Department of Plantation Crops & Spices

 

Genesis

 ·         Established as a Statutory Department of KAU in 1972

• M.Sc. Programme started in 1976
• Ph. D. Programme started in 1979

 Mandate

Teaching, research and extension with respect to plantation, spices, medicinal and aromatic crops

 Priority Areas

          Germplasm collection, conservation and maintenance of various plantation, spices, medicinal and aromatic crops   

• Crop improvement studies on mandate crops
• Developing resource efficient, climate resilient cropping system models for plantation, spices, medicinal and aromatic crops    
• Develop hi-tech cultivation practices for the mandate crops
• Exploration and domestication of  underutilized  spices, medicinal and aromatic plants
• Breeder seed/ planting material production of released varieties of the mandate crops

 Faculty

  Dr. N. Mini Raj, Professor (Hort.) and Head

• Mrs. Aneesha A K, Asst. Professor (Hort.)
• Dr. Vikram H.C., Asst. Professor (Hort.)
• Dr. Nair Sunil Appukuttan, Asst. Professor (Hort.)
• Dr. Sangeetha K.S., Asst. Professor (Hort.) 

Supporting staff

Mr. Dilsad C.  (Lab Assistant, Grade III)

 Land resources

 Plantation crops and spices farm        : 12.3 ha

 Herbal garden                                     : 1.0 ha

 Black pepper unit                                : 3.0 ha

 Model nursery for spices                     : 1.0 ha

 Total experimental area                       : 16.3 ha

 Demonstration plots

 Demonstration cum instructional plots of coconut, arecanut, pepper, ginger, turmeric, tree spices, tea, coffee, cocoa, oil palm, medicinal and aromatic plants are maintained.

 Laboratory and other facilities

• A tissue culture laboratory with basic facilities for biotechnological works on mandatory crops
• PG laboratory with equipments such as research microscopes, stereomicroscope, refrigerated centrifuge, conductivity bridge, incubator, laminar flow, refrigerated shaker, electronic precision balances, SOCS plus, electrophoresis units, microtome, spectrophotometer, hot air ovens, etc
• Field structures include shade houses, mist chambers, field store, seed processing unit, seed storage unit, polyhouses with automatic foggers and sprinklers

 Current Activities

 Teaching

 Courses offered

 UG Programme : Offers 2 courses for B.Sc. Hons. (Ag.)

Hort 2102        Production Technology for Plantation Crops   2+1

Hort 2203        Production Technology for Spices, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants  2+1

M.Sc. Programme : Offers 7 courses (5 core & 2 optional) for M.Sc. (Hort.) & M.Sc. (Ag.)

PSMA 501*    Production Technology of Plantation Crops                                      2+1

PSMA 502*    Production Technology of Spice Crops                                              2+1

PSMA 503*    Production Technology of Medicinal and Aromatic Crops                2+1

PSMA 504*    Breeding of Plantation Crops and Spices                                           2+1

PSMA 505*    Breeding of Medicinal and Aromatic Crops                                      2+1

PSMA 506      Organic Spice and Plantation Crop Production Technology              2+1

PSMA 507      Underexploited Medicinal and Aromatic Crops                                1+1

 Ph. D. Programme : Offers 7 courses for Ph. D.

PSMA 601** Advances in Production Technology of Plantation Crops                         2+1

PSMA 602** Advances in Production Technology of Spices                                         2+1

PSMA 603** Advances in Production Technology of Medicinal and Aromatic Crops   2+1

PSMA 604** Advances in Breeding of Plantation Crops and Spices                              2+1

PSMA 605      Advances in Breeding of Medicinal and Aromatic Crops                         2+1

PSMA 606      Biotechnology in Plantation Crops and Spices                                         1+1

PSMA 607      Environmental Horticulture                                                                       2+1

 M.Sc. (Hort.) students at present: 8

Ph. D. students at present            : 4

 Research

 Recently concluded projects

         Ensuring livelihood security of tribals through on - farm    bioinput production and medicinal plant cultivation (DBT, GoI)

• Propagation techniques and ex situ conservation of Coscinium fenestratum (Gaertn.) Colebr. - An endangered medicinal  plant (DST, GoI)     
• Strengthening research on nutmeg (GoK)
• Strengthening research on Black pepper (GoK)
• Participatory evaluation of garlic genotypes in Devikulam block (SHM, GoK)

                      

Ongoing projects

         Validation of package of practices for leaf coriander under rain shelter (GoK)

• Evaluation of orthotropic top shoot borne black pepper trailed on various standards (GoK)
• Safe to eat cardamom production  in Idukki (GoK)
• MIDH Project on Spices & Aromatic Plants (MIDH, GoI)
• Project mode centre for Nutmeg (ICAR-AICRP)

 Ongoing PhD projects

          Spatiotemporal variations and DNA fingerprinting in elite genotypes of nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt)

• Propagation and bioactivity studies in Ellotti (Pterospermum rubiginosum B.Heyne ex Wight & Arn.)
• Response for small cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum (L.) Maton.) to organic inputs
• Identification of genetic stock for drought tolerance and candidate gene analysis of cocoa (Theobroma cacao)

 Ongoing PG projects

          Evaluation of cashew hybrids for yield and quality

• Performance evaluation of underutilised edible Alliums
• Evaluation of medicinal plant based formulations for growth, yield and pest management in Chilli (Capsicum annuum Linn.)
• Variability in greater galangal (Alpinia galanga (L.) Wild. genotypes for yield and quality
• Variability studies in lesser galangal (Alpinia calcarata Roscoe)
• Physico-chemical and nutritional analysis of seed and seed-butter of Garcinia spp.
• Seed requirements for quality cashew sprout production

 Research management

          Dr. N. Mini Raj serves as Project Co - ordinator (Aromatic and Medicinal plants), Nodal officer (MIDH on Spices) and BSMA committe (Horticulture) member ICAR

 Revolving fund schemes

          KAU- RF on Plantation, Spice and Medicinal crops

• ICAR-RF on Black pepper
• MIDH -RF on Spices

 Developmental activities

          MIDH Project on spices and aromatic plants

• Large scale production of planting materials of coconut, coffee, black pepper, nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, malabar tamarind, ginger, turmeric and medicinal and aromatic plants
• Model Nursery on spices, accredited with 4 star rating by DASD, GoI
• Black Pepper Nursery, accredited with 4 star rating by DASD, GoI

 Achievements

 Teaching

  M Sc students passed out: 78

• Ph D students passed out: 29

 Research

 Varieties released

          Turmeric- Kanthi, Sobha, Sona, Varna

• Ginger- Athira, Karthika, Aswathy, Chandra, Chitra
• Black pepper- Vijay
• Nutmeg- KAU Kochukudi, KAU Pullan, KAU Punnathanam, KAU Mundathanam, KAU Poothara
• Kacholam – Kasthuri and Rajani
• Chethikoduveli - Agni and Mridhula
• Adapathiyan –Jeeva
• Atalodakam- Ajagandhi and Vasika

 Awards

Jawaharlal Nehru award for best Ph. D thesis                       :    03

Dr. P. A Valsala, Dr. M.R Shylaja, Dr. Reshmi Paul

Jawaharlal Nehru fellowship for PhD                                    :    01

Dr. N. Mini Raj

Young scientist awards                                                          :    02

Dr. P. B Pushpalatha,Dr. N. Mini Raj

Best M.Sc. thesis award on spices                                          :    02

Mrs. Aswathy Dev , Mrs. Priyanka S. Chandran

Best researcher award of KAU, 2018                                    :   01

Dr. N. Mini Raj

 Extension

          Training programmes on various aspects of plantation crops, spices, medicinal and aromatic plants.

• Seminars / Workshops / AIR & Doordharsan Programmes / Exhibitions
•  

 Books   : 5

 

1.  Kumar, P.T., Suma, B.,Bhaskar,J. and Satheesan, K.N. 2008. Management of Horticultural Crops. 2 volumes. New India Publishing Agency, Pitampura, New Delhi. p.997

 2.  Kurian, A. And Peter, K.V.2007. Commercial Crops Technology. New India Publishing Agency,  Pitampura, New Delhi. P.997

 3. Kurian, A. And Sankar, M.A.2007 . Medicinal plants. New India Publishing Agency, Pitampura, New Delhi. P.356

 4. Nybe, E.V., Mini Raj. N and Peter, K.V.2007. Spices. New India Publishing Agency, Pitampura, New Delhi. P.316

 5. Rajendran, P. C. Kumar, K. A. And Suma, B. 2010. Systematic and Economic Botany of  Pernnial Plantation Crops and Spices. New Central  Book  Agency, London.p.228

 Book chapters   :  42

 Technical bulletins  : 27

 

1.   Aneesh, A.K., Vikram, H.C., Sunil, N.A. and Sangeetha, K.S. 2021. (Miniraj, N., ed) Glimpses of research- compendium of 50 years of research on plantation, spices, medicinal and aromatic crops. Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, Kerala Agricultural University.

2.    Kurian, A ., Sankar, M., Miniraj, N., Joseph, L. And Nybe, E. V. 2007. Oushadha Sasyangal Krushiyum Upayogavuum ( Malayalam), Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, Thrissur.

3. MiniRaj, N., Sally., K.M., and Nybe, E.V. 2012. Jathikrishiyum samskaranavum (malayalam), Published by Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, Thrissur.

4. Shylaja, M.R. and Nybe, E.V. Revised edition of ginger ( Malayalam) Directorate of  Extension,  Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, Thrissur.

5.  Sujatha, V.S and Nybe, E.V., Revised edition of Kurumulaku (Malayalam), Directorate of Extension, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, Thrissur.

 Research articles         : 153

 

Popular articles            : 70

 Practical manual          : 4

 Teaching materials      : 2

 CD                                 : 3 (Spices, Plantation crops, Medicinal Plants)

 Farm Advisory Services

• Regular farm advisory services are rendered on mandate crops at the department and through the Panchayat level Agricultural knowledge centres.

 Contact Address: 

 Professor and Head

Department of Plantation Crops and Spices

College of Agriculture, Vellanikkara

Kerala Agricultural University

KAU P.O., 680656 Thrissur, Kerala

Email: cohpcs@kau.in