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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: Agronomy × Author: Aisha Mol, P B × End date: 2017 × Start date: 2017 × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Tillage and water saving techniques for black gram in rice fallows
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2017) Aisha Mol, P B; KAU; Latha, A
    Black gram is one of the major pulse crop grown throughout India. It is cultivated in an area of 3.5 m. ha with a production of 2.1 m. tones (NCAER, 2016). However, the production is not sufficient to meet the domestic demand. In Kerala, black gram cultivation is very limited or negligible. The summer rice fallows are the potential areas for pulse cultivation in Kerala. It is mainly grown under rainfed condition with poor management practices and so the productivity is found to be very low. Hence, measures are to be taken to enhance the productivity of pulses with advancements in technology. Conservation agriculture is gaining momentum now-a-days and mulching and drip irrigation are water saving technologies for enhanced crop production. The research work on the topic “Tillage and water saving techniques for black gram in rice fallows” was undertaken in the Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during 2015-2017. The project was aimed to study the effect of reduced tillage practices on yield of black gram in rice fallows and to test the feasibility of mulch cum drip irrigation practices under conservation tillage in rice fallows. The experiment was laid out as RBD in split plot replicated thrice. There were 4 main plot treatments with tillage and mulching (conventional tillage with mulching, conventional tillage without mulching, reduced tillage with mulching, reduced tillage without mulching) and 3 subplot treatments with levels of drip irrigation (at 80% EP, 40% EP and life saving irrigation). Observations on growth, yield attributes and yield were recorded and soil moisture status, nutrient contents of plant and soil were determined. The conventional tillage with mulching produced taller plants with higher number of branches and LAI at different growth phases of black gram. Maximum biomass and dry matter production were also achieved under conventional tillage with mulching. Among the levels of drip irrigation, drip irrigation at 80% EP had the tallest and vigorous plants compared to other levels. Maximum number of pods per plant, longer pods and highest number of seeds per pod were produced by the plants in mulched plots with conventional tillage. Conventional tillage with mulching recorded the highest yield (1339 kg/ha) and it was 25, 60 and 80% higher than that of reduced tillage with mulching, conventional tillage without mulching and reduced tillage without mulching respectively. Among the drip irrigation levels, highest yield attributes and yield were recorded from plots with drip irrigation at 80% EP. Conventional tillage with mulching exhibited a 15, 18 and 40% higher WUE than conventional tillage without mulching, reduced tillage with mulching and reduced tillage without mulching respectively Among drip irrigation levels, highest water use efficiency was recorded from plots with life saving irrigation. Higher soil moisture content was recorded by reduced tillage with or without mulching and drip irrigation at 80% EP at different depths as well as at different growth phases. Bulk density was found to be lower in the treatment of conventional tillage with mulching. Reduced tillage without mulching recorded the highest nutrient content of plants and available nutrient contents of soil. B:C ratio was found to be maximum under conventional tillage with mulching and drip irrigation at 80% EP. Conventional tillage with mulching and drip irrigation at 80% EP was found to be better option in terms of yield and net returns in black gram for cultivation in summer rice fallows.