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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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Subject: Agronomy × End date: 2008 × Start date: 2008 × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Concurrent growing of green manure crops in dry and wet seeded rice
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2008) Anitha, S; KAU; Jose, Mathew
    An investigation entitled ‘Concurrent growing of green manure crops in dry and wet seeded rice’ was conducted at Agricultural Research Station, Mannuthy to develop a comprehensive technology package for the system of concurrent growing of green manure crops in direct seeded rice. The investigation consisted of four experiments viz., Experiment Ia - Concurrent growing of green manure crops in dry seeded rice, Experiment Ib - Residual effect of concurrent growing of green manure crops in dry seeded rice, Experiment IIa - Concurrent growing of daincha in wet seeded rice and Experiment IIb - Residual effect of concurrent growing of daincha in wet seeded rice. The experiment on concurrent growing of green manure crops in dry seeded rice consisted of two green manure crops (horse gram and cowpea), three methods of incorporation (Incorporation by cono weeder, desiccation by 2,4 - D spray @1.0 kg ha-1 and allowing for self decomposition) and two levels of nitrogen (100 and 75% of recommended N) and a control without green manure crops . Among the two green manure crops, cowpea was the best in supplying the required quantity of green matter with 25 per cent savings of N fertilizer and a substantial reduction in weed incidence. All the three methods of incorporation were found to be equally effective. Hence in places where there is a difficulty in self decomposition, cowpea can be effectively incorporated by conoweeder or by spraying 2, 4-D. The cowpea variety used in this study was a short duration bush type variety facilitating additional pod yield from cowpea before it was incorporated. Concurrent growing of cowpea along with dry seeded rice is a viable system as it resulted in increased productivity, profitability and sustainability dry seeded rice. In the experiment to study the residual effect of concurrent growing of green manure crops in dry seeded rice, the main plots of dry seeded rice crop during the 1st crop season were divided into two sub plots and applied 100 and 75 per cent N to the subplots. The results revealed that concurrent growing of green manure crops were effective in increasing the yield and sustaining soil fertility status compared to pure crop of rice receiving 5 t ha-1 of FYM and 100 per cent of the recommended nitrogen. But there was no savings of N fertilizer to the succeeding transplanted rice crop as the highest yield of succeeding rice was achieved only when it received 100 per cent of the recommended N. The profitability of the rice- rice cropping system was the highest with concurrent growing of cowpea in dry seeded rice. The experiment on concurrent growing of daincha in wet seeded rice consisted of two stages of incorporation of daincha (20 DAS and 30DAS), three methods of incorporation (Incorporation by cono weeder, desiccation by 2, 4 - D spray @1.0kg ha-1 and Desiccation by Chlorimuron ethyl+ met sulfuron methyl spray @ 4.0 g ha-1 met sulfuron methyl spray @ 5 g ha-1) and two levels of nitrogen (100 and 75% of recommended N) and a control without daincha. Results indicated that concurrent growing of daincha can be successfully practiced in wet seeded rice with improved productivity. Incorporation of 30 days old daincha employing any of the three methods of incorporation was equally effective in increasing the productivity and profitability of wet seeded rice. Incorporation of daincha at 30 DAS could add about 14 t ha-1 of green matter with minimum investment and resulted in 70 per cent weed suppression. Concurrent growing of daincha receiving both 100 and 75 per cent of recommended N produced significantly higher yield than pure crop of rice receiving 5 t ha-1 of FYM and 100 per cent of the recommended nitrogen. Hence there was a saving of 25 per cent N without affecting the yield. The highest yield was obtained when 100 per cent of recommended N was applied to the system. The treatments for the experiment to study the residual effect of concurrent growing of daincha in wet seeded rice were similar to that of dry seeded rice. The results showed that concurrent growing of daincha and its incorporation at 30 DAS was effective in increasing the yield of succeeding rice and sustaining soil fertility status compared to pure crop of rice receiving 5 t ha-1 of FYM and 100 per cent of the recommended nitrogen. The highest yield of succeeding rice was achieved only when it received 100 per cent of the recommended N hence there was no savings of N fertilizer to the succeeding transplanted rice crop. Concurrent growing of daincha in wet seeded rice increased the profitability of the rice- rice cropping system. Concurrent growing of green manure crops in dry and wet seeded rice is a management alternative to reduce the production cost and to increase the yield of rice and is a practical model for sustainable rice production.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Ecofriendly management of weeds in rice
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, 2008) Sindhu, P V; KAU; George Thomas, C