by the Department of Agriculture (Soil Coservation Unit) by implementing integrated soil conservation schemes. But the progress of coverage was poor. Even in scheme areas, many farmers are non -adopters of the required soil conservation works. Many farmers have not taken up the required Agronomy and Agrostology works eventhough theycompleted the contour bunding works. A detailed study was essential to understand all those aspects of adoption . This study was an effort in that direction.ThesisItem Open Access Study on the role of leadership in agricultural development in rural areas in Kerala(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Agriculture Vellayani, Trivandrum, 1979) Muthiah Manoharan, P; KAU; Thiagarajan Nair, GThis study on the role of leadership in agricultural development was designed to measure the role perception and 1 f role performance of different categories of leaders, as well as the factors associated with the role performance of leaders. This study was conducted in Arayoor I.P.D. Unit in Trivandrum District. This study covered five categories of leaders viz., Agricultural, Political, Co-operative, Ela committee and Panchayat leaders. The important findings were the following: 1. There was no significant difference among all categories of leaders regarding their age, educational level, communication skill, attitude towards agriculture and knowledge of the programme and improved agricultural practices. . 2. Agricultural and Ela committee leaders had higher farm size, higher income and had adopted more practices when compared to other categories of leaders. . 3* Agricultural, Panchayat and Co-operative leaders had high value orientation, high achievement motivation and had more favourable attitude towards high yielding varieties than other categories of leaders. 4. Co-operative leaders had more favourable attitude than other categories of leaders towards fertilizers* Panchayat, Agricultural and Political leaders had more favourable attitude than other categories of leaders towards plant protection. 5. Ela committee leaders had more mass media exposure than other categories of leaders. Ela committee, Agricultural and Panchayat leaders had more frequent contact with extension agency than other categories of leaders. ■ 6. The results revealed that Panchayat and Agricultural leaders had more perception of agricultural development roles than other categories of leaders. Agricultural leaders performed more roles in agricultural development than other categories of leaders. 7. When the pooled ranks were worked out the role "Accept improved agricultural practices before others" emerged as the most important role perceived as well as performed by the leaders. 8. Mass media exposure was significantly correlated with the role performance except in Political leaders. Caste also had influence in role performance. 9. Six variables viz., farm size, income, knowledge, mass media exposure, contact with extension agency and adoption behaviour were correlated, with role performance . significantly when the pooled data were considered. 10. Inter-correlation analysis lead to the conclusion that farm size had significant correlation with income, knowledge, mass media exposure, contact with extension agency and adoption behaviour. Income was significantly correlated with knowledge, mass media exposure, contact with extension agency and adoption behaviour. Knowledge was significantly correlated with contact with extension agency and adoption behaviour. There was also a significant correlation between mass media exposure and contact with extension agency. 11, It was also observed that the proportion of role performance explained by the variables viz., farm size, income, knowledge, mass media exposure, contact with extension agency and adoption behaviour was 50 percent.ThesisItem Open Access Studies on certain gastro-intestinal nematodes with special reference to those found in goats(Department of parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1980) Sathianesan, V; KAU; Kalyanasundaram, RLife history of Triohuris globuloss has been elucidated for the fist time using kids !q as experimental animals. Both free living and parasitic stages have been described in detail with illustrations. The prepatent period of Triohuric globuloss was found to be 85-89 days. T.globulosa failed to develop in guniea pig on experimental transmission. Haematology and histopathology of trichuriacis in kids experimentally infected with T.globulosa have been studied for the first time and heavy infection with the worm was found to cause anaemia and pathology changes in cacum of the host. Prepatent period of Strongyloides napillosus in kids infected orally with 7000 larva has been determined for the first time to be 6-7 days. Neoasoais vitulorum of calves has been found to be not transferable to oat either transplacentally or orally. In gunia pigs M.Vitulorum failed to attain sexual maturity. Calves could not be infected with infected with M.vitulorum post-nataly. Oesphagostomum colubianum of goats has been found to be not transferable to calves. Prepatent period of O.colusbionum in kids infected experimentally was found to be 40 days. Comparative efficacy of 4 anthelminties viz., Oxibendazole, thiophanate, Albendazole and Parbendazole was increased by conducting treatment trials. Against monospecific infection of Trichuris globulosa in experimentally infected kids the efficacies of Oxibendazile, thiophanate, Albendazole and Parbendazole at the recommended doses of 10mg.50mg, 10mg and 30 mg/kg body weight respectively were found to be 48.6%, 41%,47.3% and 49.3% respectively. Even at double the recommended doses the anthelminations were found to be well tolerated by the kids. Oxibendazole and Albendazole at the rate of 10mg and 10mg/kg body weight respectively were found to be 100% found to be 100 % effective against colubriformise, effective against respectively were Haemonohus contortue, trichostrongylus .Thiopanate at the recommended dosage (59mg/kg body weight) was also 100% effective against all he nematodes mentioned above except Haemonous contortus against which it was only 97% effective at that dosage. Parbendazole at the recommended dosage shedule (30mg/kg body weight) was 100% effective against the nematodes with the exception of .against which only 86.6% efficacy was noticed. Against in nature nematodes in the gastro-intestinal tract Oxibendazole and Albendazole were 100% effective whereas the efficacies of P`arbendazole and thiophanate were 85% and 74% respectively at their recommended doses. In in vitro studies the anthelmintic efficacy of Oxibendasole against Haemonchus contortus was found to be superior to that of the remaining anthelminties. In ovicidal property also, Oxibendazole was better than all the others, since it was ovicidal in 6 hours after administration whereas albendazole, thiophanate and Parbendazole were ovicidal in 8 hours, 9 hour and 11 hours respectively. Albendazole was found to be superior to al the other 3 anthelmintion in their influences on the body weight gain of treated animals closely followed by Oxibendazole. Perbendazole and thiophanate were inferior to others Judging on the basis of over all efficacies Oxibendazole and Albendazole were found to be superior to thiophanate and Parbendasole. Treatment trials with Oxibendazole, Albendazole and thiophanate against gastro-intestinal nematodes of goats have not been attempted earlier than the present study.ThesisItem Open Access Genetic studies in sweet potato (ipomoea batatas(l.)lam.) a biometric approach(Department of Agricultural Botany, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1979) Joseph, C A; KAU; Mary George, KIn a varietal evaluation of 40 varieties of sweet potato all the 15 characters studied showed highly significant differences among the varieties. This was also expressed in the higher phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation. The high degree of variability especially in tuber characters offers scope for recombining desirable genes from different varieties. Tuber yield showed significant positive correlation with number of tubers, tuber diameter and harvest index, and significant negative correlation with internode length, vine length and top weight. Path-coefficient analysis revealed that among the first order components of tuber yield, tuber diameter, length and number and top weight had high positive direct effects while leaf area index had a negative direct effect. A comparison of the direct and indirect effects of first and second order components revealed that while selecting for high yielding types, a balanced approach may be adopted with regard to the different yield attributes. Genetic divergence in the available germ plasm was estimated using the Mahalanobis' D2 statistic and based on this the 40 varieties were grouped into 12 clusters. The number of verities in each cluster ranged from one to eight. The divergence between different clusters was not always due to divergence in the same set of characters but a combination of different sets of characters. Out of the fifteen characters studied seven viz., tuber diameter, vine length, number of branches, number of tubers, tuber yield, top weight and number of leaves accounted for more than 80 per cent of the divergence in the material. Canonical analysis also more or less confirmed the grouping of the verities made by Tocher's method. Eight varieties selected on the basis of genetic divergence were used for progeny studies. All these varieties were found to be completely self-incompatible. It is observed that time of pollination markedly affected fruit and seed set. Maximum fruit and seed set was obtained between 7 and 7.30 a.m. And it progressively decreased as time passes. The weather conditions prevailing during the period of anthesis and pollination also influenced fruit and seed set. Maximum, minimum and mean temperature had significant negative correlation with both fruit and seed set. Path-coefficient anaysis revealed that most of the weather elements studied had negative direct effect on fruit and seed set. The total contribution of weather elements alone on fruit and seed set worked out to 40 and 32.5 percent respectively and hence any study on incompatibility and sterility in sweet potato may be conducted under controlled environmental conditions for reliable results. Genetic analysis of quantitative characters was done utilising line x tester and open pollinated progenies of the eight selected varieties. In the open pollinated progenies, existence of non- additive and environmental effects were observed in top weight, vine length, tuber diameter and leaf area index, and additive effects in number of leaves, number of tubers and tuber yield. In the line x tester progenies, additive variance was high compared to non- additive components in all the characters except the number of branches. The regression coefficients of progenies on male and mid- parental values were significant in seven out of ten characters in the line x teater progenies and in four characters on female parental values in the open pollinated progenies. The standardised regression coefficients reduced the magnitude and variability in the regression coefficients to some extent. The estimates of broad sense heritability from the varietal evaluation was higher in magnitude for most of the characters than the estimates of narrow sense heritability obtained from components of variance in open pollinated and line x tester progenies. Tuber yield showed 70.61 and 43.65 per cent heritability from the components of variance analyses in the open pollinated and line x tester progenies respectively, while number of tubers showed 82.75 and 70.07 per cent heritability. The variance between males was significant in respect of top weight, vine length, number of leaves, number of tubers, tuber diameter, leaf area index and harvest index, while the variance between females was significant only in tuber length. Significant reciprocal differences were observed in top weight, number of tubers, leaf area index and harvest index. With respect to general combining ability significant positive effects were observed in number of tubers in the varieties J.29 and H.42, tuber length in Palchakram and H.42, tuber diamter in IB.40 and Chakkaravalli and harvest index in J.29 and Palchakram. Significant heterotic effects were observed in a number of vine and tuber characters in both hybrid and open pollinated progenies. Seven hybrid progenies showed significant increase in tuber yield which ranged from 31.25 to 84.63 per cent over the higher parental values. Both hybrid and open pollinated progenies gave heterotic combinations for economic characters. The varieties which gave heterotic progenies by open pollination have performed well in certain hybrid combinations also. Considering the difficulties in the large scale hybridization and production of hybrid seedling, it is suggested that open pollination in selected varieties especially good combiners can be adopted as a quick and efficient method for varietal improvement in sweet potatoThesisItem Open Access Studies on the regulation of progeny production and sex-ratio of Wesmael(Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Horticulture,Vellanikkara, 1979) Susamma, Jacob; KAU; Abraham, C CThe fecundity, progeny production, female – male composition of the progeny and duration of development of Bracon brevicornis wesmael as influenced by the density and size (weight) of host larvae of Corcvra cephalonica Stainton and the sex-ratio of the parent parasite population were studied at three temperature- humidity (TH) combinations, viz, 280c and 75% RH (TH1), 300c and 60% RH (TH2) and 320c and 50% RH (TH3). The maximum fecundity of the parasite was registered consistently at all the three TH levels at a host density level of two larvae per female parasite. The exclusive use of light weight larvae (weight range 8 to 10 mg) as hosts produced significantly less number of eggs at the TH1 and TH2 levels, while at the TH3 level the fecundity was maximum when the heavier host larvae (weight range 30 to 35 mg) were used. The parental sex-ratio levels of 2:1 and 3:1 (female:male ) led to the production of higher number of eggs than under the ratios of 1:1, 1:2 and 1:3. The maximum progeny production in B. brevicornis at the TH1 and TH2 levels was attained under a host density level of two larvae per female parasite. The progeny production was relatively higher at the TH1 and TH2 levels when heavier larvae were exposed for parasitisation. The superiority of the parental sex-ratio of 2:1 (female: male) in the production of higher number of progeny was established at the TH2 and TH3 conditions. Significant influence of the host larval density on the female progeny production was detected at the TH1 and TH2 levels. The female progeny production was maximum at a host larval density level of two per female parasite at the TH2 combination, while this was found to be the highest at a density level of one larva per female parasite at the TH1 level. Relatively heavier host larvae produced significantly higher number of female offsprings at the TH2 and TH3 combinations. The parental sex-ratio level of 2:1 (female:male) consistently produced maximum number of female progeny. The influence of host larval density on the proportion of females was pronounced only at the TH3 level and a density level of two laevae per female parasite was found to be better with reference to the production of a higher proportion of females. The sex-ratio of the parent parasite population influenced the proportion of females in the F progeny and a ratio of 1:3 (female:male) produced higher proportion of females at the TH2 and TH3 combinations. The host larval density, weight of host larvae and the sex –ratio of the parent parasite population exerted significant influence on the duration of development of B. bravicornis. The feasibility of manipulating the ambient temperature-humidity conditions for maintaining laboratory cultures of B. brevicornis at the maximum possible levels has been discussedThesisItem Open Access Morphological studies and quality evaluation of ginger (zingiber officinale rosco) types(Department of Horticulture (Plantation Crops), College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1978) Nybe, E V; KAU; Sivaraman Nair, P CA detailed study of 25 ginger types was conducted during the period from April 1977 to June 1978 at the College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara with a view to find out the feasibility of fixing up specific morphological characters to identify different types, to screen out ginger types with high yield, high quality and resistant or tolerant to pests and diseases and to study the quality variations at different periods of maturity. The study revealed that morphological characters are not reliable to classify the ginger types, although some of them can be identified by rhizome characters. The morphological characters such as length of leaf, leaf area index and number, length and girth of primary and secondary fingers were found to be positively correlated with yield. All the types studied are susceptible to the incidence of soft-rot, leaf –spot and shoot-borer. The type Maran was relatively tolerant to soft-rot whereas Rio-de-Janeiro was found to be the most susceptible type. Yield was found to vary significantly among the types studied. Maximum yield was recorded in Nadia followed by Bajpai, Maran and Narasapattom. Maximum oleoresin percentage was in Rio-de-Janeiro and highest percentage of oil recovery in Karakal. But the maximum yield per hectare of oleoresin and oil was in the type Maran. Fibre content was minimum in China and maximum in Kuruppampady closely followed by Maran. The yield, dryage and percentage of oleoresin, oil and crude fibre varied significantly among the different maturity periods studied. The percentage of oleoresin, oil and fibre was maximum at 165 days after planting. But the maximum yield per hectare of oleoresin and oil were found at 270, 195, 225 and 225 days after planting in Rio-de-Janeiro, Maran, Kuruppampady and Wynad Local respectively. Cultivation of the types Nadia, Bajpai and Maran is recommended for higher total yield of dry ginger for the plains of Kerala. Considering the low incidence of soft – rot and higher yield of oleoresin and ginger oil the type Maran is preferredThesisItem Open Access Effect of phospherus nutrition liming and rhizobial inculation on soybean(Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1979) Kurian, T M; KAU; Vikraman, RAn experiment was conducted at the Instructional Farm attached to the College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during July to October 1978, to study the effect of phosphorus nutrition, liming and rhizobial inoculation on soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merril). The investigation was taken up with the objective of arriving at the phosphorus requirement of the crop, assessing the response to liming and evaluating the effect of rhizobial inoculation. The trial was also aimed at studying the possible interaction effects between these factors. The experiment was laid out as a factorial in randomized block design with 16 treatments and 3 replications. The study revealed that applied phosphorus did not significantly affect any of the growth characters consistently. Grain yield and yield attributes were also unaffected but stover yield increased with higher doses of applied phosphorus. In general, nitrogen, phosphorus and calcium contents in plant components were unaffected by levels of phosphorus, liming and rhizobial inoculation. Uptake of these nutrients also remained almost unchanged. At harvest, nitrogen uptake by seeds constituted 44 per cent of the total, remaining being accumulated in stem + petiole and shell. In the case of phosphorus, 86.9 per cent of the total accumulation was in seeds, 6.0 percent and 7.1 per cent being in stem + petiole and shell respectively. Calcium being an immobile nutrient and an element not translocated within the plant, proportion of uptake of calcium in various components of the plant was different from that of nitrogen and phosphorus. In contrast to nitrogen and phosphorus, only 24.9 per cent of the total was found in seeds whereas 36.3 per cent and 38.8 per cent of it were concentrated in stem + petiole and shell respectively. Levels of phosphorus, had no effect on total nitrogen and available potassium contents of soil after harvest of the crop but there was a notable increase in available phosphorus and decrease in exchangeable calcium. Liming and rhizobial inoculation did not have any conspicuous effect on the content of nutrients in soil.ThesisItem Open Access Studies on the common ticks affecting live-stock in Kerala(Department of parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1980) Rajamohan, K; KAU; Kalyanasundaram, RAn investigation was conducted for a period of 5 years from 1974 to 1979 in to the incidence of ticks on domestic animals in Kerala, the biology of the most common species, and their susceptibility to four commonly available organo phosphorus compounds.. Nine different species of ticks belonging to 5 genera were collected from cattle, buffaloes, goats and dogs in different localities of the eleven districts of Kerala. The species of ticks identified were boophilus annulatus, rhipicephalus sanguineus, R.haemaphusaloides, R.turanicus, haemaphysalis bispinosa, H. turturis, H.spinigera, Hyalomma anatolicum and Amblyomma integrum. The commonest among them was boophilus annulatus, which was found mainly on cattle. The incidence of this tick was very high in the hilly areas and in the western ghat regions. The other common ticks found on cattle were Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides and Haemaphysalis bispinosa. Tick infestation was found to be rare in buffaloes and goats and the common species found on them were Haemaphysalis bispinosa and B. annulatus. IN dogs the species recorded in the present study were Rhipicephalus sanguienus and R. turanicus. Variations in incidence was evidenced from the present study. The maximum incidence was found in the months of July, August, September, October and November. The life-cycle of B.annulatus was completed experimentally in a period 44 days. The maximum number of eggs produced by one tick was 1420 and minimum 680. The incubation period was dependent on the room temperature and variation in humidity had little influence. The larvae were found to prefer hairy areas of the body for attachment, and they did not attach at the hairless and exposed areas. The engorged females were found to drop off quickly when green grass was spread on the floor of the experimental animal’s shed. The life-cycle patter could be summarised as: Pre-oviposition : 1 to 6 days Oviposition : 5 to 9 days Incubation period : 16 to 30 days Larval fasting : 2 to 5 days Larval feeding : 4 to 7 days Larval moulting : 8th to 12th day of infection Nymphal feeding : 3 to 6 days Moulting of Nymph : 15 to 19th day of infection Adult feeding : 5 to 10 days Detatchment of female : From 20th day of infection onwards Four organophosphorous compounds viz. Malathion, Fenitrothion, Dichlorvos and Phosalone were tested for their action on ticks. The ovicidal and larvicidal actions and the lethal effects on nymphas and engorged females of B. annulatus, R sanguinius and H. bispinosa were studied in the laboratory. Cythion (malathion 50%) 0.5 to 1%, Sumithion (Fenitrothion 50 %) 0.5 to 1%, Dichlorvos (Nuvan) 0.1 to 0.2%, and Zolone (Phosalone 35 %) 0.2 to 0.3% were found effective at different degrees. The efficacy was directly proportional to the concentration of compound and the duration of treatment. Phosalone showed maximum efficacy followed by Dichlorvos. In field trials, all the four compounds gave satisfactory results. But phosalone showed maximum efficacy and least toxicity to animals. Nuvan was also effective but was the most toxic among the four compounds. Thus the acaricide of choice for routine use in Kerala was determined to be Phosalone (35%) at a concentration of 0.3% to be used as a spray or wash.
