Thumbnail Image

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.

Browse

2011 - 20142
Reset filters
Subject: Agronomy × Author: Shimi, G J × End date: 2014 × Start date: 2010 ×
Reset filters

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Rhizosphere management for enhancing root productivity and oil yield in vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides (L.) Nash.
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2011) Shimi, G J; KAU; Anilkumar, A S
    Vetiver is the only grass cultivated specifically for its root essential oil, a complex mixture of sesquiterpene alcohols and hydrocarbons, used extensively in perfumery and cosmetics. The World Bank has promoted the Vetiver System since the 1980s for various applications such as soil erosion and sediment control, water conservation, landslip and riverbank stabilization and recently for pollution control. However, cost effective techniques for increasing root production in the humid tropics are lacking. The present investigation was carried out at the College of Agriculture, Vellayani to study the effect of planting methods, subsurface drip fertigation and combined application of bioinoculants on root and oil yield in vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides). The technical programme consisted of combinations of three planting methods, viz, P1 – Planting in coconut husk mulched trenches, P2 – Planting in coconut husk lined trenches and P3 – Planting on the ridges, two levels of fertigation, viz, F1 – Subsurface drip fertigation and F2 - No fertigation; and two bioinoculants, viz, B1 - Application of bioinoculants and B2 - No bioinoculants. The trial in Factorial RBD was conducted during 2010-11. Planting methods, fertigation levels and application of bioinoculants influenced various growth characters of vetiver, viz., plant height, number of leaves and tiller production at various stages of growth. In general, planting in coconut husk lined trenches resulted in better performance. Installation of sub surface drip fertigation system and application of bioinoculants also encouraged vegetative growth. The effect of the above treatments on number, length, spread, volume and weight of vetiver roots were found to be remarkable at certain stages of growth. In general, planting in coconut husk lined trenches was found to improve all the root parameters studied when compared to ridge planting. The effect of bioinoculant application was also conspicuous in improving root growth compared to control (no inoculation). Planting vetiver slips treated with bioinoculants in coconut husk lined trenches under sub surface drip fertigation 111 system provided a favourable situation for root elongation during the early phase of crop establishment. Planting methods, fertigation levels and application of bioinoculants had no significant effect on any of the physiological parameters, viz, canopy temperature, relative leaf water content and osmotic potential studied. Significant influence of planting methods on chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll were observed. Planting on ridges (P3) which was on par with planting in coconut husk lined trenches (P2) showed significantly higher contents of chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll. Leaf dry matter production at all stages and root dry matter at certain stages were found to be significantly influenced by the main effects of treatments. Similar to biometric characters, leaf and root dry matter production were found highest when vetiver was planted in coconut husk lined trenches. Sub surface drip fertigation had a positive and significant effect in enhancing leaf and root dry matter production. The effect of bioinoculants was also positive and significant in improving the above parameters when compared to control. Among the different planting methods, planting in coconut husk lined trenches registered the highest value of soil moisture content before irrigation which was closely followed by planting in coconut husk mulched trenches. The effect of sub surface drip fertigation in influencing soil moisture content before and after irrigation was remarkable. However, application of bioinoculants was not found to significantly influence soil moisture contents. Planting in coconut husk lined trenches (P2), installation of sub surface fertigation system and application of bioinoculants enhanced root and oil yield. Economic analysis of the system also proved the superiority of planting vetiver in coconut husk lined trenches (P2), installation of sub surface drip fertigation system and application of bioinoculants in improving gross and net income. APPEND
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Input management for precision farming in banana
    (College of Agricultute, Vellayani, 2014) Shimi, G J; KAU; Sheela, K R
    The investigation entitled “Input management for precision farming in banana” was carried out for two years (2012-2014) in Instructional Farm, College of Agriculture, Vellayani. The objectives were to study the impact of precision land management, fertigation and foliar nutrition on the growth and yield of tissue culture banana (Musa AAB cv. Nendran), to standardize the nutrient concentration and nutrient sources for fertigation and to work out the economics. The experiment was undertaken in two parts. In part I, standardization of nutrient sources for fertigation was carried out in factorial CRD with six nutrient sources [urea, Muriate of Potash (MOP), 10-10-10, 13-0-45, SOP (Sulphate of Potash), and Diammonium Phosphate (DAP)] and four concentrations (0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.00 per cent), replicated thrice. In part II, nutrient scheduling was standardized in split plot design with six main plots and three sub plots in three replications. Main plot treatments were n1-POP (Package of Practices) with basin irrigation, n2-POP with drip irrigation, n3-drip irrigation alone without fertilizer, n4-soil application of rock phosphate and fertigation using urea and MOP, n5- fertigation using 10-10-10, urea and Sulphate of Potash (SOP) and n6- fertigation using 13-0-45, 0-0-50 and DAP. The sub-plot treatments were water spray (s1), foliar application of 19-19-19 @ 0.50 per cent [2, 4 and 6 MAP (Months After Planting)] (s2) and bunch spray with 2 per cent SOP (after complete bunch emergence and three weeks after first application) (s3). The general practices such as deep ploughing (50 cm), taking raised beds (30 cm height, 3 m width) and organic manure application (15 kg plant-1) were uniformly followed. Daily water requirement for drip irrigation was calculated using the formula suggested by FAO (1998). Separate sub mains were laid out for irrigating each treatment and fertigation was done using ventury. The concentrations tested revealed no phytotoxic effect on plants. Nutrient sources had significant influence on growth, yield and quality of banana. Growth parameters showed varying effect due to nutrient sources. During both the years, n1, n2, n4 and n5 registered higher yield which were on par and significantly superior to other sources. But in pooled analysis, n1, n2 and n4 recorded significantly higher yield of 32.55, 31.69, 31.58 t ha-1, respectively which were on par. Quality parameters also responded differently to nutrient sources and irrigation. The effect of foliar application on growth, yield and quality was also significant. Bunch spray with 2 per cent SOP significantly improved growth, yield and quality aspects. Input use efficiency also showed significant variation due to treatments. Among the nutrient sources and irrigation, the highest nutrient use efficiency (NUE) was registered by n4. Whereas in water productivity (WP), n2 was found superior and was on par with n4 in second year. Water use efficiency (WUE) was enhanced in n2 which was on par with n4 and n5 in first year. In second year, n4 was on par with n2, n5 and n6. NUE, WUE and WP were also significantly enhanced by s3. Compared to basin irrigation, fertigation resulted in a saving of 73 per cent in irrigation water and 40 per cent in nutrients. Significantly higher B : C ratio of 5.07 and 3.99 were registered by n4 and s3. The nutrient schedule standardized for precision farming in banana can be summarized as:- basal application of organic manure @ 15 kg plant-1, soil application of rock phosphate @ 325 g plant-1 (1 MAP) and @ 250 g plant-1 (3 MAP), weekly fertigation using urea @ 16.30 g plant-1 from 1 to 7 MAP (except 6 MAP) and MOP @ 16.25 g plant-1 from 1 to 5 MAP and @ 31.25 g plant-1 (7 MAP) along with bunch spray of 2 per cent SOP (after complete bunch emergence and three weeks after first application) or foliar spray of 0.50 per cent 19-19-19 (2, 4 and 6 MAP). This schedule along with improved land management practices of deep ploughing (50 cm deep) and taking raised beds (30 cm height) is beneficial for productivity enhancement in banana.