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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: Deepa, S × End date: 2009 × Start date: 2000 × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Field evaluation of commercial organic manures and growth promoters in bush type vegetable cowpea (Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis)
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2005) Deepa, S; KAU; Sukumari, P
    In a field study conducted in the college of Agriculture, Vellayani, three commercial organic manures viz. Haritha Super (4.0: 4.4 : 2.0 NPK), Poabs Green (2.7 : 1.2 : 2.0 NPK) and Bharath Meal (1.5 : 2.2 : 2.5 NPK) were compared with FYM (1.0 : 0.4 : 0.5 NPK) and Enriched Vermicompost (2.0 : 1.25 : 1.0 NPK) as the organic component of integrated nutrient management in bush type vegetable cowpea in combination with and without two growth promoters viz. Panchagavyam and Vermiwash. Feasibility of using the commercial organic manures as an alternative for FYM was also looked into. All the organic manures tested in the field experiment (FYM, Haritha super, Poabs Green, Bharath Meal and Enriched Vermicompost) were applied on Nitrogen equivalent basis in accordance with Package of Practices (POP) recommendation of Kerala Agricultural University (KAU). The POP recommendation for bush type vegetable cowpea is 20 t FYM + 20 : 30 : 10 kg NPK ha-1. When FYM was substituted with other organic manures on nitrogen equivalent basis P and K supplied by these organic manures were accounted for while calculating the quantity of inorganic phosphatic and potassium fertilizers to be applied in each treatment. Germination percentage in the various treatments ranged between 97.66 to 99 per cent and it did not vary significantly. All the significantly influenced growth characters such as height of plant, number of primary branches per plant, LAI and dry matter production recorded maximum values in Enriched Vermicompost applied crop and least values in Haritha Super applied crop. Yield attributing characters in vegetable cowpea significantly influenced by organic manures include number of flowers and number of pods per plant, fresh weight of pod and length of pod. All the significantly influenced yield attributing characters recorded superior value for Enriched Vermicompost. Enriched Vermicompost was found to be significantly superior with respect to total and marketable crop yield. Among the quality parameters crude protein content of pod was significantly superior for Enriched Vermicompost. Haritha Super produced pods of lowest protein content. Shelf life of pods in Enriched Vermicompost and Bharat Meal were the same and was 14 per cent higher than that in FYM. N and P uptake were superior for Enriched Vermicompost where as K uptake in Enriched Vermicompost and Bharat Meal were on par and superior to other organic manure treatments. Post harvest available N and P2O5 content of soil was highest in Haritha Super treated plots which was significantly higher than all other organic manures. Post harvest available K2O status was the highest in Poabs Green compared to all other organic manures. Among the growth promoters, Panchagavyam was significantly superior to Vermiwash with respect to characters such as days to 50 per cent flowering, marketable yield, percentage pest incidence, post harvest N and organic carbon content of soil. Panchagavayam and Vermiwash were on par with respect to number of flowers per plant at 30 and 60 DAS, protein content of pods, crop uptake of N and K. Both the growth promoters were significantly superior to water spray in their influence on days to 50 per cent flowering, number of flowers per plant at 30 and 60 DAS, percentage pest incidence, protein content of pods, N and K uptake and post harvest soil organic carbon content. Significant interaction effects were obtained in the case of number of flowers per plant at 60 DAS, marketable yield, percentage pest incidence and organic carbon content of soil after the experiment All the organic manures, growth promoters and their interactions had significant influence on Benefit Cost Ratio (B: C). Among the organic manures B: C in Enriched Vermicompost was the maximum. Among the growth promoters B: C in Panchagavyam (1.04) was the maximum. Maximum B:C was recorded in the treatment combination M5G2 (Enriched Vermicompost + Panchagavyam) (1.68) which was on par with M5G3 (Enriched Vermicompost + Vermiwash) (1.48 ), M1G2 (FYM + Panchagavyam) ( 1.56) and M1G3 (FYM + Vermiwash) ( 1.51). The treatment combination M2G1 (Haritha Super + Water Spray) recorded the least B:C ( 0.39 ) From the growth and yield point, FYM can be substituted with the commercial manures such as Haritha Super, Poabs Green and Bharath Meal. But FYM is more desirable from the economic point. Among the five organic sources tested Enriched Vermicompost is the best organic component of integrated nutrient management both in terms of yield and economics of production. Panchagavyam is a better growth promoter than Vermiwash in regulating marketable yield of vegetable cowpea.