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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: Indulekha, V P × End date: 2019 × Start date: 2018 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: Ph.D ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Management and utilization of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes ( Mart.) Solms)
    (Department of Agronomy College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2018) Indulekha, V P; KAU; George Thomas, C
    Water hyacinth is one of the most productive plants on earth, but it is also considered as the world’s worst aquatic weed. The phytoremediation capacity of water hyacinth and its management through ecofriendly means like silage making, composting, and mulching were studied at the College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara. The phytoextraction capacity of water hyacinth was evaluated through a purposive sampling by collecting plant and water samples from 20 sites in central Kerala. These samples were analysed for various nutrients including heavy metals. To study the association of plant nutrients with water nutrients, cross tabulation was done and dependence of plant nutrient factor on water nutrient was measured through Chi-square. The Chi-square statistic was significant for N, P, Mg, and Ni indicating that the level of nutrients could be brought to a minimum through water hyacinth. The accumulation of heavy metals in water hyacinth was in the order Fe> Al> Mn> Zn> Cr> Ni> Co> Hg> Pb> As. Among them, Pb content in plant samples was within the permissible limit, but contents of Fe, Cu, Cr, Zn and Ni were beyond the safe limits. The quality and palatability of silage prepared with fresh and wilted water hyacinth with or without rice straw or guinea grass and using molasses, cassava flour, or rice bran as additives was investigated. Considering the quality parameters such as pH, odour, and palatability, wilted water hyacinth with molasses (5%) or cassava flour (10%) and wilted water hyacinth with cassava flour (10%) and rice straw (10%) or guinea grass (10%) are the best options for utilizing water hyacinth as silage. The composting experiment consisted of four methods viz., Bangalore method, Indore method, phospho-composting, and vermicomposting. All the prepared composts had neutral to slightly alkaline pH. The lowest C: N ratio was recorded with vermicompost (11.58) followed by Bangalore compost (12.68). Nitrogen content at 3 months after composting (MAC) was higher in vermicompost and Bangalore compost. The highest N content at 6 MAC was observed in vermicompost (1.75%). Phosphorus content was higher in phospho-compost at 3MAC and 6 MAC. There was no significant difference in K content of different composts at 3 MAC. Calcium, Mg and S contents were high in vermicompost. Micronutrients such as Zn, Cu, Co, and Ni were higher with Bangalore composting. Heavy metals such as As, Cd, and Pb were not detected in any of the composts. None of the composts contained heavy metals beyond safe limits. A field experiment involving three mulch materials–jack tree leaves, green water hyacinth, and coconut leaves–were compared with no mulching in turmeric for two years. All the mulch materials including water hyacinth had positive effects on most morphological and physiological parameters of turmeric such as plant height, number of leaves, leaf area index, leaf area ratio, and dry matter production. In both years, rhizome yield was also higher in plots mulched with organic debris compared to non-mulch control. Nutrient uptake by the crop was also higher with mulching compared to non-mulched plots. All the mulch materials substantially affected weed density and weed dry weight and reduced turmeric-weed competition for different growth factors.