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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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1984 - 198911990 - 19991
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Subject: Agronomy × Author: Anilkumar, A S ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Crop geometry studies in tapioca based intercropping system
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1984) Anilkumar, A S; KAU; Sasidhar, V K
    An experiment was conducted at the College of Agriculture, Vellayani, during 1982-83 to study the effect of intercropping groundnut and cowpea with tapioca and to identify the most suitable spatial arrangement of crops in the tapioca and to identify the most suitable spatial arrangement of crops in the tapioca based intercropping system. The study also helped to find out the possibilities of changing the geometry of planting of tapioca from the normal method to the paired row pattern. The experiment with eight treatments was carried out in randomised block design with three replications under rainfed conditions.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Sustainable technology for higher productivity in mulberry sericulture
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture, Vellenikkara, 1999) Anilkumar, A S; KAU; John, P S
    Cultivation of mulberry is a pre-requirement for silk industry. Being a perennial crop it will be well adapted to the West Coast. Formulation of sustainable production technology is a necessity for its popularisation. Three experiments under the project 'Sustainable technology for higher productivity in mulberry sericulture' were carried out at the College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during 1994-96 to develop appropriate agro-techniques for mulberry cultivation under tropical condition. The first experiment consisted of combinations of three levels NPK, viz, 150:60:60,225:90:90 and 300: 120: 120 kg ha:' year", four green manuring methods, viz, in situ cultivation and incorporation of cowpea, in situ cultivation and composting of cowpea, green leaf manuring and no green manuring and five biofertilizer treatments viz, Azospirillum, Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizae (VAM), Phosphorus Solubilising Bacteria (PSB), combined application of Azospirillum, VAM and PSB and no biofertilizer. Response of two varieties of mulberry, viz, K-2 and S-54 to four irrigation levels ie, no irrigation, irrigation at CPE 15 mm, irrigation at CPE 30 mm and irrigation at CPE 45 mm and four soil moisture conservation techniques, ie, incorporation of coir pith, mulching with coconut husk, incorporation of silkworm litter and control were studied in the second experiment. In the third experiment, effect of combinations of three different planting geometry, ie, normal row planting, paired row planting and high density planting, three levels of shade, ie, no shade, 25 % shade and 50 % shade and five intercropping systems with green manure crops, viz, cowpea, mimosa, desmodium, calapagonium and no green manure crop were included. All the three experiments were laid out in split plot design. ii Experiment I. Cost effectiveness in mulberry nutrition under irrigated condition Integrated nutrient management involving the application of NPK @ 225:90:90 kg ha" year", in situ cultivation and incorporation or composting of cowpea and combined application of Azospirillum, VAM and PSB was found to increase the total fresh leaf yield of mulberry. In the silkworm rearing trial, leaves from mulberry garden receiving NPK @ 300: 120: 120 kg ha" year", in situ cultivation and incorporation or composting of cowpea and combined application of Azospirillum, V AM and PSB registered higher leaf consumption due to better leaf quality and consequently improved cocoon weight, shell weight and filament length. Though the level of fertilizers didn't influence the per cent infection of V AM, the spore load in soil was increased with increase in fertilizer levels. Moderate level of NPK viz, 225:90:90 kg ha' year" recorded maximum colonisation of Azospirillum. PSB population increased with increasing levels of fertilizers. In situ cultivation and composting of cowpea and combined application of Azospirillum, V AM and PSB showed maximum colonisation of Azospirillum and PSB. The economic analysis of the system revealed the significance of NPK application @ 225:90:90 kg ha" year", in situ cultivation and composting of cowpea and combined application of Azospirillum, V AM and PSB in terms of gross income, net income, benefit: cost ratio (BCR) and sustainable yield index (SYI). Experiment 11 Utilization of agricultural byproducts for economising water use and improvement in leaf quality and productivity of mulberry The combination of the variety S-54, irrigation at CPE 30 mm and mulching with coconut husk resulted in significantly higher total fresh leaf production. Leaf quality parameters such as leaf moisture and leaf protein contents were higher in the variety S- 54, however, the moisture retention during 24 hour storage was more with the variety III K-2. Irrigation and mulching with coconut husk resulted in increased leaf protein content. Seasonal and daily consumptive use, and crop coefficient were higher in S-54, and increased with irrigation at CPE 15 mm and mulching with coconut husk. The variety S-54 irrigated at CPE 30 mm resulted in maximum crop water use efficiency. However, field water use efficiency was highest with respect to S-54 with irrigation at CPE 45 mm and mulching with coconut husk. The silkworm rearing trial revealed the superiority of the variety S-54 with respect to leaf consumption, larval weight, cocoon weight, shell weight, filament length and filament weight. The economic analysis of the system proved the significance of the variety S-54, irrigation at CPE 30 or 45 mm and mulching with coconut husk in relation to gross income, net income, BCR and SYI. Experiment Ill. Shade tolerance and in situ development of green manure sources in mulberry Paired row planting, cultivation under open conditions and intercropping with green manure cowpea resulted in maximum fresh leaf production at all harvests. Paired row planting and cultivation under open conditions resulted in the production of quality leaves with respect to leaf moisture and protein content which in turn improved the larval and cocoon characters and post cocoon parameters. Intercropping with green manure Mimosa improved the available nitrogen content of soil after the experiment. Intercropping with green manures, viz, cowpea, Mimosa, Desmodium or Calapagonium were beneficial in increasing the available potassium content of soil. The economic analysis of the system revealed the superior performance of paired row planting, cultivation under open conditions and intercropping with cowpea and subsequent green manuring in relation to gross income, net income and BCR. The combination paired row planting, cultivation under open conditions and intercropping with green manure Mimosa resulted in the highest SYI.