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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: KAU × Author: Soumya Rani, T × End date: 2012 × Start date: 2012 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: M.Tech. ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Hydraulics and field performance of a novel micro sprinkler
    (Department of Land and Water Resources and Conservation Engineering, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and technology, Tavanur, 2012) Soumya Rani, T; KAU; Sathian, K K
    This thesis work was undertaken to study the hydraulics and field performance of a simple and novel micro sprinkler developed by a farmer Mr. Avaran, M of Malappuram District, Kerala. It is made by fusing one end of a 3mm diameter, 4 cm long LDPE micro tube and making an incision just below the fused end. The manually made micro sprinkler samples of four different dimensions were used for the experiment. The micro sprinklers were tested for their hydraulic performance in the laboratory under four different pressures viz. 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 kg/cm2. The performance parameters of the micro sprinklers considered for the study were discharge, wetted radius, mean application depth, Christiansen‟s uniformity coefficient, coefficient of variation, distribution characteristics and soil moisture distribution pattern. The farmer developed micro sprinkler was found suitable to irrigate most of the perennial and vegetable crops of the study region. However, the micro sprinkler was showing considerable variability in discharge, wetted radius and application depth. To solve the deficiency of the farmer developed micro sprinkler, it was decided to manufacture standardised micro sprinklers through plastic injection moulding. The hydraulic performance of the industry manufactured micro sprinkler was not promising as revealed by the laboratory results and needed further refinement. A preliminary investigation has led to the conclusion that if moulding and cutting is done through two separate manufacturing processes better results can be brought out. Further, a field study was carried out with the farmer developed micro sprinkler to evaluate its field performance for the crop cucumber, with different levels of irrigation and mulching at the instructional farm, KCAET Tavanur. Randomised Complete Block Design was used for the study with 9 treatments and 3 replications. The various field performance parameters such as moisture distribution in the soil, temperature variation of the soil, number of female flower emergence, yield and yield attributing characteristics viz. number of fruits per plant, fruit length, fruit girth and water use efficiency of the crop were evaluated. The micro sprinkler with 100% irrigation level with paddy straw mulching has been emerged as the best treatment for maximizing yield of cucumber in sandy loam soil and for the climatic condition of the region where experiment was carried out. Looking from the yield and water use efficiency angles together, the best treatment was 75% irrigation with paddy straw mulching. It has been concluded that this simple and low cost micro sprinkler, despite its minor limitations, can be used effectively for irrigating most of the vegetable crops of Kerala.