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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: Beena Bhaskar × Author: KAU × End date: 1994 × Start date: 1990 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Uptake pattren of major & minor nutrients in selected cashew types
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1992) Beena Bhaskar; KAU; Abdul Salam, M
    An investigation was undertaken at the Kerala Agricultural University during 1990-92 to study the varietal difference in growth and nutrition of 18 cashew varieties. The study was also aimed to assess the variability in nutrient concentration in plant parts and the nutrient offtake. The variation in the absorption of soil applied 32p at different physiological phases was also assessed. The experimental trees were at the fifth year of planting. The most important findings are abstracted below. Two cashew varieties viz. M 44/3 and M 26/2 originated from Cashew Research Station, Vridhachalam gave higher nut yield. The concentrations of major and minor nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu) differed among plant parts (leaf, apple, kernel and shell) and between the varieties. The cashew kernel had the highest concentration of N, P, Ca, S, Zn and Cu compared to leaf and apple. The concentrations of K, Mg and Fe were high in apple. The Mn concentration was high in leaf. The nutrient concentration was low in the shell. A four year old cashew tree yielding 4.08 kg nut and 4.15 kg apple on dry weight basis removed 239 g N, 7.51 g p, 110 g k, 14.2 g ca, 6.40 g mg, 6.46 g S, 1709 mg Fe,233 mg Mn, 252 mg Zn and 86 mg Cu. Among apple, kernel and shell, the nutrient removal was largest through apple. Leaf nutrient status of cashew varied with physiological phases. The concentrations of N, P and K in the leaf were high at “flushing and early flowering’’ phase. Absorption of soil applied 32p differed between physiological phases but not between the varieties and the absorption peak was noticed in the “flushing and early flowering’’ phase. Irrigation of cashew trees during summer increased the absorption of soil applied 32p.