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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 Meteorology × Author: Athira Ravindran × End date: 2018 × Start date: 2017 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Comparison of different weather based models for forecasting rice yield in central zone of Kerala
    (Department of Agricultural Meteorology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2018) Athira Ravindran; KAU; Ajithkumar, B
    Rice is the staple food and the major field crop cultivated in Kerala. Its production is highly influenced by unfavourable weather events and climatic conditions. Thus it poses a challenge to farmers, crop planners and government owing to varying production of grains. Reliable crop yield forecasts are highly essential to estimate crop production, to assist farmers, exporters and government in decision making for efficient resource allocation, price adjustment and export planning. It also helps to reduce various secondary risks associated with local and national food systems. The present investigation “Comparison of different weather based models for forecasting rice yield in central zone of Kerala” was carried out at the Department of Agricultural Meteorology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during 2017-18, to compare the accuracy of different weather based models developed using five years’ rice crop data collected from previous studies at the department for forecasting rice yields in central zone of Kerala and to validate them using the present experimental data. The field experiment was conducted at Agricultural Research Station, Mannuthy during the kharif season of 2017. Split plot design was adopted with five dates of planting viz., 5th June, 20th June, 5th July, 20th July and 5th August as the main plot treatments and two varieties viz., Jyothi and Kanchana as the sub plot treatments. The number of replications for the experiment was four. Daily observations of weather during the crop period were made which showed an increase in the maximum and minimum temperature and decrease in rainfall and relative humidity towards the end of the crop period. Different growth and yield attributes like plant height, dry matter accumulation, number of tillers, panicles, spikelets, filled grains, grain yield, straw yield and the duration of different phenophases were also noted. Correlation analysis was carried out using the weather, yield and phenological data of 5 years in both the varieties. The various growth indices such as leaf area index, net assimilation rate, leaf area duration and crop growth rate were worked out to analyze the growth and development of the crop. Plant height was found to be higher for Jyothi compared to Kanchana. Dry matter accumulation, yield attributes except straw yield were found varying between five dates of planting. Yield and yield attributes were influenced by different weather parameters during different dates of planting. With delay in dates of planting the duration of different phenological stages were reduced in both the varieties. Jyothi took more number of days to attain different growth stages compared to Kanchana. The highest yield in Jyothi and Kanchana were obtained for June 5th planting. Crop weather models using statistical techniques were developed using five years’ weather and crop yield data by adopting four different methods for Jyothi and Kanchana separately. The methods were (i) based on weekly weather variables (ii)based on fortnightly weather variables (iii) based on crop stage wise weather variables and (iv) based on composite weather parameters. Each crop weather model was fitted by stepwise regression analysis using SPSS software. CERES-Rice model also was run for Jyothi and Kanchana by creating weather file, soil file, crop management file and experimental files separately for each year. For comparing the accuracy of the developed crop weather models and simulation model for Jyothi and Kanchana, and for their validation, mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) was calculated for each model using the observed and estimated yield data. The model with least mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) is considered as a better model for yield prediction. In the case of Jyothi, lowest MAPE (4.00%) was obtained for model based on 5 fortnightly weather variables. In Kanchana also, the model developed using 5 fortnightly weather variables was selected with an MAPE value 7.62%. All the crop weather models are showing very good results out of which crop weather model using 5 fortnightly weather variables which coincide with flowering stage has given a good forecast compared to the other models for both Jyothi and Kanchana.