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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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19871
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Subject: Agronomy × Author: Achuthan, Nair × End date: 1989 × Start date: 1985 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Potential and prospects of fodder legumes in rice fallows
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture,Vellanikara, 1987) Achuthan, Nair; M, KAU; Meera, Menon; V
    An experiment was conducted in the Agricultural Research Station , Mannuthy during third crop season of 1985-’86 and first crop season of 1986-’87 to evaluate the relative performance of fodder legumes in rice fallows and their residual effect on the succeeding crop of rice under graded levels of N. The experiment, replicated thrice, was laid out in a split plot design with seven treatments – six fodder legumes (sannhemp, soya bean, rice bean, velvet bean, cowpea and black gram and a fallow- as main plot treatments and two N levels (52.5 and 70 kg/ha) applied to kharif rice as sub-plot treatments. The results revealed that sannhemp gave a fodder yield of 21 t/ha in rice fallows which was significantly superior to all other treatments. An increase in soil organic carbon, total and available N was also noticed. Soil organic carbon and total N was highest in the cowpea cropped plot. Available N in the soil was highest in the velvet bean cropped plot and the fallow plot recorded the lowest values. Increased rice grain yield was recorded after legumes compared to fallow and the highest grain yield was recorded after velvet bean followed by that after sannhemp cowpea and black gram. Application of N at the recommended dose of 70 kg/ha produced superior yields compared to N at 52.5 kg/ha. Rice crop succeeding fodder legumes with 75% N produced grain yield comparable to that after fallow receiving 100% N. The net income and returns per rupee invested were highest after the sannhemp-rice sequence followed by the cowpea-rice sequence. The results proved that 25% N could be saved in the case of rice after legumes. The study also showed the superiority of sannhemp and cowpea in fodder yield and residual effect in the succeeding rice crop.