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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 Inter-relationship of applied nutrients on growth, productivity and latex flow characteristics of havea brasiliensis muell. arg.(Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1993) Punnoose, K I; KAU; Sreedharan, CThree field experiments were conducted in three locations representing the major rubber growing regions in South India to study the response to nutrient applications on growth characters, yield and latex flow characteristics and to study the inter-relationship between soil and plant nutrients on yield. It was also envisaged to assess the relative response in the different locations and to make economic analysis of the benefit of manuring. Three levels of 0, 40 and 80 N ha-1, 0, 30 and 60 kg P2O5 ha-1 and 0, 40 and 80 kg k2O ha-1 and two levels of 0 and 10 kg MgO ha-1 were used. A 33 x 2 partially confounded factorial split plot experiment in randomised block design with two replications was followed. The 80 kg level of N and 30 and 40 kg levels respectively of P and K were optimum for girth increment in all the locations. Application of Mg was also beneficial. For virgin bark thickness the 40, 30 and 40 kg levels of N, P and K respectively were sufficient in all the locations and application of Mg was not beneficial. For bark renewal 80 kg N was optimum at Thodupuzha whereas the 40 kg level was sufficient in the other locations. The 60 kg level of P was useful at Kulasekharam and Thodupuzha while 30 kg was sufficient at Balussery. The 40 kg level of K was optimum in all the locations and application of Mg was not beneficial. The 80 kg level of N gave the maximum weight of leaf litter in all places while for P and K the 30 and 40 kg levels respectively were sufficient. Magnesium was beneficial only at Balussery in one year. The 40, 30 and 40 kg levels respectively of N, P and K gave the highest total volume of latex in all the locations except at Balussery where 80 kg K was superior to 40 kg. Application of Mg was beneficial at Balussery while it had a reducing effect at Kulasekharam and no effect at Thodupuzha. Application of N and K reduced the plugging index and that of P and Mg increased it in all the locations. For dry rubber content, the 80 kg level of N was optimum at Kulasekharam while the 40 kg level was sufficient in the other locations. With regard to P and K the 30 and 40 kg levels respectively were sufficient. Application of Mg was beneficial only at Thodupuzha. In the case of yield of rubber 40 kg N and 30 kg P2O5 were found to be optimum in all locations. The 40 kg level of K2O was sufficient at Kulasekharam and Thodupuzha while the 80 kg gave the highest yield at Balussery. At Thodupuzha and Balussery application of Mg was beneficial while at kulasekharam it reduced the yield. Application of N increased the organic carbon content of soil. The available P, K and Mg contents of soil were increased by the application of the respective nutrients. The N, P, K and Mg contents of leaf and latex were increased by application of the respective nutrients. Application of P as rock phosphorus also increased the available Ca content of soil and Ca contents of leaf and latex. The yield of rubber was positively correlated with girth increment, rate of bark renewal, initial flow rate, total volume and dry rubber content of latex and negatively with plugging index. Yield was also positively correlated with the available N, P, K and Ca contents of soil N, K and Ca contents of leaf and P and K contents of latex and negatively correlated with Mg contents of soil and leaf. The strongest correlations with yield were given by soil N, latex P and K and leaf Ca. Total volume of latex was positively correlated with the available N, P, K and Ca contents of soil, N, K and Ca contents of leaf and P and K contents of latex. The dry rubber content of latex was positively correlated with the available N, P and Ca contents of soil, N, K and Ca contents of leaf and N, P, K and Ca contents of latex. The plugging index was positively correlated with the P and Ca contents and negatively with the N and K contents of soil, leaf and latex. Positive correlations, were obtained between soil and leaf nutrients, soil and latex nutrients and leaf and latex nutrients in the case of N, P, K and Ca. In the case of yield of rubber 40 kg N and 30 kg P were found to be optimum in all the locations. The 40 kg level of K was sufficient at Kulasekharam and Thodupuzha while the 80 kg level gave the highest yield at Balussery. Application of Mg was beneficial at Thodupuzha and Balussery while at Kulasekharam it reduced the yield. An overall evaluation of the economic analysis indicated that 40 kg N, 30 kg P2O5 and 40 kg K2O were the optimum doses in all the three locations. Application of Mg was profitable only at Thodupuzha.ThesisItem Open Access Rice based cropping system analysis in kerala(Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1993) Chidananda Pillai, M R; KAU; Sreedharan, CWith the objectives of identifying the most economic crop combination for the double crop wet rice fields of Kerala and to assess soil fertility changes due to rice based cropping systems and also to find out the residual effects of the summer crops on the succeeding rice crops an investigation was conducted at the R.A.R.S. Pattambi in a split – split plot design, for a period of two years. The salient findings of the investigation are as follows. In the Cassava-rice-rice system 25 per cent saving was recorded for P and K for maximum grain yield of kharif rice than the recommended doses. A saving of 50 per cent each of P and K was recorded for the maximum straw yield than the recommended doses. In cowpea–rice-rice system for maximum grain yield of kharif rice there was a saving of 25 per cent of P and K than recommended doses. The same trend followed for the maximum yield of strew also. In groundnut –rice-rice system, for maximum grain yield of kharif rice there was a saving of 25 per cent of P and K than recommended doses. For the production of maximum straw yield full dose of recommended nutrients were required. In bhindi– rice-rice system for maximum grain yield of kharif rice there was a saving of 50 per cent of P and K than recommended doses. For the production of maximum straw yield full dose of recommended nutrients were essential. In rice-rice-rice system for maximum grain yield a saving of 25 per cent of P and K was recorded than recommended doses. For the production of maximum straw yield full dose of recommended nutrients were required. In fallow-rice-rice system for maximum grain yield full dose of recommended nutrients were essential, whereas for the production of maximum straw yield a saving of 25 per cent of P and K than the full dose was recorded. In cassava, rice and fallow systems for the manifestation of residual effect to the rabi rice, balanced nutrients at high doses are to be applied to the preceding kharif crop where as in the cowpea, groundnut and bhindi systems, residual effects of nutrients are seen manifested to the rabi rice crop even when the kharif rice crop is applied with medium doses of nutrients. There was a trend of slight decrease in the organic carbon content of the soil under all the cropping systems. The status of available nitrogen and potash after one and two year crop sequences also followed the above trend. Regarding the status of phosphorus in the soil, there was a slight increase after one and two year crop sequences. Cassava system produced maximum yield in terms of energy value followed by groundnut. From the economic point of view bhindi system gave the maximum net return. Maximum dry matter production (biomass production potential) was recorded in the cassava system followed by groundnut system. A vegetable crop like bhindi or a tuber crop like cassava seem to be more profitable than growing rice in summer season in the double crop wet rice fields of Kerala, rice being least economic. Among the cropping systems rice-rice-rice system generates maximum employment opportunities for the farm labourers with maximum job opportunities for women labourers as well.ThesisItem Open Access Weed management in sole and intercropped coconut gardens(Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1990) Savithri, K E; KAU; Sreedharan, CField 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.ThesisItem Open Access Effect of nutrition as Influenced by irrigation on growth and yield of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq)(Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1994) Thomas, Varghese P; KAU; Sreedharan, CA field experiment was conducted in the oil palm plantations of the Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI) Research Centre, Palode, Kerala to study the response of mature oil palm to fertilizer and irrigation applications with respect to growth, yield and uptake of nutrients. There were four levels of fertilizers viz: F0- 0:0:0, F1-600: 300: 600, F2- 1200: 600: 1200 and F3-1800: 900: 1800 g N : p20 : k20 palm-1 year-1. The three levels of irrigation were: I0-no irrigation, I1-45 1 palm-1 day-1 and I2-90 1 palm-1 day-1. The 4x3 factorial experiment was laid out in randomised block design with three replications. The study was also envisaged to establish the importance of leaf nutrient ratios of yield group of palms and its application in identifying nutrient limitations through the Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System (DRIS) approach in oil palm. The influence of various climatic parameters on yield of oil palm was studied by relating the monthly yield of oil palm in the field experiment with the monthly weather variables as far behind as 42 months before harvest. Fertilizer application of 1200 g N+600 g P2O5+ 1200 g K2O palm-1 year-1 was found to improve the growth characters such as annual leaf production, number of leaves on the crown, dry matter production of leaf, trunk and bunches, total dry matter production and the crop growth rate. Increase in yield attributes such as number of female inflorescences, sex ratio, average single fruit weight and the number of bunches at F2 level contributed to the significantly high FFB yield at F2 level of fertilizer application. Both palm oil and palm kernel oil production were also maximum at F2 level. For the uptake of nutrients N,P and K by palm parts as well as by the palm as a whole, the F2 level of fertilizer application was found to be the optimum. It was observed that 79% of the total uptake of N, 77% of P and 82% of K are removed annually through leaves and bunches from the system. A K-Mg antagonism was also detected in nutrient uptake. The yield of palm was found positively correlated with leaf production, leaf area, net assimilation rate, number of bunches produced, vegetative dry matter, P and K in soil and the total uptake of N, P and K by the palm. Both net income and benefit cost ratio were also found favorable at F2 level of fertilizer application. Irrigation at I2 level has resulted in increased leaf production, leaflets per leaf, leaf area, leaf dry matter, mesocarp dry matter and the bunch dry matter. Physiological parameters like relative water content, leaf water potential, stomatal resistance, leaf temperature and net photosynthesis were all favourable at I2 level of irrigation. Female flower production, sex ratio, single fruit weight and number of bunches produced were also more in I2 treatment. This has resulted in increasing FFB production at I2 level. Palm oil production was also more at I2 level. Total uptake of N, P, K and Ca were also found to be maximum at I2 level of irrigation. The net profit and benefit cost ratio were also maximum at I2 level. Leaf nutrient ratios of palms in different yield groups: were used to evolve parameters and norms for Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System (DRIS) in oil palm. The range of nutrient ratios within the zones of balance, moderate imbalance and imbalance were determined which were also illustrated through DRIS charts for three nutrient combinations. The DRIS approach was used to evaluate the nutrient balancing of the different treatments of the field. The order of relative importance of the five nutrients was determined using nutrient imbalance index (NII) values as indicated below: K> P> N> Mg> Ca The F2 level of fertilizer application in the experiment was found to be the most balanced among the tested fertilizer levels. The possibility of magnesium becoming a potential limiting nutrient at higher levels of fertilizer application has been brought out from the study. The superiority of balanced nutrition in increasing total dry matter production and bunch yield became evident from the study. The studies on climatic relationship with yield revealed that the pattern of variation in monthly yield remained the same inspite of irrigation throughout the summer months. The relationship of monthly yield of oil palm with monthly climatic parameters was evaluated up to a period 42 months before harvest. When eight climatic parameters were considered together, the influence of these weather parameters at seven specific lag periods viz. 1-4, 9-10, 13-16, 20-23, 25-28, 32-33 and 37-40 were found important for oil palm. Of these the lag 25-28 was found to be the most important as the relationship of climatic parameters with yield at this period was more. Relative humidity, maximum temperature and rainfall were identified as the most important variables influencing palm yield. Using results obtained from regression studies yield prediction models were constituted. It is concluded that yield prediction using the three or more variables is possible for oil palm 26-28 months in advance of harvest. The salient findings from the study is that a fertilizer dose of 1200g N+ 600 g P2O5+ 1200 g K2O palm-1 year-1 and irrigation level of 90 l palm-1 day-1 applied through drip system during the summer months are required to obtain maximum FFB yield from mature oil palm. The order of importance of nutrients for oil palm is determined as K> P> N> Mg> Ca. With the above level of fertilizer application the palms were found to have a more balanced nutrition. However continued application of fertilizers might possibly lead to magnesium deficiency unless corrective measures are adopted. Relative humidity, maximum temperature and rainfall are found to be the most important climatic parameters influencing oil palm yields. The influence of climatic parameters at seven lag periods 1-4, 9-10, 13-16, 20-23, 25-28, 32-33 and 37-40 were found to be more pronounced on palm yield. From these studies it became possible to predict oil palm yields 26-28 months in advance using models based on these weather parameters.ThesisItem Open Access Applicability of diagnosis and recommendation integrated system (Dris) in coconut palm (Cocos nucifera L.)(Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1994) Mathewkutty, T I; KAU; Tajuddin, EA study on the applicability of diagnosis and recommendation integrated system (DRIS) in coconut palm (Cocos nucifera L.) was conducted at the department of Agronomy, college of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during 1991-’94. The study was conducted using coconut population of var. West Coast Tall being maintained at three research stations of Kerala Agricultural University namely, Regional Agricultural Research Station, Pilicode; Agricultural Research Station, Mannuthy and Coconut Research Station, Balaramapurm. Eight hundred palms varying in their yield from 5.8 to 162.7 nuts per palm per year were selected for developing DRIS norms. Leaf samples were collected from the 14th frond and were analysed for macro and micronutrients namely N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, CI, Fe, Zn and Mn employing titrimetric, spectrophotometric, flame photometric or atomic absorption spectrophotometric method depending on the element. DRIS norms were developed using the data generated from the chemical analysis of leaf samples using the methodology of Beaufils (1973). The palm population was divided into low-and high-yielding subpopulations. The means and variances of nutrient concentration as well as their ratios (totalling 90 including inverse ratios) were worked out for the two subpopulations. The variance ratios were then computed for each nutrient and each nutrient ratio to examine their statistical significance and those discriminating significantly between the two subpopulations were considered for DRIS norms. When both the ratio and its inverse form were significant, the one which had a higher variance ratio was selected. Mean values of the selected individual nutrients and nutrient ratios of the high yielding sub population formed the DRIS norms. Five nutrients and 33 nutrient ratios were selected on the basis of higher variance ratios as DRIS norms. Thirty one DRIS charts involving selected three-nutrient combinations can be constructed from the selected nutrient ratios. A qualitative assessment of nutritional imbalance involving three nutrients is possible by utilising these DRIS charts. DRIS technique also provides another approach that can accommodate any number of nutrient ratios in which nutrient indices are worked out using DRIS norms and the observed nutrient ratios for the plant under test. The DRIS index for a nutrient indicates its relative abundance among the nutrients considered in its computation. Lower the value of the index for a nutrient, greater is its requirement. The accuracy of diagnosis of nutritional imbalance by DRIS approach was tested for ten selected nutrients in palm receiving varying levels of NPK under a factorial experiment. From this it was observed that DRIS index for a nutrient varied not only with the applied level of that nutrient but also with the applied level of other nutrients and an improvement in yield with increase in DRIS index value was obtained for the application of K. The overall nutritional balance of a palm is given by the nutrient imbalance index (NII) which is the sum of the nutrient indices irrespective of the sign. A strong negative relationship was observed between this NII and yield. DRIS norms developed on the basis of different yield cut-off values showed that they were affected by the criterion used for dividing the population into low-and high-yielding groups. Similarly DRIS norms developed for different soil type as well as for different climatic situations under the same soil type had also shown variations indicating their influence on DRIS. A comparison of DRIS approach with critical level approach indicated that DRIS could supplement information on balance or imbalance of nutrients in coconut palm and it could be used beneficially in nutrient management programmes in conjunction with critical level approach.