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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: Ishrath, P K × Author: KAU × End date: 2019 × Start date: 2016 × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Cutting intervals and additives for quality silage production
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2016) Ishrath, P K; KAU; Usha, C Thomas
    The investigation entitled “Cutting intervals and additives for quality silage production” was conducted at Kerala Livestock Development Board farm, Dhoni, Palakkad during May 2015 to April 2016. The main objectives were to assess the effect of cutting intervals on quality fodder production for ensiling and to study the effect of additives and cutting intervals for quality silage production using hybrid napier variety Suguna. The investigation comprised of two experiments. The first experiment was conducted in field and was laid out in RBD with three treatments and seven replications. The treatments comprised of three cutting intervals - 45 days, 60 days and 75 days. The results showed that, the highest fodder yield of 57.85 t ha-1 cut-1 was obtained in T3 (75 days), but the fodder quality was better in T1 (45 days) which registered high crude protein content (10.56 %) and low crude fibre content (26.81 %). The second experiment on silage production was laid out as factorial experiment in CRD with two factors i.e. ensiling material and additives with three replications. Three types of ensiling materials tested were - E1 (fodder harvested at 45 days interval), E2 (fodder harvested at 60 days interval) and E3 (fodder harvested at 75 days interval) and additives tested were - A1 (Urea 2 %), A2 (Jaggery 2 %), A3 (Urea 1 % + Jaggery 1 %), A4 (Molasses 2 %) and a no additive (A5) treatment was also included. The results indicated that among the different ensiling materials, fodder harvested at 45 days produced good quality silage. The silage was characterized by high crude protein content (11.59 %), low crude fibre content (29.01 %), ideal pH and other quality parameters like ash, ether extract fat (EEF) and nitrogen free extract (NFE) in safe limit. Ensiling with urea 2 % or urea 1 % + jaggery 1 % produced good quality silage characterised by a crude protein content of 10.55 % and 10.52 % respectively and a crude fibre content of 37.27 % and 36.87 % respectively. Crude protein, crude fibre, ash, EEF and NFE contents were significantly influenced by ensiling material. Additives significantly influenced the crude protein, EEF and NFE contents in silage and did not influence ash and crude fibre contents significantly. Interaction effect was found significant in ash, EEF and NFE contents of silage. Both ensiling materials and additives did not show any significant effect on pH of silage as well as recovery percentage. Based on the study, it can be concluded that quality silage from hybrid napier can be prepared by ensiling the fodder harvested at 45 days interval and by adding urea 2 % or urea 1 % + jaggery 1 % as additives. For the preparation of organic silage, molasses 2 % or jaggery 2 % can be recommended as additive depending upon availability.