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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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20171
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Subject: Agroforestry × Author: KAU × Start date: 1980 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: Ph.D ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Fine root dynamics and associated carbon and nutrient flux in 12 year old acacia mangium at varying stand densities
    (Department of Silviculture and Agroforestry, College of Forestry, Vellanikkara, 2017) Delphy Rocha; KAU; Kunhamu, T K
    Fine root production has been estimated to account for up to 33% of global annual Net Primary Production, NPP (Gill and Jackson, 2000). Thus, fine root turnover has important implications for individual plant growth, plant interactions, and below-ground carbon and nutrient cycling. Direct and indirect methods for measuring fine root production and turnover in 12 year old Acacia mangium Willd. at varying stand densities were studied. Fine root production estimated ranged from 3.8 - 5.75 Mg ha-1 with a turnover of 4 yr-1. It was estimated that through fine root decomposition about 1.36-2.39 Mg C ha-1, 34.56- 102.52 kg N ha-1, 1.46-3.3 kg P ha-1 and 19.94-33.60 kg K ha-1 is released to soil. Even though fine root constitutes only 1.7-2.14% of the total tree biomass its contribution to the system productivity is very high. Attempts were also made to relate fine root production with various growth variables and in general most of the variables (DBH, basal area per tree, volume per tree, aboveground biomass per tree and leaf area per tree) gave good correlation (R>8**) with fine root production when considered on per tree basis. Average annual litter production was estimated to a range of 9.99-11.69 Mg ha-1. Interestingly, annual litter production had a high correlation (R=0.9**) with fine root production. Through litter decomposition, 1.4-2.07 Mg C ha-1, 36-48 kg N ha-1, 1- 4 kg P ha-1 and 3-6 kg K ha-1 is released to the soil. Total soil carbon stock up to 1m soil depth was estimated and it was significantly different across different density regimes. Invariably the SOC concentration was relatively lower in treeless plot compared with A. mangium at different density regimes. Soil C sequestration was 15.96 - 34.58 Mg C ha-1 and the nutrient content of soil estimated as 2343.811-948 kg N ha-1, 13.12-21.92 kg P ha-1, 313.52-261.25 kg K ha-1. Total system C content estimates in the ranges from 148.93 -263.79 Mgha-1. So Density manipulation plays a significant role on productivity in 12 year old A. mangium. Hence, management objectives should be based on assessment of their impact on various productivity attributes