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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 × End date: 2017 × Start date: 2017 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Nutrient budgeting in rice based farming system
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2017) Reshma, M R; Shalini Pillai, P
    The study entitled “Nutrient budgeting in rice based farming system” was undertaken at College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 2015 –’17.The main objectives were to study the effect of component crops on soil nutrient status, to characterize and study the effect of trench silt on the performance of rice and to work out the nutrient balance sheet of the rice based farming systems. The field experiment was conducted as a part of an ongoing experiment under the AICRP on Integrated Farming Systems (ICAR), at the Integrated Farming System Research Station (IFSRS), Karamana, Thiruvananthapuram. The experiment was laid out in randomised block design with seven treatments, replicated thrice. The treatments comprised seven rice [T1 : rice-rice-fallow; T2 : rice-rice-amaranthus; based farming systems T3 : rice-rice-culinary melon; T4 : rice-rice-fodder cowpea; T5 : (rice + fish)-(rice + fish)-(amaranthus + fish); T6 : (rice + fish)-(rice + fish)-(culinary melon + fish); T7 : (rice + fish)-(rice + fish)- (fodder cowpea + fish). The present study was undertaken during the summer 2015- ’16 (February to May) and Virippu 2016-’17 (June to October) seasons. The varieties of rice, amaranthus, culinary melon and fodder cowpea were Uma, Arun, Vellayani local and Aiswarya respectively. The fishes viz., catla (Catla catla) and rohu (Labio rohita) were introduced into the trenches(6m x 3m x 1m) after transplanting Virippu crop and were harvested after the summer crop. After summer season, the trenches were desilted and the silt was added to the respective plots, before raising Virippu rice. The soil nutrient status of Mundakan season 2015-‘16 was also taken into account for working out the nutrient balance sheet of the systems. In summer, fodder cowpea grown as a sole crop recorded the highest yield (23703 kg ha-1) and total dry matter production. Among the treatments integrated with fish, culinary melon + fish (T6) gave higher yield compared to amaranthus and fodder cowpea. The productivity of amaranthus and culinary melon was found to increase to the tune of 208.80 per cent and 256.43 per cent respectively,with fish integration. Rice equivalent yield was significantly higher (13.57 t ha-1) for culinary melon + fish (T6). After the summer season, the trench water and trench silt were analysed. The trench water had near neutral pH (7.18) and had higher contents of N, P and K. Substantial quantity of trench silt (20.93 t per 0.5 ha on dry weight basis) was added to the plots with fish integration and incorporated, before raising the Virippu rice. Trench silt was found to be clayey in texture with lower bulk density (0.78 Mg m-3), higher water holding capacity (47.38 %) and rich in N, K, S and Zn. In Virippu rice,grain weight panicle-1(4.08 g), total number of grains panicle-1 (159.80), filled grains panicle-1 (144.35) and grain yield (6.62 t ha-1) were significantly higher in T7 (rice + fish succeeding fodder cowpea + fish). It was on a par with T5 (rice + fish succeeding amaranthus + fish) and T6(rice + fish succeeding culinary melon + fish). Sterility percentage decreased with fish integration and it was the lowest (5.69 %) in T5and remained at par with T6.In general, productivity of rice was 15.56 per cent higher with fish integration. Among the summer crops, the uptake of N, P, K, Mg, S, B and Zn was significantly higher in amaranthus and culinary melon integrated with fish as compared to the respective sole crops. While, fodder cowpea grown as sole crop recorded the highest content and uptake of Ca. In Virippu rice, significantly higher uptake of nitrogen and phosphorus was observed in T7 (rice+fish succeeding fodder cowpea+fish). Soil chemical properties were analysed before and after each component crop. Soil reaction (pH) was significantly higher (less acidic) in T5 (rice+fish)-(rice+fish)- (amaranthus+fish). In general, treatments with fish integration recorded higher soil pH compared to treatments without fish. The treatment T1 (rice-rice-fallow) recorded the highest electrical conductivity after Mundakan and summer seasons and T2 (rice- rice-amaranthus) recorded the same after Virippu season. Organic carbon content of soil was higher in T1 (rice-rice-fallow) before and after summer season. The highest soil available N was recorded in T2 (rice-rice-amaranthus) before and after summer and in T5after Virippu seasons. Available P was the highest in T5 before and after summer crop. Significantly higher available K content was observed in T5 before summer crop. Exchangeable Ca, exchangeable Mg, S and Zn were found highest in T5. Rice + fish integration (T5, T6and T7) resulted in significantly higher B content in soil. In general, fish integration was observed to improve the soil nutrient status. Nitrogen balance was positive after summer with fodder cowpea irrespective of fish integration. A positive N balance was recorded in T1 (rice-rice-fallow) after the Virippu season. The P balance was observed to be negative in all the treatments after summer and Virippu seasons, except in T1 (rice-rice-fallow) after summer. Fish integration resulted in a positive balance for K after summer in T5, T6 and T7. All the treatments recorded a positive balance for K and Mg after the Virippu season. After summer, T1, T4 and T7 recorded positive balance, while after Virippu all the treatments except T2recorded positive balance for Ca. Balance sheet was negative for S and Zn. A varying trend was observed for B. The present study revealed that integrating fish in rice based farming systems resulted in higher soil residual nutrient status (P, Ca, Mg, S and Zn). The trench silt had low bulk density, high water holding capacity and was rich in N, K, S and Zn. Fish integration and consequent trench silt incorporation increased the rice yield by 15.56 per cent as compared to sole crop of rice. Fodder cowpea grown as component crop in rice based farming system resulted in positive balance for N, K and Ca. Integration of fish resulted in positive balance for K. The balance sheet of P, Mg, S and Zn was observed to be negative. സംഗ്രഹം നെല്ലധിഷ്ടിത ബജറ്റിങ്എന്ന കൃഷി സമ്പ്രദായങ്ങളില്‍ വിഷയനെ സർവകൊാാെയുന സംബന്ധിച്ച ധധനെതയില്‍ മണ്ണിനെ ഒരു ഠെം തിരുവെന്ത ുരം പ ാഷക പകരള മൂെക The study entitled “Nutrient budgeting in rice based farming system” was undertaken at College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 2015 –’17.The main objectives were to study the effect of component crops on soil nutrient status, to characterize and study the effect of trench silt on the performance of rice and to work out the nutrient balance sheet of the rice based farming systems. The field experiment was conducted as a part of an ongoing experiment under the AICRP on Integrated Farming Systems (ICAR), at the Integrated Farming System Research Station (IFSRS), Karamana, Thiruvananthapuram. The experiment was laid out in randomised block design with seven treatments, replicated thrice. The treatments comprised seven rice [T1 : rice-rice-fallow; T2 : rice-rice-amaranthus; based farming systems T3 : rice-rice-culinary melon; T4 : rice-rice-fodder cowpea; T5 : (rice + fish)-(rice + fish)-(amaranthus + fish); T6 : (rice + fish)-(rice + fish)-(culinary melon + fish); T7 : (rice + fish)-(rice + fish)- (fodder cowpea + fish). The present study was undertaken during the summer 2015- ’16 (February to May) and Virippu 2016-’17 (June to October) seasons. The varieties of rice, amaranthus, culinary melon and fodder cowpea were Uma, Arun, Vellayani local and Aiswarya respectively. The fishes viz., catla (Catla catla) and rohu (Labio rohita) were introduced into the trenches(6m x 3m x 1m) after transplanting Virippu crop and were harvested after the summer crop. After summer season, the trenches were desilted and the silt was added to the respective plots, before raising Virippu rice. The soil nutrient status of Mundakan season 2015-‘16 was also taken into account for working out the nutrient balance sheet of the systems. In summer, fodder cowpea grown as a sole crop recorded the highest yield (23703 kg ha-1) and total dry matter production. Among the treatments integrated with fish, culinary melon + fish (T6) gave higher yield compared to amaranthus and fodder cowpea. The productivity of amaranthus and culinary melon was found to increase to the tune of 208.80 per cent and 256.43 per cent respectively,with fish integration. Rice equivalent yield was significantly higher (13.57 t ha-1) for culinary melon + fish (T6). After the summer season, the trench water and trench silt were analysed. The trench water had near neutral pH (7.18) and had higher contents of N, P and K. Substantial quantity of trench silt (20.93 t per 0.5 ha on dry weight basis) was added to the plots with fish integration and incorporated, before raising the Virippu rice. Trench silt was found to be clayey in texture with lower bulk density (0.78 Mg m-3), higher water holding capacity (47.38 %) and rich in N, K, S and Zn. In Virippu rice,grain weight panicle-1(4.08 g), total number of grains panicle-1 (159.80), filled grains panicle-1 (144.35) and grain yield (6.62 t ha-1) were significantly higher in T7 (rice + fish succeeding fodder cowpea + fish). It was on a par with T5 (rice + fish succeeding amaranthus + fish) and T6(rice + fish succeeding culinary melon + fish). Sterility percentage decreased with fish integration and it was the lowest (5.69 %) in T5and remained at par with T6.In general, productivity of rice was 15.56 per cent higher with fish integration. Among the summer crops, the uptake of N, P, K, Mg, S, B and Zn was significantly higher in amaranthus and culinary melon integrated with fish as compared to the respective sole crops. While, fodder cowpea grown as sole crop recorded the highest content and uptake of Ca. In Virippu rice, significantly higher uptake of nitrogen and phosphorus was observed in T7 (rice+fish succeeding fodder cowpea+fish). Soil chemical properties were analysed before and after each component crop. Soil reaction (pH) was significantly higher (less acidic) in T5 (rice+fish)-(rice+fish)- (amaranthus+fish). In general, treatments with fish integration recorded higher soil pH compared to treatments without fish. The treatment T1 (rice-rice-fallow) recorded the highest electrical conductivity after Mundakan and summer seasons and T2 (rice- rice-amaranthus) recorded the same after Virippu season. Organic carbon content of soil was higher in T1 (rice-rice-fallow) before and after summer season. The highest soil available N was recorded in T2 (rice-rice-amaranthus) before and after summer and in T5after Virippu seasons. Available P was the highest in T5 before and after summer crop. Significantly higher available K content was observed in T5 before summer crop. Exchangeable Ca, exchangeable Mg, S and Zn were found highest in T5. Rice + fish integration (T5, T6and T7) resulted in significantly higher B content in soil. In general, fish integration was observed to improve the soil nutrient status. Nitrogen balance was positive after summer with fodder cowpea irrespective of fish integration. A positive N balance was recorded in T1 (rice-rice-fallow) after the Virippu season. The P balance was observed to be negative in all the treatments after summer and Virippu seasons, except in T1 (rice-rice-fallow) after summer. Fish integration resulted in a positive balance for K after summer in T5, T6 and T7. All the treatments recorded a positive balance for K and Mg after the Virippu season. After summer, T1, T4 and T7 recorded positive balance, while after Virippu all the treatments except T2recorded positive balance for Ca. Balance sheet was negative for S and Zn. A varying trend was observed for B. The present study revealed that integrating fish in rice based farming systems resulted in higher soil residual nutrient status (P, Ca, Mg, S and Zn). The trench silt had low bulk density, high water holding capacity and was rich in N, K, S and Zn. Fish integration and consequent trench silt incorporation increased the rice yield by 15.56 per cent as compared to sole crop of rice. Fodder cowpea grown as component crop in rice based farming system resulted in positive balance for N, K and Ca. Integration of fish resulted in positive balance for K. The balance sheet of P, Mg, S and Zn was observed to be negative.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Economics of dairying in Thrissur district
    (Department of Rural Banking & Finance Managemnet , College of Cooperation, Banking & Management, Vellanikkara, 2017) Greeni T, Thankachan; KAU; Molly, Joseph