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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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ThesisItem Open Access Spatial arrangement & nutrient management of grain cowpea - Fodder maize intercropping in summer rice fallows(Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1990) Sunitha, S; KAU; Lekha SreekantanAn investigation was carried out during the summer season of 1988-'89 in the Instructional Farm attached to the College of Agriculture, Vellayani to determine the best crop arrangement for a grain cowpea + fodder maize intercropping system in summer rice fallows under different fertility levels. The different crop arrangements tried were pure crop of cowpea at normal row arrangement, pure crop of maize at normal row arrangement, cowpea and maize in alternate rows, paired row of cowpea with one row of maize in between and triple row of cowpea with one row of maize in between. The fertilizer levels tried were 100, 75 and 50 per cent of the recommended doses of nutrients of cowpea, maize and cowpea+ maize, depending on the crop arrangement and the area occupied by each crop. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with four replications. The crop arrangements were allotted to main plots and the fertility levels to the subplots. Plant height of cowpea was maximum in the crop arrangement where cowpea was alternated with one row of maize where as the pure crop of cowpea produced the maximum number of leaves. In the case of maize, plant height and number of leaves were maximum when cowpea and maize were grown in alternate rows. Pure crops of cowpea and maize recorded the highest for their respective LAI values at flowering. Plant height, number of leaves and LAI of both cowpea and maize were affected by different fertility levels. Higher doses of fertilizers were found to be the best. The crop arrangements did not show pronounced variation in the uptake of nutrients by cowpea except potassium. Potassium uptake by cowpea and maize were maximum for their respective sole crops. For maize, nitrogen and phosphorus uptake were maximum when grown in alternate rows with cowpea plants. Full dose of fertilizers recorded the highest uptake values. Number of pods per plant, length of pods, number of seeds per pod, hundred grain weight, pod yield as well as grain yield of cowpea were not affected by different crop arrangements or fertilizer levels. The fodder yield of maize was affected by different crop arrangements and the pure crop of maize was on par with the crop arrangement where cowpea and maize were alternately grown. Hundred per cent recommended dose of fertilizers recorded the highest value for fodder yield of maize. The treatment where cowpea and maize were grown in alternate rows resulted in the greatest protein content of cowpea grains. Seventy five percent dose of fertilizers resulted in the highest crude protein content of maize fodder. The various indices like LER, LEC, IER, net profit, benefit/cost ratio, return per rupee invested on labour and return per cropping day were found to be superior in the crop arrangement where cowpea and maize were grown in alternate rows and at full dose of fertilizers. Hundred per cent and seventy five per cent dose of fertilizers were on par with regard to LER, LEC, IER, net profit and benefit/ cost ratio. From a detailed analysis it is seen that cowpea alternated with one row of fodder maize under 75 per cent of the recommended level of nutrients, is the best in providing higher profit to the farmer.ThesisItem Open Access Screening of different morphotypes of colocasia for shade tolerance(Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1990) Prameela, P; KAU; Vikraman Nair, RThe present study 'Screening of different morphotypes of colocasia for shade tolerance' was conducted during May 1989 to June 1990 at the College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara , Thrissur, Kerala, India . The experiment was laid out in a split plot design with four replications. Eleven morphotypes of colocasia were raised at shade levels of about 0, 25, 50 and 75 per cent. For providing shade, pandals were erected on wooden frames and covered with unplaited coconut fronds to provide required levels of shade. These were covered on all sides also leaving a clearance of 1 m from ground level. L I -190 SA Quantum Sensor and LI-191 SA Line Quantum Sensor were used for adjusting the shade intensities approximately to the desired levels. Most of the colocasia morphotypes recorded the highest yield at 25 per cent shade and hence this crop is to be classed as shade loving. However there were substantial differences in varietal responses to shade and in the morphotypes M1 , M7, M8, M9 , M10, M12 and Sree Rashmi yields were higher under shaded condition than in the open. In M2, M15, M16 and M17 yields were higher in the open and there was steady decline with increasing shade intensity. Harvest index and drymatter accumulation were found to be the highest under 25 per cent shade level in most of the morphotypes. But the highest starch and oxalic acid contents were in the tubers from the open. Six morphotypes M1, M2, M10, M15, M16 and M17 were selected as generally superior for all shade situations.ThesisItem Open Access Nitrate reductase activity in black pepper (Piper nigrum L.)(Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1990) Mini Thomas; KAU; Balachandran, P VAn investigation on the nitrate reductase activity in black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) was conducted at the College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during the. period 1989-1990. Six varieties of pepper vines from the Pepper Research Scheme, Vellanikkara were used for the study viz., Panniyur-1, Karimunda, Kottanadan, Kuthiravali, Uthirankotta and Cheryakaniakadan. Seasonal and genotypic variations in NRA and NRA in different parts of pepper vine were studied. The effect of NO3-N and light on NRA were also investigated. Heritability of NR, heterosis and relationship between NRA and yield were also worked out. In Panniyur-1 fairly high NRA was noted in June which declined till September and increased and peaked in February. Significant positive correlation between NRA and NO3 content was obtained in all months except in February. The six varieties of pepper were brought under two groups based on the pattern of NRA. One group comprising of Karimunda, Kottanadan, Kuthiravali and Uthirankotta. The second group comprised of Panniyur-1 and Cheryakaniakadan. The mean leaf NRA in the different parts of pepper followed the order, runner shoot y plageotrope orthotrope y flag leaf > berry. There was significant increase1 in NRA with increase in NO3-N levels in both Panniyur-1 and Karimunda. In general NRA increased with increase in light intensity. NRA at 60 and 100 per cent light were superior to that at 10 and 30 per cent light in Panniyur-1. In Karimunda NRA at 30 and 100 per cent light were found to be superior to that at 10 and 60 per cent light intensity Heritability in the broad sense of NR was found to be low in blacK pepper. Relative heterosis in Panniyur-1 was 26 per cent while heterobeltiosis was 23 per cent. Significant positive correlation was observed between mean NRA and yield-in Panniyur-1.ThesisItem Open Access Biomass productivity and influence of intercrops in a pre-bearing coconut-casuarina agroforestry system(Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1990) Usha, T; KAU; Vikraman Nair, RAn experiment was conducted in the pre-bearing coconut gardens of Agricultural Research Station, Mannuthy during the period from May 1987 to May 1988 to assess the biomass productivity of different intercrops grown in coconut - casuarina alleys and their effect on the growth of tree components and on the micro-meteorological parameters. The different cropping systems tried in coconut casuarina alleys were tapioca + groundnut, amorphophallus - horsegram, fodder maize + cowpea - fodder cowpea, guinea- grass' (throughout), fodder cowpea - sesamum, groundnut blackgram, modan paddy - sesamum- and control (without any intercrops). The experiment was laid out in randomised block design in plots of size 7.5 x 7.5 m and replicated thrice. The plant height of all the crops excepting thatof fodder cowpea and sesamum showed an increase when grown I; in coconut - casuarina alleys. The yields of tapioca,', groundnut (grown mixed with tapioca), amorpho phallus, blackgram and paddy were rather low in coconut - casuarina alleys compared to sole crop yields. Fairly high fodder yields of maize (mixed with cowpea) and guineagrasswere obtained when grown in coconut - casuarina alleys. Regarding the total biomass production of different cropping systems, amorphophallus - horsegram cropping system recorded the highest and groundnut - blackgram cropping system yielded the lowest. The soil physical properties like bulk density, particle density, maximum water holding capacity were not influenced by the different cropping systems. It was seen that most of the cropping systems except that involving guineagrass left the soil richer with respect to organic carbon content and most of the primary and secondary nutrients. The cropping system which recorded fairly high gross income, net income and benefit-cost ratios were amorphophallus - horsegram, fodder maize + cowpea - fodder cowpea and groundnut - blackgram. The different component crops grown in the alleys had no adverse effect on coconut or casuarina. Casuarina which was intercropped with coconut was found to be capable of generating a fuel wood yield of 10-11 t/ha/annum.ThesisItem Open Access Crop weather relationship of rainfed banana under different times of planting(Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1990) Venugopalan, K; KAU; Balakrishna Pillai, PAn experiment was conducted at the College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, Kerala Agricultural University during December 1986 to July 1988 to study the crop weather relationship of rainfed banana under different times of planting. The experiment was conducted in randomised block design with seven times of planting (1st week of December, 1st week of January, 1st week of February, 1st week of March, 1st week of April, 1st week of May, and 1st week of June) and the treatments were replicated three times. Observations on all weather parameters and soil temperatures were recorded daily. Crop growth characters like height of pseudostem, girth of pseudostem, number of leaves and leaf area at various stages of growth, sucker production at shooting and harvest, and the days taken from planting to shooting, shooting to harvest and planting to harvest were recorded. Yield characters like bunch weight,length of bunch, weight of hand, number of hands, number of fingers per bunch, number of fingers per hand, length of finger and girth of finger were recorded. The various fruit quality characters like total soluble solids, reducing sugars, non-reducing sugars, total sugars, acidity and sugar acid ratio were recorded. The total crop growth period for all the treatments included two dry seasons. The general pattern of weather during the 1987-'88 dry season was better compared to that of 1986-'87. The highest soil temperature at any depth and time were, observed in April during 1987 and in March during 1988. Generally, December recorded the lowest soil temperatures The time of planting greatly influenced all the growth, yield and quality characters. At early stages, late plantings generally recorded taller plants with more girth, number of leaves and leaf area. The time of planting had a significant influence on the sucker production at harvest. The duration from shooting to harvest was significantly influenced by time of planting and the last two plantings took comparatively more time for fruit development.ThesisItem Open Access Nutritional requirement of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) CV. TG-3 in red soils of Kerala(Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1990) Mathew, Joseph; KAU; Balachandran, Nair G KA field experiment was conducted at the College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 1989 to study the influence of three levels of each nitrogen (0.10 and 20 kg/ha), phosphorus (0.50 and 100 kg/ha) and potassium (0.50 and 100 kg/ha) on growth, yield and uptake of major nutrients in groundnut cv. Tg-3 under open upland conditions. The trial was conducted as 33 +1 partially confounded factorial experiment in Randomised Block Design with two replications. Higher levels of nitrogen had profound influence on growth characters like plant height and number of branches per plant. But the effect was negative in the case of number of root nodules per plant. Higher levels of phosphorus significantly influenced plant height, number of branches and LAI. Potassium had significant influence only on plant height and leaf area index. Yield attributes like number of pods and weight of pods per plant were not influenced significantly by the main or the interaction effects of the major nutrients. However the fertilizer treatments registered a higher value than the control plots. Application of 20 kg N/ha significantly increased the weight of kernel per plant, number of pops and 100 kernel weight. The number of pops was found to increase with higher levels of phosphorus (100 kg P2O5/ha). The maximum harvest index and pod yield per hectare was recorded by 10 kg N/ha. Potassium significant influence on bhusa yield at 100 kg K2O/ha. However the application of 20 kg N/ha, 50 kg P2O5/ha and 100 kg K2O/ha recorded the maximum pod yield. The response of groundnut to nitrogen levels was quadratic and that to potassium levels was linear. The DMP was significantly influence by the application of potassium only at 100 kg K2O/ha. The oil content of kernel was found to be unaffected by the main or their intraction effects of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. The protein content was significantly increased with 20 kg N, 50 kg P2O5 and 100 kg K2O/ha. The nitrogen uptake by the crop was maximum at 20 kg N and at 100 kg K2O/ha. The levels of P significantly influenced the phosphorus uptake by the crop and it was maximum with 100 kg P2O5/ha. A potassium level of 50 kg K2/ha registered the maximum P uptake by the crop. The potassium uptake by the crop was significantly influenced by the application of potassium at 100 kg K2O/ha. The study indicated that application of 20 kgN, 50 kgP2O5 and 100kg K2O per hectare recorded the maximum pod yield and net returns from groundnut cv. TG-3 under open gardenland conditions in the red loam soils of Vellayani.ThesisItem Open Access Relationship between leaf nutrients & yield in coconut(Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1990) Mohanachandran, S; KAU; Koshy, E PAn investigation on the nutritional status of coconut palms as reflected in the 10th fronds and its relation with the yield of palms was carried out at the College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 1987 from samples drawn from palms of three yield groups (low, medium and high yielders). Chemical analysis of leaves for N, P, K, Ca,Mg,S Na and CI were undertaken at 45 days interval for one year from April 1987, statistically analyzed and correlated in various ways with the yield at the same intervals. The already established relationship that coconut yield is significantly influenced by the level of major nutrients viz. N,P and K on the 10th leaf at all the yield levels was confirmed in the present investigation. The benefit of Na application seemed due to the substitute effect of this nutrient for K. Significance of CI nutrition emerged positively during the investigation. Irrespective of the genetic variations and consequent yield differences it was found that N,P,K, S and CI could influence the yield directly as well as through their interactions. However, higher levels of Ca and Mg had a negative impact on yield. Analysis of variance studies revealed that there is significant seasonal variation in the yield of coconut palms irrespective of the nutritional status. The optimum time for foliar diagnosis is suggested between April and July. Higher levels of N,P and K in the index leaves do not imply immediate yield benefits but will be reflected in the yield consequently. Better yields were associated with high S content in the leaves. So was the case with the C1 content. The eight nutrients considered for study viz. N,P,and K Ca, Mg, S, Na and CI were found to explain 23 to 27 percent variations in the yield. The favourable influence of major nutrients viz., N, P and K was quadratic in nature while the other essential elements helped in maintaining optimum nutrient ratios. The N,P and K content in the 10th leaf for maximum yield is predicted as 1.91,0.12 and 1.33 per cent respectively for high yielding palms. Multiple regression analysis suggested that coconut yield is not a function of individual effects of nutrients but is determined by the simultaneous interaction of all the nutrients.ThesisItem Open Access Standardisation of agro-techniques for sweet potato variety Sree Nandini(Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1990) Sudhadevi, K C; KAU; Achuthan Nair, MWith a view to standardise the agro-techniques for sweet potato var. Sree Nandini, a field experiment was conducted in the wetlands of the instructional Farm of College of Agriculture, Vellayani. The main objectives of this experiment was to work out the optimum dose and time of application of potassium and depth of planting for the sweet potato var. Sree Nandini. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with four replications. The main plot treatments included 3 levels of potassium (50 kg, 75 kg and 100 kg K2O/ha) and 2 depths of planting 95 cm and 10 cm) while the subplot treatments consisted of the different time of application of potassium (full basal, half basal + half topdressing, 1/3 basal + 2/3 top – dressing and 2/3 basal + 1/3 topdressing). An abstract of the results is given below : Among the vegetative growth characters, the length of vines was found to be maximum at the highest level of potassium while the number of branches and leaf area of index were not influenced by the levels of potassium. The drymatter production and tuber bulking rate were maximum when potassium was applied at 100 kg K2o/ha. The tuber number, length of tuber, girth of tuber and tuber yield were also maximum at the highest level of potassium. Among the quality attributes, starch content was maximum at the highest level of potassium and sugar content was maximum at the lowest level while the crude protein content was not affected by the different levels of potassium. The uptake of potassium and phosphorus were maximum at 100 kg K2o/ha. The highest available nitrogen and potassium content of the soil was also obtained at this level while available phosphorus content of the soil was not affected. As regards the time of application of potassium, application of potassium in two equal splits produced the longest vines while the number of branches and LAI were not affected. The parameters like drymatter production, tuber bulking rate, length and girth of tubers, tuber yield, starch content of tubers and uptake of potassium by plants were also maximum in this treatment while the vine yield, crude protein content of tubers and uptake of nitrogen and phosphorus by plants were not influenced by the time of application of potassium. The depth of planting had no significant influence on most of the parameters investigated like number of branches, LAI, drymatter production, tuber number, tuber yield, vine yield, quality attributes of tubers and uptake of nutrients by plants. However, deeper planting increased the length of vines while the size of tubers and tuber bulking rate decreased with deeper planting. Thus, it is revealed from the present study that the application of 100 kg K2o/ha in two equal split doses – half as basal and half as topdressing in combination with a planting depth of 5 cm is more profitable for the particular variety under the agro-climatic conditions prevailing in Thiruvananthapuram district.