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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: Suma Nair × Start date: 2017 × Thesis Type: Ph.D ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Development of a bund strengthening implement for paddy wetland based on soil - machine parameters
    (Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 2018) Suma Nair; KAU; Ramachandran, V R
    Three models (BF1, BF2 and BF3) of a low cost, tractor drawn bund strengthening implement were developed and their performance was evaluated at three test locations, viz., Pullazhi kolepadavu in Thrissur kole lands, Kolothumpadam kolepadavu in Ponnani kole lands and Athalur, Tavanur (non-kole). The forming board type design was chosen. The major dimensions of the developed models, viz., top width, bottom width and rear height are 150, 250 and 150 mm for BF1, 200, 350 and 150 mm for BF2 and 250, 400 and 250 mm respectively. The main parts of the implement were the MS angle bar tool frame and hitch assembly of size 1150 mm x 500 mm, implement frame made of MS angle bars to connect the forming board assembly to the tool frame, modified forming boards with gathering boards attached in the front, and a 400 mm long, three sided forming case at the rear which provided a plastered finish to the formed bund. All the elements, including the forming boards and the forming case, acted like a single unit. Analyses of the various soil properties at the three test sites were also performed. The soils at Pullazhi kolepadavu and Kolothumpadam kolepadavu were silty clay while the soil at Tavanur was sandy loam in texture. The dimensions of the bunds drawn by the implements were suited to the prevalent farmers’ practice at Pullazhi and Ponnani. At Tavanur, new bunds could be drawn using the implements. At Pullazhi kole fields, models BF1 and BF2 showed a better performance in terms of strength measured as cone index. The performance of BF3 and BF4 gave the best results at Ponnani. BF2 or BF4, operated by NH 3230, were suitable to the Tavanur fields, in terms of strength of bund as assessed by cone index. Shear strength values exhibited by the manual bunds were always lesser than that by mechanically formed bunds at Pullazhi. Bunds formed by BF2 showed the highest value of 46.02 kPa at 0.2 m depth which went upto 40.81 kPa on the seventh day. The same trend was seen in Ponnani also but the bunds formed by BF3 and BF4 had the highest shear strength values.The average speed of operation ranged from minimum of 1.24 km h -1 when BF1 was operated by KTT at Tavanur, in sandy loam soils to 2.98 km h -1 when BF2 was operated by JD 5042 at Ponnani. Draft was least for BF1 operated by KTT and highest for BF3 and BF4 operated in Ponnani silt-clay. The minimum fuel consumption was noted as 2.53 L h -1 for BF1-NH 3230 combination at Tavanur while the maximum was 3.76 L h -1 for BF3-JD 5042 at Ponnani. The BF4 trials had higher consumption of 7.71 L h -1 in silty clay at Ponnani and 5.62 L h -1 in sandy loam at Tavanur. The maximum capacity of 2984.24 m h -1 was observed for BF2 operated by JD 5042 at Ponnani kole. BF4 had lower capacities as two passes of the tractor were required to complete the operation. The minimum capacity of mechanical bund strengthening implement is 906.86 m h -1 . The manual operation has a capacity of 62.5 m h -1 . Thus there is a 14 times increase in capacity of bund formation by mechanical implements. Wheel slip is within the acceptable range of 5 to 15 per cent. The cost of mechanical formation of bunds ranges from Rs. 18/- to Rs. 30/- per 100 m. while it ranges from Rs. 178/- to Rs. 227/- for manual operation. The developed implement had a FOS of 2.17. Hence, taking all observations into account, it can be summarised that the bund strengthening implement model BF2 was found suitable to Pullazhi kolepadavu in terms of size, strength, lower moisture content and higher bulk density. At Ponnani, the models BF3 and BF4 performed well. However, as BF4 operation involved a higher fuel consumption and lower capacity of bund formation, the model BF3 can be recommended. At Tavanur fields, the prevalent manual bunds showed better performance parameters. However, new bunds can be formed in the fields using the developed implements. Trial BF4 and BF3 gave better performance in these soils.