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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: Eugine, Spicer J × Author: KAU × End date: 2009 × Start date: 2003 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Feasibility studies on the use of precision porous pipes for subsurface irrigation
    (Department of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 2007) Eugine, Spicer J; KAU; Leaven, K V (Guide)
    Irrigation technology envisages the development of irrigation systems that uses water more effectively for plants. The process of subsurface drip irrigation was conceived with this objective. One of the subsurface irrigation types is the porous pipe irrigation. This is a relatively new technology and an evaluation is necessary to assess the suitability for Indian crops and conditions. With this objective, the discharge evaluation of porous pipe irrigation was done in the laboratory and field for Amaranthus spp., to find out the moisture distribution and the optimum depth of installation. The study was conducted at KCAET, Tavanur entitled "Feasibility Studies on the Use of Precision Porous Pipes for Subsurface Irrigation". The chosen variety for the field study was Kannara local which was popular in the region. Three depths of placement of porous pipes were chosen for the study ie 10, 15 and 20 cm with and without sand envelope. The treatments also comprised paired and double paired row with three replications each. A drip irrigation plot with two treatments and a control plot were kept for comparing the yield, water use efficiency and the cost economics. The type of soil found in the study area was sandy loam. It has a bulk density of 1.68 gm/cc and the infiltration rate of the soil was 5.2 cm/hr. The coefficient of variation of the porous pipe was 13.98% and the emission uniformity was 82.60 %. Among porous pipe treatments, the water use efficiency was highest in the treatment with sand envelope and paired row planting at the depth of placement 20 cm. The water use efficiency of drip irrigated treatment for double paired row planting was higher than that for porous pipe irrigated treatments. The average distribution efficiency of porous pipe in the field was 86.72%, 24 hours after irrigation and that of drip irrigation was 76.2 %. The optimum operating pressure for porous pipe irrigation system under field conditions was found to be 0.2 kg/cm2 when the discharge was a minimum with less energy requirement. The discharge in the field under this condition was 1.27 lph/m. From the statistical analysis, we find that there is no significant difference in yield between the treatments with and without sand envelope. Hence we conclude that for amaranthus, sand envelope is not essential in sandy loam soil. The maximum yield of Amaranthus was obtained from porous pipe irrigation from 20 cm depth of spacing with sand envelope in paired row planting in sandy loam soil. The cost of installation of different irrigation systems was evaluated. It was found that the porous pipe irrigation with paired row spacing incurred the maximum expenditure.