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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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2000 - 200912010 - 20161
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Subject: Agronomy × Author: Sharu, S R × End date: 2019 × Start date: 2000 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Production package of palisade grass (brachiaria brizantha (Hochst.ex a. Rich.) stapf.)
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2016) Sharu, S R; KAU; Sajitha Rani, T
    The experiment entitled “Production package of palisade grass (Brachiaria brizantha (Hochst. ex A. Rich) Stapf.)” was conducted at the Instructional farm, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Kerala for a period of two years from 2014-16. The main objectives were to standardise the nutrient requirement, spacing and cutting pattern of palisade grass under open and partial shaded condition and to work out the economics of cultivation. The investigation was conducted as two separate experiments, one in open condition and another under partial shaded condition in coconut garden. Both the experiments were laid out in randomized block design with three replications. The treatments consisted of two cutting patterns, C1 (cutting at ground level) and C2 (cutting at 10 cm from the ground level) three nutrient levels, N1 (200: 50: 50 kg N, P2O5 and K2O ha-1), N2 (250: 62.5: 62.5 kg N, P2O5 and K2O ha-1) and N3 (300: 75: 75 kg N, P2O5 and K2O ha-1) and three spacings, S1 (60 cm x 30 cm), S2 (60 cm x 40 cm) and S3 (60 cm x 60 cm) in open condition. Under the partial shaded condition the treatments consisted of two cutting patterns, C1 (cutting at ground level) and C2 (cutting at 10 cm from the ground level), three nutrient levels, N1 (150: 32.5: 32.5 kg N, P2O5 and K2O ha-1, N2 (200: 50: 50 kg N, P2O5 and K2O ha-1) and N3 (250: 62.5: 62.5 kg N, P2O5 and K2O ha-1) and three spacings, S1 (60 cm x 20 cm), S2 (60 cm x 30 cm) and S3 (60 cm x 40 cm). Farmyard manure @ 10 t ha-1 was uniformly applied to all plots. Entire dose of phosphorus and potassium were applied as basal, nitrogen was top dressed in equal splits after each harvest. The results indicated that the cutting pattern, nutrient levels and spacing had significant effect on the growth, yield, physiological and quality parameters, uptake of nutrients, available nutrient status and economics of cultivation of palisade grass both under open and shaded conditions. Among the cutting pattern, C2 (cutting at 10 cm height from the ground level) recorded the highest plant height and C1 (cutting at ground level) recorded the highest number of tillers plant-1 and leaf area index during first and second year under both open and shaded conditions. Under open condition the highest RGR was recorded by C2 in first year and C1 in second year. CGR and NAR was the highest in ground level cutting in second year while under partial shaded condition the regeneration percentage and RGR were the highest when 10 cm cutting height was followed in the first year and in the second year ground level cutting registered highest RGR and cutting at 10 cm cutting height recorded highest CGR. The total green and dry fodder yield, net returns and B: C ratio were the highest for C2 in first and second years, under both the situations. The crude fibre content was the lowest in C2 in first and second years under both the situations. The uptake of nutrients were the highest in C2 in first year under both open and shade conditions whereas, only nitrogen uptake was significant in C2 in second year under both conditions. Among the nutrient levels, N3 recorded the highest growth and yield attributes, crude protein content, uptake of nutrients, net returns and B: C ratio in first and second years both under open and partial shaded condition. Among the tested spacings, S1 recorded the highest plant height, leaf area index, total green fodder and dry fodder yield and uptake of nutrients whereas, S3 registered the highest number of tillers plant-1 in both the years under open as well as partial shaded conditions. The net returns and B: C ratio were the highest in S1 in second year under open condition whereas, these were the highest in S3 in first year under shade condition. The highest crude protein content was recorded in S1 (fifth harvest) and S3 (second harvest) in first year under shade condition. The lowest crude fibre content was recorded in S1 in second year under open condition. Pooled analysis of two years data indicated that palisade grass cultivated at a spacing of 60 cm x 30 cm, with a nutrient recommendation of 300: 75: 75 kg N, P2O5 and K2O ha-1 and harvesting at a height of 10 cm from ground level was the best method for obtaining maximum fodder yield and profit under open condition. Under partial shaded condition a narrow spacing of 60 cm x 20 cm with a nutrient recommendation of 250: 62.5: 62.5 kg N, P2O5 and K2O ha-1 and harvesting at 10 cm height from the ground level can be recommended for realising higher fodder yield, fodder cultivation. quality and profit from palisade grass cultivation.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Integrated nutrient management in chilli (Capsicum annuum L.)
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2000) Sharu, S R; KAU; Meera Bai, M
    A field experiment was conducted at the Instructional Farm attached to the College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 1999-2000 to study the combined effect of chemical fertilizers and organic manures on the productivity and quality of chilli, to assess the possibility of substitution of fertilizers by organic manures and also to work out the economics of production. The treatments consisted of combined application of chemical fertilizers and organic manures viz. poultry manure, vermicompost and neemcake in various ratios of 3: 1, 1: 1, 1:3 and 0:2. The control treatment was POP recommendation of KAU (20 t ha! of FYM + 75:40:25 kg N, P205 and K20). The experiment was laid out in randomised block design. An abstract of the result is given below. Plant height, number of branches, shoot-root ratio and dry matter content differed significantly with various treatments. All these parameters were found to be increasing with increased level of chemical nitrogen. Shoot-root ratio was highest for vermicompost applied plots whereas the maximum value for all other growth parameters was produced by poultry manure treatments. All the yield parameters were significantly influenced by various treatments. Higher fruiting phase and fruit set was observed with increasing chemical nitrogen level and maximum value was obtained for poultry manure treatment (3: 1). Poultry manure treatment (1: 1) gave good performance with respect to number of fruits per plant, harvesting interval and total yield. Higher levels of poultry manure along with chemical fertilizers also performed well. Length of fruit was highest for vermicompost treated plots along with chemical fertilizers (1: 1). Highest level of chemical fertilizer along with poultry manure gave good results with respect to LAI and dry matter production. RGR, CGR and NAR was highest for vermicompost applied plots. Keeping quality and ascorbic acid content was higher for poultry manure treatments. Regarding residual nutrients high soil K was registered by higher level of neemcake along with chemical fertilizer. Highest soil N was noted by highest dose of poultry manure (0:2). Poultry manure and chemical fertilizer in equal proportion obtained highest value for soil P. Highest dose of poultry manure together with chemical nitrogen gave good result for NPK content of plants. NPK uptake was also higher for poultry manure treatments. Incidence of bacterial wilt was least in dual application of chemical fertilizer and neemcake in the ratio 3: 1. The economics of cultivation revealed that poultry manure and chemical fertilizer application in equal proportion (1: 1) gave maximum net returns and benefit-cost ratio.