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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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  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Studies on induced mutations in rice (Oryza sativa L.)
    (Division of genetics and plant breeding ,Agricultural college and research institute , Coimbatore., 1971) Gopinathan Nair, V; KAU
  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Effect of planting date, weight of rhizome and spacing on the growth, yield and quality constituents on turmeric (Curcuma longa L)
    (Department of Horticulture (Plantation Crops & Spices), College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1983) Chatterjee, R K; KAU; Mohanakumaran, N
  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Genetic variability, path analysis and stability parameters in sesame
    (Department of Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1985) Sverup, John; KAU; Gopinathan Nair, V
    Biometric analysis in a varietal collection of sesame was undertaken to study the genetic variability, correlations, path analysis and stability parameters. One hundred sesame types were evaluated in replicated trials at Vellayani in uplands during rabi and at Kayamkulam in rice fallows during summer. Genetic variability and correlations were estimated and path analysis worked out independently as both the locations. Location trials for estimating stability parameters were conducted at three places viz. in uplands during rabi at Pattambi and Vellayani and in rice fallows during summer at Kayamkulam. Large values for genotypic coefficients of variation were obtained for characters such as number of capsules on branches, number of capsules perplant, number of capsules on main stem and number of branches during rabi as well as summer. The lowest genotypic coefficient of variation was obtained for number of days to maturity during both rabi and summer. High values of heritability were recorded by seed protein content , seed oil content, height upto first capsule and weight of 1000 seeds under both conditions.
  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Studies on the burrowing nematode radopholus similis (cobb,1893) thorne 1949 on pepper(Piper nigrum L.) and its role in slow wilt disease
    (Department of plant pathology, University of agricultural sciences, Bangalore, 1976) Venkitesan, T S; Setty, K G H
  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Exploration of the feasibility of developing races of trichograma Australicum girault ( trichogramatidar, hymenoptera) suitable for different environments
    (Division of entomology ,Agricultural college and research institute ,Vellayani., 1970) Abraham, C C; KAU; Pradhan, S
  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Cytogenetic studies on intervarietal hybrids of sesamum (Sesamum indicum L.)
    (Department of Agricultural Botany, College of Agriculture Vellayani, Trivandrum., 1984) Chandramony, D; KAU; Krishnan Nair, N
  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Effect of NPK on seed progeny and air layers in cashew ( Anacardium occidentale L. )
    (Department of agronomy, College of Agriculture Vellayani , Trivandrum, 1985) Harishu Kumar, P; KAU; Sreedharan, C
    An experiment was conducted to assess the "Ef f e c t of NPK fertilisers on seed orogeny and air layers in cashew at Cashew Seed Farm, Shanmtigodu under Central Plantation Crops Research Institute , Regional Station, f i t c a l 574 24 3, during 1982-84. fhe treatments consisted of test ing three le v e ls each of d,? and K on seed . rogen/ i.,d ai r layers Ln cashcv/. r ’ne study revc ile 1 t h . t d i f f e r en t grov.'th oar meter 7 i. e . , he L'jl'it, can>py rolLus, surf ice area, le a f area n ; : ; v/erc influenced by increasing le v e ls of I:PR. f ■ r t i I i. s e r s . [' r/ ii chlorophyl l , to I; il v.ug ir , le.it v; .ter f-,■ n* , in-: sp e c i f ic le if w ight v;ere influenced by » b ,n v/11 i I e n i t rci' p n 11 one i n c i i iset i , , ., ii c * * . I', i r 1 y i'ii s r: u I: i- c ’ i I i r r - • * * in f l o w e r i n g , numbt l r, f ft mi. t e, _ .m ,lg ,■ I ; -I -,l puilr-h t'< t-i.l il 'hoots WC IX ; i ? V i . r ‘ I i I -■ 1 nr r r 1.0,1 b y f.f r » i I i d L >n . t’rmt j;un ii r‘ rc rn> r ri o nl; inrl acc' u b i ^ ici-1 c o n t e n t , ] Lc if ion . /c r | , 7 0 1 1 0 ' J W l ! " l p l Mut v Jupic an 1 IglTt wctr drrrc ir.ecl due to d M M, ion w,lH. V ipol ic .Llon ( ivour* rl nut md P i p d i ' - 1 , 4-r d W- i n ( k c - T l u 1 n - Leaf N v;as increased by NPIC. Lear ? was increased by p and K appl icat ion v/hile i t was reduced by N appl icat ion. Leaf K was reduced by H appl icat ion while i t was increased by ? and K appl icat ion. N appl ication resul ted in an Increase in le a f C i, where as P and K reduced i t . M and K reduced le a f Mg while P had no e f f e c t . M increased lui f Zn while P reduced the same. K had no e f f e c t . Cr i t ical levels in Ic if for M and ? are f ixed at 2.09% and 0.14% respectively. hoot CSC was increased by UP.' f e r t i 1 is ition . .1 application reduc’d organic carbon and P ‘./hale- i t i.nere -Scd ^>oil M, h and oH. P appl ication increased o i l d, K and pH. ‘V. ipol icat ion incr*. ia«_ , roi l H, h and oH wher>- as i c r c r\ v c c r: o i l P • rj ind P f spons r, r*. curvul in«. ar while not as i u ■ esnonrs v m Jincir. rhc od.imuni of U and P r , pc-j/trr ,./y ai re no-. c t ivt 1 y . M ixvv.um income W L. 1. ' - * * r t ' l i - r r l In lie 1 IV- r r . r
  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Influence of applied nutrients and stage of harvest on the yield and physicochemical properties of essential oil of palmarosa (Cymbopogon martini Stapf var. motia)
    (Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry , College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Trivandrum, 1985) Chinnamma, N P; KAU; Aiyer, R S
    Palmarosa, an essential oil crop introduced in Kerala, from Maharashtra, nearly two decades ago, is spreading steadily la the pialas and midland regions of North Kerala. Several agro-techniques have yet to he standardised for the commercial cultivation of this crop in the State. The present studies were undertaken at the Aromatic pnfl Medicinal Plante Research Station, Odakkaly during 1980-'8 4 to obtain information on the nutrition of palmarosa, optimum harvest intervals to ensure maximum herbage and oil yields and the factors influencing the quality of oil. The treatments in the major field experiment (1980-'82) consisted of three levels of N, and KgO, each at 25, 50 And 75 kg/ha along with six intervals of harvest at 40, 45, 50, 55, 60 and 65 days. The total number of treatment combinations wore 162 in a 3^ x 6 confounded asymmetrical factorial design. Tho main experiment was continued for another two yoaro limiting tho observations, to the yield of herbage and oil. This was then followed by an observation trial with intervals of harvest longer than tho maximum of 65 doye tried in the main experiment. In the main experiment the herbage yield vns significantly increased by application of P2°5 ^2°* Nitrogen did not have any eignifioant offeot on herbage yield poaeibly due to tha medium level etatua of soil N in the ABSTRACT ^erimental plots. The oil yield was Bignifioantly enhanced by P205 application at 50 kg/ha. Different levels and K showed no significant influence on the yield of oil. Harvest intervals showed significant influence on herbage yield, oil yield and oil content and the maximum value was recorded by the 65 day interval. A path analysis of the herbage yield with related cnaracters has shown that the height of the plant is the most important yield attribute influencing directly the yield of herbage. Path analysis of oil yield showed that oil yield is mainly dependent upon herbage yield. The direct effects on oil yield by yield attributes are found to be in the decreasing order of number of tillers with inflorescence, height of the plants and length of inflorescenoe. Maximum indirect affect via herbage yield is expressed by the height of the plant and length of inflorescence. All these directly and indirectly contributing factors arc soon to be markedly influenced by tho applioation of phosphorus and intervals of harvoat* Herbage yield and oil yield for various harvest lntorvalo obtained In the flrot two years wore fit tod In a Cobb-Dcughlua reoponoo function and tha expooted values «leulat«d were found to be very olooe to tho actual observed values• In thethird and fourth year of the experiment, the ghest herbage and oil yields were recorded by 60 day interval followed by the interval of 65 days, A quadratic Sanction for the data pooled over for four years was fitted to see if the data show a diminishing return with an increase in harvest interval and it was found that the optimum herbage yield and oil yield were obtained when the harvest was done at 62 and 63 days interval respectively. The final observational trial also indicated that the herbage and oil yields were maximum for a harvest interval of 65 days beyond which it decreases. Increase in the levels of both N and P tended to increase the content of geraniol and to decrease the content of geranyl acetate which are the price determining quality attributes of the essential oil. But the maximum interval of harvest viz., 65 days tried in the main experiment was not sufficient for moot of the physico-chemical properties of oil ouoh os specific gravity, refractive index, geraniol content, geranyl acotato content etc. to reach the minimum limit prescribed by 131. The observational trial showed that the oil obtained at intervale of 95 days and above satisfied the 131 specification with respect to all the phyalco-ohemioal properties of the oil. However, at thle herveat Interval the yield Itself wae considerably depressed compared to the yield at 65 day Interval. Th, eoonomloe worked out for different Intervale of harveab baaed on the ourrant market prloe of the oil paeein« as above the I SI limits as fe. 240/- per kg (oil from harvest intervals at and above 95 days) and those below them at Fs.220/- per kg (oil from harvest intervals of 55, 65, 75 and 85 days) it has been found that a wider cost benefit ratio and net return per rupee investment are obtainable for harvest intervals ranging from 65 to 85 days. However, 65 day interval has the advantage of early returns from the investment. Application of 50 kg PgO^/ha in view of its significant effect on herbage yield, oil yield and oil quality increase the net profit per rupee invested for the harvest interval of 65 days. The average removal o f II, P, K, Ca and Mg from the s o i l by palmarosa per h ecta re per year lias a lso been worked o u t . The optimum f e r t i l i s e r le v e l fo r palmarosa i s 25 kg II, 50 kg P?05 and 25 kg K20 per h ectare over an a p p lic a tio n o f spent g ra ss at 5 tonnes per h ectare per y e a r . The optimum h arvest in to r v a l i s 65 days. TIiIb would give maximum horbago y io ld , o i l y io ld ond ea rly return from in v e stm e n ts.
  • ThesisItemOpen 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, R
    Life 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.