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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 Engineering × Author: Abhijeet, Hindurao Surve × End date: 2009 × Thesis Type: M.Tech. ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Grey water treatment by constructed wetland
    (Department of Land and Water Resources and Conservation Engineering, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 2007) Abhijeet, Hindurao Surve; KAU; Rema, K P (Guide)
    Next to air, water is the most important requirement for human life to exist. With growing population and industrial development, demand of fresh water is increasing. Hence every community should take preventive measures to avoid careless pollution and contamination of the available water resources and reuse the waste water after treating it. For this, on-site grey water treatment with constructed wetland is the cheapest and practical option. To verify the performance of subsurface flow constructed wetland (SCW) for treatment of grey water in climatic conditions of Kerala, the present study was conducted at the instructional farm of KCAET, Tavanur. The experimental scale SCW system for discharge of 110 l/d was designed and constructed with MS sheet as per the USEPA procedure for influent BOD5 of 85 mg/l and expected effluent BOD5 of 5 mg/l. The SCW system was filled with crushed brick, fine river sand mixed with lime and crushed stones in the inlet, filtration and outlet section respectively. SCW system was planted with Canna macrophyte. Raw grey water from the men’s hostel of KCAET was diverted to low lying SCW system site with the use of gravitational force to avoid pumping and energy consumption for the same. The performance of SCW system for removal of TSS, BOD5, total nitrogen, sulphates and phosphates were studied by analysing the influent and effluent grey water samples from the SCW system. On an average the influent concentrations of these parameters were 132 mg/l, 70 mg/l, 14 mg/l, 32 mg/l and 0.17 mg/l respectively while the same for effluent was 5 mg/l, 4 mg/l, 1.2 mg/l, 8 mg/l and 0.00 mg/l respectively. In all the samples the TC counts in influent water were ≥2400 MPN/100ml while it was ≤2 MPN/100ml in the effluent from the SCW system. Excellent reduction of 90 % or above in TSS, BOD5, total nitrogen, phosphates and TC was observed and it may be due to use of fine river sand mixed with lime as filter media and Canna as a macrophite. The effect of HRT on the efficiency of removal of these parameters was studied by storing the raw grey water in SCW system for the required period of time. Statistical ANOVA calculations for HRT study show the significant effect of same on % reduction of these elements. Furthermore the extent of significance was checked with Tukey’s test and it was concluded that to have significant difference in observations the interval between successive observations should be 3 days or more. The effect of raw and treated grey water irrigation on Amaranthus and Golden Duranta plants was demonstrated by irrigating these plants in clay pots. For the Amaranthus plants irrigated with raw grey water, observed average height, number of leaves, stem thickness, canopy spread and yield were 38 cm, 51, 9 mm , 826 cm2 and 158 gm while the same was 51 cm, 71,12 mm, 1573 cm2 and 296 gm respectively for the plants irrigated with effluent from the SCW. Statistical analysis with ‘student’s t’ test showed significant difference for the height, number of leaves, and yield at 1 % level of significance and for stem thickness and canopy spread at 5 % level of significance. The Golden Duranta plants irrigated with raw and treated grey water shows significant difference in height and canopy spread at 5 % level of significance. Besides this raw grey water irrigated plants show discolouration and leaf burning. Hence it was concluded that the raw grey water irrigation is not effective for these plants. From the entire study it was concluded that the SCW system is the reliable option for on-site grey water treatment. This ecological treatment system can reduce many objectionable pollutants from waste water to great extent and make it available for secondary uses. Also it has potential to reduce the health risk due to avoidance of mosquitoes and other undesirable insects.