Research at the College was initiated during 1976 as part of post graduate programmes and further strengthened through KAU and externally aided projects. As a result of meticulous planning and judicious implementation of various location specific need based research projects both by the students and faculty, the College could contribute to the farming community a number of innovations of high practical utility. The highlights of major contributions are the following.
Through concerted crop improvement research, we could evolve a good number of improved varieties in crops like vegetables (30), spices (4 in turmeric), cocoa (10 including 3 hybrids), rice (2), medicinal plants (2 including one in tippali and two in kacholam) many of which have wide acceptability among farmers. Agrotechniques were developed / standardised for scientific cultivation of vegetables, cocoa, spices, fruits, ornamentals and major medicinal plants of the State. The procedures standardized for top working in cocoa in-situ budding in nutmeg and soft wood grafting in cashew have gained wide adaptability by the farming community. Nutrient removal pattern in pepper, ginger, nutmeg and clove were studied and artificially induced nutrient deficiency symptoms were documented. The technology evolved for the effective and efficient bio-control of salvinia, a problematic acquatic weed of Kerala is one of the research achievements worth mentioning. Viable disease management strategies were developed in the case of spices like pepper, ginger, cardamom, cashew etc. Discovery of fungal pathogen, Hirsutella thompsoni against coconut mite, bio-control of stem borer and leaf roller of rice are the other research achievements in the field of crop protection. In vitro propogation techniques in banana, pineapple, orchids and important medicinal plants of the State were standardized. Developed the protocol for in vitro seed set and seed development in ginger. Reported somaclonal variation in pepper and ginger for yield, quality and tolerance to diseases. Unravelled the expression of PR proteins and PR enzymes in black pepper in relation to Phytophthora foot rot tolerance. Technologies were developed for production of value added products from fruits and simple packing and storage techniques for fruits and vegetables and obtained patents for cashew apple based products. Yield forecasting models with high predictability were developed for paddy, coconut, arecanut, cashew and pepper. Benefit cost ratios have been worked out for major crops of importance to Kerala. Effects of drought in relation to plantation crops were studied to some extent and evolved methods to mitigate the ill effects. A sound database is maintained on monsoon variability since 1870.
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