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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: Agriculture × Author: Adarsh, S × Start date: 1980 × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Productivity enhancement of rice based cropping system with pulses
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Padannakkad, 2019) Adarsh, S; KAU; Jacob John
    The project “Productivity enhancement of rice based cropping system with pulses” was undertaken with the objective of assessing the suitability of different pulse crops for summer fallows of double cropped lowland rice fields under varying nitrogen levels and its residual effect on the succeeding virippu rice crop. The experiment was laid out in Randomised Block Design with thirteen treatments and replicated thrice, during summer 2017-18 and virippu 2018-19 seasons. The treatments were T1 (cowpea with 100 % recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN)), T2 (cowpea with 75 % RDN), T3 (cowpea with 50 % RDN), T4 (black gram with 100 % RDN), T5 (black gram with 75 % RDN), T6 (black gram with 50 % RDN), T7 (green gram with 100 % RDN), T8 (green gram with 75 % RDN), T9 (green gram with 50 % RDN), T10 (red gram with 100 % RDN), T11 (red gram with 75 % RDN), T12 (red gram with 50 % RDN) and T13 (fallow during summer). The varieties of cowpea, black gram, green gram, red gram and rice used were PGCP 6, Co 6, Co 8, APK 1 and Uma respectively. The growth parameters, yield attributes, nutrient uptake, soil available nutrient status were recorded and economics was worked out during summer and virippu seasons. Physiological parameters of crop, composition of weeds, absolute density of weeds and nutrient removal by weeds were assessed during summer season. During summer, the height of cowpea (100 % RDN) and green gram (75 and 50 % RDN) was found superior. The number of branches per plant was found higher in cowpea (T1 and T2). Leaf area index (100 and 50 % RDN) and crop growth rate (50 % RDN) was superior in cowpea. The number of pods were significant in green gram (75 and 50 % RDN). The yield was significantly high in cowpea (50 % RDN) and it was on par in red gram. Broad-leaved weeds dominated, followed by sedge and grasses. Among grasses, sedge and broad-leaved weeds; Oryza sativa, Cyperus rotundus and Boerhavia diffusa dominated respectively. Absolute density of weeds was lesser in T11 and T12. Black gram (50 % RDN) was effective in smothering weeds. The dry matter production of weeds was highest in fallow during summer. The N and P uptake was on par in cowpea (100 and 50 % RDN) and green gram (75 and 50 % RDN). The K uptake was higher in cowpea (50 % RDN). The N removal by weeds was higher in fallow and that of P and K were on par in all treatments. The available soil nutrients showed no difference after summer crop. Gross income, net income, and B:C ratio were higher for red gram. During virippu, growth attributes, yield, and yield parameters were on par in all treatments in rice. The thousand grain weight was highest in plots where cowpea and green gram with 100 per cent RDN were grown during summer. The N uptake of rice was significant with red gram (75 % RDN). The available soil nutrients were on par in all treatments in rice. The economic parameters viz., gross returns, net returns, B:C ratio were on par among all treatments in rice. The following conclusions, which meet the objectives, can be arrived at from the study: • During summer, cowpea and red gram performed better among the different pulses, in terms of yield. However, regarding gross income, net income and B:C ratio, red gram ranked first. • There was no significant difference in yield, gross income, net income and B:C ratio of pulses under varying levels of N, thereby indicating that the lower level of N (50 % RDN) will be sufficient. It is also logical to infer that the residual effect of the preceding two crops of rice contributed to reduce N dose when pulses are raised during summer in double cropped lowlands. • Reducing the dose of N for the summer crops did not have any adverse effect on the succeeding virippu rice crop as evident from the on par yield and economics among different treatments.