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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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1990 - 199223
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Subject: Agronomy × Author: KAU × End date: 1992 × Start date: 1990 ×
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Now showing 1 - 9 of 23
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Economising nitrogen in rice production with sesbania rostrata
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1992) Shalinipillai, P; KAU; Muraleedharannair, V
    With a view to assessing the influence of in situ growing and incorporation of Sesbania rostrata on the growth and productivity of rice and to study the economy of nitrogen use by rice, a field experiment was conducted at College of Agriculture, Vellayani during the period from July 1991 to December 1991. The experiment was laid out in Randomised Block Design with three replications. Three levels of Rhizobium inoculation for Sesbania rostrata (i1-seed inoculation, i2 - stem inoculation, i3 – seed + stem inoculation), five levels of nitrogen to succeeding crop of rice raised after incorporation of Sesbania rostrata (n0 – no nitrogen, n1 – 25 percent of the recommended dose, n2 – 50 percent of the recommended dose, n3 – 75 percent recommended dose, n4 – 100 percent recommended dose) and one control plot of rice (treated as per KAU package of practices recommendations) were fixed as treatments. The rice variety used was Jyothi. The soil of the experimental site was sandy clay loam, medium in available nitrogen and phosphorus and low in available potassium. An abstract of the results is given below. Among the three different levels of inoculation, seed + stem inoculation was found to influence, the green matter and dry matter yields of Sesbania rostrata positively, though not significantly. The number and dry weight of root nodules and shoot nodules, nitrogen uptake, phosphorus uptake, potassium uptake, calcium uptake and magnesium uptake were not found to be influenced significantly by the different inoculation levels. From these results, it can be concluded that, the easiest method of inoculation viz. seed inoculation is sufficient for satisfactory growth and nitrogen fixation by Sesbania rostrata. The present study also revealed that the growth and nodulation of Sesbania rostrata is not satisfactory under conditions of continuous submergence, as that prevailed during the cropping period of the present experiment. Rhizobium being an aerobic bacteria might have got inhibited under the anaerobic conditions created by continuous water logging. Furthermore, the acidic condition of the soil of the experimental site might have also inhibited the activity of Rhizobium. Thus it shows that liming is absolutely necessary for the satisfactory growth of Sesbania rostrata in acid soils. Among the different treatments tried, though the control (KAU package of practices recommendations) gave the maximum yield, it was on par with the treatment comprising 50 percent of the recommended dose of nitrogen along with Sesbania rostrata incorporation. This shows that there is considerable scope for economising nitrogen by the substitution of chemical nitrogen applied to rice by Sesbania rostrata.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Rhizobium inoculation and nutrient levels on nodulation and seedling growth in tree legumes
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1992) Ragini, R; KAU; Achuthan Nair, M
    An investigation entitled Rhizobium inoculation and nutrient levels on nodulation and seedling growth in tree legumes was carried out at College of Agriculture, Vellayani during August 1990 to July 1991. The investigation was carried out as three separate experiments. The main objective of Experiment I was to determine the effect of different scarification methods on the germination of some commonly grown and newly introduced legumes, the objective of Experiment II was to screen out the best among the native and exotic isolates of Rhizobium with different levels of phosphorus on the nodulation and seedling growth and the objective of Experiment III was to study the effect of Rhizobium inoculation, and nutrient levels on nodulation and seedling growth of tree legumes. The experiment (s) were carried out in a completely randomized design with five, three and four replications each for Experiments l, ll and lll respectively. Hot water treatment for three minutes was found to be effective for enhancing the germination in Acacia mangium, Paraserianthes falcataria and Sesbania grandiflora. Treatment with Con.Hcl for one minute recorded highest germination per cent in Cassia fistula. Germination percentage of 98.27 was recorded with Con.HNO3 treatment for 10 inutes. In Acaci’s Acacia Catechu and Cassia javanica maximum germination was obtained with Con.H2 SO4 treatment for five minutes, while that for one minute resulted in highest germination in Albizia moluccana. Exotic isolates, TAL 1868 and TAL 45 wire proved to be the best among the rhizobial isolates for Acacia and Albizia sp. Respectively with respect to growth and nodulation characterstics as compared to the local strains. Plant height, shoot dry weight and root dry weight were significantly influenced by phosphorus application. Nodule number per plant had increased from 0.67 to 1.33 in Acacia Arabica. Nitrogen application along with inoculation significantly influenced growth characters such as plant height, shoot dry weight and root dry weight. Maximum plant height was recorded due to application of nitrogen upto 20 kg ha-1 in Acacia Arabica and Acacia Catechu. Nitrogen application upto 20 kg ha-1resulted in highest shoot dry weight and root dry weight in both Acacia Catechu and Paraserianthes falcataria. Application of nitrogen did not increase nodule number per plant in all the tree species. However, nodule dry weight per plant increased with application of nitrogen up to 20 kg ha-1. Phosphorus application up to 50 kg ha-1 produced maximum shoot and root dry weights in Acacia catechu. Application of Phosphorus at 25 kg ha-1 resulted in maximum root dry weight in Acacia Arabica and Acacia catechu. Phosphorus application up to 25 kg ha-1 resulted in maximum number of nodules per plant in Acacia Arabica and acacia catechu. Highest nodules dry weight per plant was recorded with phosphorus application up to 25 kg ha-1 in Acacia catechu and Paraserianthes falcataria. Nitrogen application upto 20 kg ha -1 resulted in an increase in plant nitrogen content and reduction thereafter. Phosphorus application upto 25 kg ha -1. Resulted in an increase nitrogen content of plants and a reduction was noticed beyond 25 kg ha-1. Nitrogen application had significant influence on phosphorus content of plants in A Arabica and P. falcataria. Phosphorus application at 50 kg ha-1 gave highest phosphorus content in A. Arabica and A. catechu. It can be concluded that nitrogen and phosphorus application along with Rhizobium inoculation using specific strains is essential for better growth and nodulation of leguminous tree species.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Sulpher and boron nutrition of groundnut (arachis hypogaea L)var TG-3
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1992) Chandini, A; KAU; Chandini, S
    An investigation was undertaken at the college of Agriculture, Vellayani during the period from April to November 1990, to study the effect of different levels and time of application of sulphur (15 kg, 20 kg and 25 kg S.ha-1) and boron (4 kg and 6 kg B.ha-1) for groundnut cv. TG-3 in the red sandy clay loam of Kerala The investigation compared of an initial pot culture study followed by a field experiment. The pot culture study was laid out in completely randamised design and the field experiment in randomised block design with three replications. The highest dose of sulphur, viz. 25 kg S.ha-1 recorded significant influences on growth characters like plant height, number of leaves and leaf area index of the crop. The effect of boron was significant at 90 DAS for number of branches, at 90 DAS and at harvest for number of leaves, and at 60 DAS and 90 DAS for leaf area index. Significant response was noted only upto 4 kg B. ha-1 for growth characters. The effect of sulphur and boron application on nodule number was significant. But the three levels of sulphur and two levels of boron were on par with each other. Sulphur had a favourable influence on all the yield attributing characters viz. number of pods plant-1 , weight of pods plant-1, weight of kernels plant-1weight of pods plant-1, weight of kernels plant-1, 100 kernel weight and shelling percentage and consequently on pod yield, total drymatter production and harvest index. Sulphur at 20 kg and 25 kg S. ha-1 were found to be on par in their effects. Boron at 4 kg and 6 kg B. ha-1 were on par in influencing the pod number plant-1, pod weight plant-1, pod yield and bhusa yield of groundnut. There was a significant interaction between 25 kg S. ha-1 and 6 kg B. ha-1 for pod number plant-1. The oil content of groundnut kernels increased with progressive levels of sulpur and boron application. Sulphur at 20 kg and 25 kg and boron at 4 kg and 6 kg were on par in their effects. The protein content of groundnut kernels also increased with progressive levels of sulphur, with the levels 20 kg S. and 25 kg S. ha-1 on par with each other. But the protein content increased upto 4 kg B.ha-1 only. Sulphur and boron application enhanced the boron content of kernels significantly while application of sulphur alone increased the sulphur content of kernels. Maximum N, P and S uptake were noted when sulphur was applied @ 25 kg ha-1 . Maximum N uptake by the crop was noted when boron was applied @ 4 kg B. ha-1. B uptake was also significant only upto 4 kg B. ha-1. The time of application did not have any significant influence on growth characters, yield attributes, or yield of the crop.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Effect of oxyflourfen for weed control in dry-sown rice
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1992) Priya, I; KAU; Tajudeen, E
    A field experiment was conducted at Regional Agricultural Research Station, Pattambi of Kerala Agricultural University during the first crop seasons of 1991 and 1992 to find out the time and dose of application of oxyflourfen in dry-sown rice. The treatments included different doses of oxyflourfen (0.05, 0.10, 0.15 and 0.2 kg a.i./ha) on the same day of sowing, at 3 and 6 DAS, butachlor and Thiobencarb (1.5 kg a.i./ha) on the same day of sowing and two controls (weedy check and hand weeded check) laid out in randomised block design with three replications. The results showed that the count, dry matter production and nutrient removal of weeds were appreciably reduced by the weed control treatments particularly by oxyflourfen application @ 0.15 kg a.i./ha on the same day of sowing during initial stages and oxyflourfen application @ 0.2 kg a.i./ha at 3 DAS during later stages. The weed control efficiency was highest during critical stages in oxyflourfen applied plots @ 0.15 kg a.i./ha on the same day of sowing and was even higher than that of hand weeding and the effect was on par with oxyflourfen application @ 0.2 kg a.i./ha at 3 DAS. Oxyflourfen application @ 0.2 kg a.i./ha at 3 DAS gave significantly higher values of yield attributes viz. productive tillers, panicle length and number of filled grains per panicle resulting in higher grain yield and the effect was on par with hand weeding. These treatment showed highest straw yield also. The weed index values were lower in plots where, oxyflourfen @ 0.2 kg a.i./ha at 3 DAS were applied. In terms of returns per rupee invested also, plots treated with oxyflourfen @ 0.2 kg a.i./ha at 3 DAS was the best. Among the different levels of oxyflourfen, a dose of 0.2 kg a.i./ha at 3 DAS can be advocated for better weed control efficiency, higher yield and net return.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Production potential of amaranthus under irrigation and nitrogen levels
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1991) Rajan, S; KAU; Oomen, M
    An experiment was conducted at the Instructional Farm, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, during the summer seasons of 1989 and 1990 to study the response of amaranthus to different water management practices and nitrogen doses. The trial was laid out in split-plot design with three replications. The main plot treatments consisted of a combination of two varieties (red and green ) and four irrigation treatments. (Irrigation at IW/CPE ratio of 0.75, 1.00 and 1.25 and the farmer’s practice of daily irrigation). Sub plot treatments consisted of four levels of nitrogen (50, 75,100 and 125 kg N/ha). The study revealed that amaranthus responded well to frequent irrigations and higher levels of nitrogen. Red variety of amaranthus was superior to green variety in most of the growth and yield attributing characters studied. Biometric characters like height, girth of stem, number of branches, number of leaves, LAI, and dry weights of leaves, stem and roots were favourably influenced by frequent irrigations and higher nitrogen levels. Total yields were also higher in more frequently irrigated treatments and at higher nitrogen levels. The moisture content of leaves was not influenced by irrigation and nitrogen treatments. However nitrogen exerted, significant influence on the moisture content of stem. Protein content of red variety was maximum and as the frequency of irrigation and levels of nitrogen were increased, protein content of plant increased and the maximum was recorded at daily irrigation treatment and at 125 kg N/ha. A relatively higher fibre content was noted in red variety. The effect of irrigation treatments on the fibre content of plants were not conclusive but the nitrogen fertilization tended to decrease the fibre content of plants. The red variety recorded a comparatively higher uptake of nutrients. The uptake of N, P and K were enhanced by frequent irrigations and nitrogen application upto 125 kg/ha. Available N, P, K status of the soil after the experiment was reduced by red variety. Higher irrigation treatments reduced the N and k content of soil after the experiment. But the nitrogen fertilization increased the nitrogen content and reduce the potassium content of the soil after completing the experiment. However the effects of different irrigation and nitrogen treatments on available phosphorus content of the soil after the experiments were found to be inconsistent during the two seasons. The red variety showed maximum water use efficiency then the green variety. Field water use efficiency was higher in the less frequently irrigated treatments (IW/CPE) of 0.75 and 1.00) and at higher nitrogen fertilizations (125 and 100kg N/ha). The results of economic analysis revealed that net income and benefit cost ratio were maximum for red variety and these were increased by more frequent irrigations and Nitrogen fertilizations up to 125 kg N/ha.
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    ThesisItemOpen 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 Sreekantan
    An 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.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Release of nitrogen and potassium from root contact packets of urea and muriate of potash and their crop responses
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1992) Jomol, P Mathew; KAU; Vikraman Nair, R
    The present study 'release of nitrogen and potassium from root contact packets of urea and muriate of potash and their crop responses was conducted during June 1991 to June 1992 at the College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara. Root contact packets of varying porosities and quantities were prepared and separate experiments were conducted to study the efficiency of packets of urea and muriate of potash. A series of experiments were conducted to standardise the porosities suited to provide extended potention of the fertiliser packed in polythene packets. In studies conducted in north-east monsoon season, substantial retention of muriate of potash could be observed with porosities of one and two nuil holes cm-2 upto 90 days of application . The quantity retained was found to decrease significantly with increase in porosity.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Molecular absorption of urea by flooded rice
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1992) Safeena, A N; KAU; Balachandran, P V
    An investigation on molecular absorption of urea by flooded rice was conducted at the Radio Tracer Laboratory , College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, during the period 1990-1992. The effect of soil submergence on soil urease activity was also studied on five different soils of Kerala namely, laterite, kole, kari, kayal and black soils. An attempt was also made to develop an isotope method for urease estimation using 14c labelled urea . From the specific activity of 14c urea solution initially added and the count rates obtained for the KCI-PMA extract, the urea hydrolysis rate was calculated.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Weed management in sole and intercropped coconut gardens
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1990) Savithri, K E; KAU; Sreedharan, C
    Field experiments were conducted during the period from 1986 to 1989 at the Agricultural Research Station, Mannuthy, Thrissur to develop weed management practices for sole and intercropped coconut gardens. There were three fields trials. In trial - I the treatments comprised of three manual methods (digging once, digging twice and sickle weeding), six chemical methods (paraquat three sprays, glyphosate 0.4 kg ha-1, glyphosate 0.8 kg ha-1 dalapan followed by paraquat, paraquat + diuron and paraquat followed by glyphosate), two combinations of manual and chemical methods (2,4-D + diuron immediately after sickle weeding and glyphosate followed by digging) were compared with weed free and unweeded control in underplanted coconut garden. In trial - II, the treatments comprised of two manual methods (spade weeding and sickle weeding ), one cultural method (growing cowpea as an intercrop) two cultural + chemical methods (cowpea followed by paraquat or glyphosate), three pre-emergence herbicides + post-emergence herbicide (diuron followed by paraquat, oxyfluorfen followed by paraquat and atrazine followed by paraquat ) were compared with weed free and unweeded control in coconut+ banana cropping system. Unweeded control in coconut banana cropping system was compared with that in sole crop of coconut . In trial III, the treatments tried in coconut+banana cropping system were eveluated in sole crop of banana and there were thirteen treatments . All these three trials were laid out in Randomised Block Design and replicated thrice.