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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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Subject: Agricultural Biochemistry × Author: KAU × End date: 1993 × Start date: 1993 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Decomposability and Mineralisation Pattern of Coirpith in Latosols
    (Department of soil science and agricultural chemistry, College of horticulture,Vellanikara, 1993) Jothimani, S; KAU; Sushama, P K
    An investigation on the decomposability and mineralisation pattern of coirpith in latosols was carried out at the Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, Thrissur during the period 1990 – 92. The experimental soil was laterite and the various treatments for mixing with the soil comprised of coirpith raw as well as enriched with Pleurotussajorcaju, urea and rockphosphate. The individual and different combinations of these factors were compared with Glyricidiamaculata applied to the soil. The study involved and incubation experiment and field trial. In order to measure the decomposition of coirpith compared to glyricidia in laterite soil under incubation, the measurement of CO2 evolution was carried our for a period of six months. A field experiment was conducted to study the influence of additives such as microbe, rockphosphate and urea on decomposition of coirpith. The fertility value of the resulting compost was evaluated by estimating pH, organic carbon, cation exchange capacity, available N, P and K of the soil at monthly intervals for a period of one year. Humic and fulvic acid contents of soil were estimated one year after the incorporation of treatments in the soil. The mineralisation of lignin rich coirpith was found to be accelerated due to the addition of both Pleurotussajorcaju and mineral N in the form of urea. With all the treatments and treatment combinations the rate of Co2 evolution was found to be the highest at the second day of incubation and appreciable changes were associated in general, up to 48th day of incubation. There after it declined and attained almost equilibrium values at the end of sixth month. Due to the incorporation of either the glyricidia or coirpith with the without the various adjunctants a steady state of acidic reaction was maintained in the soil. Even with the application of coirpith alone, there was only slight reduction in soil pH. There was not much variation between glyricidia and coirpith treatments on organic carbon content of the soil. Both the microbe and urea enrichment to coirpith reduced the organic carbon content due to faster decomposition whereas it was slightly improved by the addition of rockphosphate. Though there was hike in the CEC of the soil immediately after the addition of organic materials, the values tended to decrease at the end. There was progressive increase in the available nitrogen contents of the soil with the advancement of period of incubation due to the mineralization of glyricidia and coirpith. Among the coirpith treatments, the maximum value was noticed when coirpith was enriched with all the additives. The addition of organic materials also favoured an improvement in available P content of the soil. The contents of available P in the soil increased when coirpith was incorporated with urea. Regarding the release of available K from the soil, the glyricidia incorporation always showed a better performance as compared to coirpith treatments. The microbial inoculation seemed to decrease the humic and fulvic acid contents from their original levels due to decrease in organic carbon content of the soil. This was noticed one year after incorporation of treatments into the latosols.