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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 × End date: 2009 × Start date: 2009 × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Development of high-rate anaerobic bioreactor for energy production from rice-mill effluent
    (College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 2009) Joejoe, L Bovas; KAU; Shaji, James P
    Anaerobic digestion of agricultural, industrial and municipal wastes has a great relevance in the global renewable energy scenario, since it combines waste stablisation with net fuel production. RME is a low strength, high volume waste for which anaerobic treatment can be economically and technologically made feasible by adopting high rate processes. Hence, an investigation was taken up to develop an anaerobic high rate reactor for biomethanation of RME. It was revealed that the RME had a low pH along with high BOD and COD. The batch digestion studies proved that it is amenable to anaerobic digestion. The semi-continuous studies to test media compatibility could reveal that the reactor could be feed with RME without prior neutralisation. The study established the compatibility and suitability of rubber seed outer shells as packing media in high rate reactors and hence this was selected to be used in Up-flow Anaerobic Hybrid Reactors (UAHRs). Eight lab scale UAHRs were designed and fabricated, with two different media for immobilization viz. polyurethane rings and rubber seed outer shell. The daily feeding in the reactors were started from the 25th day after initial charging and operated for 31 days, with a startup HRT of 10 day. The UAHRs were then operated at HRTs of 10,5,4,3 ,2, 1 and 0.8 day and the performance evaluated. All reactors were stable in operation and exhibited high process efficiency characterised by good organic reduction and biogas production. This was due to the high degree of cell immobilisadon obtained in the hybrid design. The performance deteriorated with reduction in HRT. The methane content of the biogas remained fairly high (60-65 per cent) during the above period with a near neutral effluent pH (7.7 to 7.8). The reactor performance models showed a high degree of fit within the ranges of loading rates investigated. The major parameter which affected reactor performances was HLR, which is a function ofHRT. The maximum loading rate and volumetric gas production (at 0.8 day HRT) were 2.2 kg/m3.d and 855 tlm3 (Reactor 1). The maximum specific gas production was 858.2 t/kg TS observed in Reactor 2 at 10 day HRT. The BOD reduction had the maximum value of 82.9 per cent at 10 day HRT in R2 and the minimum reduction was on the 0.8 day HR T during which 77.1 per cent reduction was obtained for all reactors. The UAHR was found to be appropriate in energy conversion of RME and 20 MJ/m3 of energy could be produced as bio,gas by operating the bioreactor at 2 day HRT, simultaneously reducing the pollution load of RME considerably (81 per cent BOD reduction). A HRT of 2 day was found optimum for moderate biogas production. An aerobic polishing treatment would be required to meet the effluent standards prescribed by the pollution control board. The overall performance of the reactor with rubber seed outer shell media was found to be significantly better than the polyurethane media reactor, possibly due to the enhanced microbial attachment on the more favorable surface.