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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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19839
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Subject: Agronomy × End date: 1983 × Start date: 1983 × Type: Thesis ×
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Now showing 1 - 9 of 9
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Spacing cum fertilizer investigation on rice variety, Mashuri, in the Onattukara tract
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1983) Sobhana, S; KAU; Chandrasekharan, P
    With a view to investigate the influence of different fertilizer levels, spacings and their combinations on the growth and yield of rice variety, Mashuri, in the sandy loam tracts of Onattukara, an experiment was conducted at the Rice Research Station, Kayamkulam, during the second crop season of the year, 1981-82. The response of the variety to four fertilizer levels (50 : 25 : 25, 60:30:30, 70:35:35 and 80:40:40 kg/ha NPK), four spacings (10cm X 5 cm, 10cm x 10 cm, 15 cm x 10 cm and 20 cm x 1o cm) and their combinations was studied. The experiment was laid out in randomised block design , as a 4 x 4 factorial experiment with three replications.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Nutritional management in coleus (Coleus parviflorus Benth)
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1983) Geetha, K; KAU; Madhavan Nair, K P
    An experiment was conducted at the College of Agriculture, Vellayani with the objective of finding out the optimum doses of nitrogen and potash tried were 0, 30, 60,90 and 120 kg/ha each. The two timings tried were entire dose as basal, and half basal and half thirty days after planting. Nitrogen had significant effect on plant height, number of branches, number of functional leaves, plant spread and leaf area index whereas levels of potash had not much effect on these aspects except at early stage. Time of application of nutrients had no effect on these growth characters.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Influence of the method of application of N and P on the growth, yield and quality of blackgram [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper]
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1983) Elizabeth, K Syriac; KAU; Chandrasekharan, P
    An experiment was conducted in the rice follows of the Rice Research Station, Kayamkulam during the summer season of 1981-82 to study the influence of the method of application (Soil and foliar) of N and P on the growth, yield and quality of blackgram. The experiment was laid out in Randomised Block Design with fifteen treatments replicated thrice. The study revealed that the height of the plant at the last three stages of crop growth was significantly influenced by the combined application of N and P, partly through soil and partly through foliage. At one stage alone the number of leaves per plant and leaf area index were significantly affected by the application of N and P combination partly through soil partly through foliage.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Weed control method for semi-dry dibbled crop of rice
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1983) Lakshmi, S; KAU; Madhavan Nair, K P
    An experiment was. conducted at the nice Research station of Kerala Agricultural university at Kayamkulam during, the Virippu (first crop) season of 1981-82 to find out a suitable weed control method for semi-dry dibbled crop of rice, in simple randomised block design with 7 herbicide treatments. 4 hand weeding treatments of which one was the local practice and another unweeded control. Monocot weeds were found to be better competitors than dicot weeds. Heed population was maximum during the first 40 days of dibbling. The herbicides reduced weed population and dry matter accumulation compared to hand weeded plots and increased the weed control efficiency. All the crop growth characters like plant height tiller count and LAI were Influenced favourably by the application of herbicides compared to hand weeding. Yield attributing factors like number of productive tillers/hill, length of the panicle, weight of the panicle and number of filled grains per panicle were adversely influenced by competition with weeds and control of weeds by the use of herbicides like benthiocarb 2.0 kg ai/ha and nitrofen 1.975 kg ai/ha increased the yieldattributing character® which was reflected on the grain and straw yield.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Nitrogen economy and soil conservation in tapioca - stylo intercropping system
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1983) Anil Kumar, P; KAU; Pushpangadhan, K
    An experiment was conducted at the college of Agriculture, Vellayanl, during 1981-82 to study the possibilities of reducing the fertiliser nitrogen dose for tapioca end the efficiency of reducing soil erosion in slopy areas when intercropped with stylosanthes. The experiment was carried out in a randomised block design with four replications under rainfed condition. The results revealed that growth characters and yield attributing characters ware not Influenced by stylosanthes intercropping and nitrogen levels, Even though numerically the tuber end top yields were lower in intercropped plots, statistically no significance was observed due to intercropping and levels of nitrogen. The utilisation index also was not influenced by intercropping end nitrogen levels
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Utilisation of azolla for rice in acidic soils
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1983) Habeeburrahman, P V; KAU; Sreedharan, C
    An experiment was conducted at the Agricultural Reasearch Station, Mannuthy, during the first crop season of 1982 – 1983 to examine the possibility of azolla utilisation for rice in acid soils by lime application. The treatments consisted of factorial combinations of 4 levels of N (25, 50, 75 and 100% of the recommended dose of 70 kg ha-1) with four levels of lime (0,600,900 and 1200 kg ha-1) in Randomised Block Design, replicated thrice. The investigation revealed that liming enhanced the multiplication rate of azolla. It was also found that the vegetative characters of rice viz. height, tiller production and leaf area index showed considerable increase with N levels. Lime at 600 kg ha-1 also increased plant height and tiller number. Dry matter production also showed proportionate increase with N levels and lime application at 600 kg ha-1 have the maximum dry matter production. Application of 75% of the recommended dose of N and 600 kg ha-1 of lime was sufficient to give higher number of panicles, number of filled grains per panicle and also 1000 grain weight. The grain yield did not increase significantly beyond 75% of the recommended dose of fertiliser N. Lime application at the rate of 600 kg ha-1 gave maximum grain yield. Straw yield increased significantly with nitrogen and lime. The uptake of all the nutrients was more at higher levels of N. The present investigation revealed the scope of dual culturing of azolla in acidic rice soils, by supplying lime at 600 kg ha-1. It also suggested a saving of 25% of the recommended dose of fertiliser N.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Studies on the moisture retention characteristics of alluvial soils of Kerala
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture, Vellenikkara, 1983) Prameela, K P; KAU; Vikraman Nair, R
    An experiment was conducted in the College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during the period from September 1982 to July 1983 to study the moisture retention characteristics of alluvial soils of Kerala. Soil samples representing five series located at different districts were collected from fifteen profiles at five depths. Moisture contents were determined at six applied pressures, viz., 0.3, 1, 3,5,10 and 15 bars. The moisture retention was correlated with the organic carbon content and texture of the soil by simple and multiple regression analysis. The study revealed that 50 per cent of the available moisture was depleted at a tension just above one bar, and at 3 bar more than 70 per cent of the available water was extracted. The ranges in the field capacity and permanent wilting point were found to be 21.4 to 32.2 and 12.1 to 16.9 respectively, and the overall mean values 25.8 and 13.9. The correlation study showed that the fine fractions (clay and silt) have significant positive correlation with moisture retention. Both coarse and fine sand fractions gave significant negative correlation. The relationship of organic carbon content with moisture retention and available water was positive, but not significant even at five per cent level. Prediction equations were developed to determine the available moisture content from known value of textural components and organic carbon content. The coefficients of determination obtained were high indicating that the difference in the quality of soil organic matter and fine fractions in the alluvial soils are not substantial.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Studies on the moisture retention characteristics of laterite soils of Kerala
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1983) Thulasidharan, C K; KAU; Vikraman Nair, R
    An experiment was conducted at the College of Horticulture during the period from April 1981 to May 1982 to study the moisture retention characteristics of the laterite soil of Kerala. Seventyfive soil samples were collected from fifteen profiles at five depths from different parts of Kerala covering Cannore, Calicut, Trichur, Kottayam and Trivandrum districts. Moisture retension studies were done at six tensions, viz., 0.3, 1, 3, 5, 10 and 15 bars. The moisture retension characteristics were correlated with the organic carbon content and texture of the soil by multiple regression analysis. The study revealed that more than 50 per cent depletion of the available water in the sieved soil occurred at less than 3 bars. The mean moisture content of sieved soil at 0.3 and 15 bars were 19.4 per cent and 25.2 per cent respectively. From the study it was also observed that the organic carbon had no significant bearing on the moisture retention characteristics of the soils studied. The content of fine fractions was found to be the determining factor which had positive influence on moisture retention. On the contrary, the effect of coarse fractions (fine and coarse sand) was negative and significant. The gravel fraction in the laterite was found to retain available water which came to the magnitude of 27 per cent of that in the sieved fraction. The content of gravel was having a strong negative influence with the moisture retention characteristics. The moisture contents at 0.3 and 15 bars including gravel were found to be 14.4 per cent and 11.3 per cent respectively on weight basis. Prediction equations were developed to determine the moisture retention at 0.3 and 15 bars of the 2 mm sieved fractions and of the soil including gravel from the contents of organic carbon and gravel and particle size distribution.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Shade response of common rainfed inter crops of coconut part III-vegetables
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1983) Krishnankutty, N K; KAU; Vikraman Nair, R
    A field experiment was conducted at the College of Horticulture, Vellanikara during 1982-83 to study the shade response of five common vegetable crops for assessing their suitability for intercropping in coconut gardens. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with four levels of shade and five replications. The study revealed that bhindi, amaranthus, clusterbean and vegetable cowpea are unsuitable for intercropping as they are highly ‘shade sensitive’. Brinjal may be suitable for intercropping only in situations of ample light infiltration as it is ‘shade tolerant’. Photosynthetic mechanism appears to have a decisive role on the shade response of all these crops except brinjal in which translocation differences seem to be responsible. In all the crops there was branching suppression because of shading. The contents of total chlorophyll and its components were significantly increased by shading in all the crops. The contents of nitrogen and phosphorus were not affected by shading in any crop. But in the case of brinjal, bhindi and vegetable cowpea there was increase in potassium content due to shading. In general, the uptake of nutrients followed the trend of dry matter accumulation.