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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 Integrated nutrient management for basmati rice(oryza sativa L) production(Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2007) Tulasi, T; Shalini Pillai, PA study entitled “Integrated nutrient management for basmati rice (Oryza sativa L.) production” was undertaken at the Cropping Systems Research Centre, Karmana, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, from September 2006 to January 2007, with the main objective of evaluating the relative efficiency of different integrated nutrient management practices on the yield and quality of basmati rice. The experiment was laid out in (4 x 2) + 2 Randomized Block Design with three replications. The treatments comprised two organic sources (M1- FYM, M2- FYM + neem cake) and four levels of inorganic substitution with organics (L1- 25 percent substitution, L2- 50 percent substitution, L3 - 75 percent substitution, L4 -100 percent substitution.) compared against two controls (absolute control, standard practice). The test variety was Pusa Basmati-1. The response of the growth characters (plant height, tiller count and LAI) was more pronounced with respect to the levels of substitution than the organic sources. Substituting the entire quantity of the standard dose of fertilizers (SDF) and 50 percent substitution of SDF with organics were more or less equally effective in boosting the vegetative growth of basmati rice. Between the two organic sources tried, the application of FYM and among the levels of substitution, 25 percent substitution recorded higher shoot biomass. The combined application of FYM + neem cake (M2) and 50 percent substitution of SDF with organics (L2) resulted in higher panicle biomass. The higher number of productive tillers, spikelets per panicle and a lower sterility percentage supported by substituting 50 percent of SDF with FYM + neem cake, reflected upon the grain yield also. This treatment combination was at par with the standard practice. Though the cooking properties were not influenced by INM, in general, the optimum cooking time was lower and the volume expansion and grain elongation ratios were higher at 50 percent substitution of SDF with organics. Integration of chemical fertilizers and organics maintained a higher crude protein and intermediate amylose content. The organoleptic test rankings were higher for 75 percent and 50 percent substitution with FYM + neem cake. Integrated nutrient management was observed to produce grains, which were as good as or even better than the market sample, with the respect to grain quality attributes studied. Application of FYM to the substitute chemical fertilizers resulted in higher uptake of nitrogen and potassium. The phosphorus uptake was maximum with 100 percent organic nutrition. The agronomic efficiency and apparent recovery efficiency of basmati rice improved significantly when 50 percent of the chemical fertilizers were applied as FYM + neem cake. This treatment was at par with the standard practice. The organic carbon, available nitrogen and available phosphorus status of the soil remained unaffected after the experiment. Application of FYM in conjunction with neem cake as a substitute for chemical fertilizers, improved the available potassium status of the soil. Considering organic sources tested, application of FYM was more remunerative than the combined application of FYM + neem cake. The effect of substitution on net income and BCR was not significant. Between the various treatment combinations including controls, the standard practice, 25 percent substitution of chemical fertilizers with FYM and 50 percent substitution fertilizers with FYM + neem cake were at par. The study indicated that the response of basmati rice to INM was at par with the standard practice. However, considering the multifaceted benefits of organics, on crop yield, quality and soil health, integrated nutrient management needs to be emphasized. Thus it could be concluded that, the treatment combination where in 50 percent of the standard dose of fertilizers was substituted with a combination of FYM and neem cake, was a better option than the application of chemical fertilizers alone for achieving higher yields and quality in basmati rice. Substituting the entire dose of chemical fertilizers with organics (L4) was found to improve the growth, yield, nitrogen use efficiency and nutrient uptake in basmati rice. The volume expansion and crude protein content were better at 100 percent organic nutrition. Thus the present study also revealed the possibility of adopting organic nutrition in basmati rice without any appreciable reduction in yield and quality.ThesisItem Open 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, MathewAn 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.ThesisItem Open Access Impact of long term integrated nutrient supply system on soil health and rice productivity(Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2007) Raji S, Prasad; KAU; Babu Mathew, TA field experiment was carried out in both kharif and rabi seasons during 2004-2005 at Cropping System Research station, Karamana to find out the effect of long term integrated nutrient supply system on soil health and productivity of rice ( Oryza sativa L) –rice sequential cropping system. The experiment was laid out in RBD with 12 treatments in 4 replications and treatments in kharif and rabi together form one set of treatment. The treatments included control , 50% ,75% and 100% levels of RDF in kharif and rabi and 50% or 25% substitution of recommended dose of nitrogen in kharif substituted by organic manure viz. FYM , crop residues and green manure. The treatments exerted profound influence in majority of growth characters and yield attributes. Application of 25% or 50% substitution of RDF through organic manure along with 75% or 100% RDF in rabi through chemicals produced remarkable influence in growth and yield attributes. In grain and straw yield of rabi and kharif , the highest values were given by those treatments which supplied either 50% or 25% of RDF through FYM or crop residues in kharif and 100% or 75% of RDF through inorganic fertilizers in rabi .Since these treatments were on par with each other, the best treatment is that which supply 25% RDF through organic manure in kharif and 75% of RDF through inorganic fertilizers in rabi since25% of the chemical fertilizers are saved there. The highest NPK contents in grain and straw in both kharif and rabi were recorded and mostly in those treatments with 50% or 25% of RDF through organic manures in kharif along with 100% or 75% of RDF through in organics in rabi The highest NPK uptake in all the crop stages in both kharif and rabi were also higher observed in plots those receive 50% or 25% of RDF through organic manures in kharif along with 100% or 75% of RDF through in organics in rabi The soil available P and K values did not vary remarkably in both Kharif and rabi .However soil available nitrogen in soil varied profoundly before and after rabi seasons and the maximum available nitrogen was observed before rabi in those plots which supply 25% RDF through crop residues in kharif and 100% RDF through chemical fertilizers in rabi and 50% RDF through green manure in kharif and 100% RDF through chemical fertilizers in rabi. The physical properties like bulk density and water holding capacity were also significantly influenced by the treatments before and after the experiment in which lower bulk density values were exhibited by organics applied plots in kharif and they also showed significantly higher water holding capacity compared to those treatments which were supplied with organic matter in kharif . Soil chemical properties like organic carbon and CEC remarkably improved in organic manure applied plots along with inorganics in rabi. The population count studies of bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes revealed the positive influence of the collective application of organic matter and inorganic fertilizers on soil biological properties and its subsequent influence on soil health when compared with control. As per the economic analysis of the cultivation the maximum benefit cost ratio was exhibited by the treatment which received 25% of RDF in kharif through crop residues and 75% of RDF through in organics in rabi .ThesisItem Open Access Sulphur-zinc interaction in integrated nutrient supply system of wetland rice ( Oryza sativa L.)(Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2007) Vipin, K S; KAU; Shahul Hammed, S MAn experiment was conducted at Cropping Systems Research Centre (CSRC), Karamana, Thiruvananthapuram during rabi season of 2005-06 to study the response of wetland rice to sulphur and zinc under integrated nutrient condition using the variety Aiswarya. The experiment was laid out in factorial randomized block design with three replications. The treatments consist of combinations of two levels of nitrogen (N), three levels of sulphur (S) and two levels of ZnSO4 (Z) along with two controls (zero level of fertilizer treatment and Package of Practice recommendation treatment). Recommended dose of nitrogen applied as 100 per cent inorganic (N1) and 50 per cent N applied equally as organic-inorganic integration (N2) constitutes the N levels. Sulphur applied @ 10 kg ha-1 (S1), 20 kg ha-1 (S2) and 30 kg ha-1 (S3) were the three sulphur levels. The two ZnSO4 fertilizer levels are10 kg ZnSO4 ha-1 (Z1) and 20 kg ZnSO4 ha-1 (Z2) and farmyard manure @ 5 t ha-1 was applied uniformly to all treatments. Results of the experiment revealed that the main effects of nitrogen, sulphur and ZnSO4 as well as their combinations exerted positive significant influence on the growth and yield attributing characters of rice. Organic- inorganic integration (N1) significantly influenced growth characters like plant height, tiller number hill-1, leaf area index and dry matter production and yield character like number of panicles hill-1 and yield while higher sulphur (S3) level upto 30 kg ha-1 were found significantly superior in influencing all growth, yield attributing characters and yield of rice to lower level (S1). ZnSO4 @ 20 kg ha-1 (Z1) recorded significantly higher plant height, tiller number hill-1 leaf area index, number of panicles hill-1, weight of panicle, filled grains panicle-1 and yield of rice. Treatment combinations also significantly influenced most of the growth, yield attributing characters and yield of rice compared to controls. Chlorophyll content was significantly influenced by S application only. Nutrient uptake was also influenced by treatments and their combinations. Organic- inorganic integration (N1) significantly favoured the uptake of N, P, K, S and Zn while S application at higher levels contributed significantly to uptake of N, S and Zn. Uptake of N, S and Zn was significantly influenced with higher level of ZnSO4 @ 20 kg ha-1 (Z2). Combination of S @ 30 kg ha-1 along with ZnSO4 @ 20 kg ha-1 produced highest uptake of Zn. Available N and K exhibited significant variation with combined use of both organic and inorganic source of nitrogen. Available nutrient status of N, K, S and Zn was significantly increased by S application at higher levels. Again, there was increase in availability of S and Zn content of the soil with higher level of ZnSO4 (20 kg ha-1) application. N X S and S X Zn interactions also played significant role in increasing available N and S content of soil. Treatment combinations recorded significantly better results in uptake and availability of nutrients compared to control treatments. Highest benefit cost ratio was recorded by a combination of S @ 30 kg ha-1 + ZnSO4 @ 20 kg ha-1 along with full recommended dose of N as inorganic fertilizer.ThesisItem Open Access Evaluation of potha grass (Themeda cymbaria (Roxb) Hack) for fodder production and quality(Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2007) Praveen, A; KAU; George Thomas, TPotha grass (Themeda cymbaria (Roxb.) Hack.) is a native fodder grass grown in parts of central Kerala. The present investigation was undertaken to have an understanding on the phenology, growth characteristics, fodder production potential and nutritive quality of T.cymbaria. Comparisons were made with Guinea grass (Panicum maximum) cv. Makueni. The experiments were conducted at the Agronomy Research Farm of College of Horticulture, Kerala Agricultural University Vellanikkara during 2006– 2007. The phenological and growth characteristics were noted during the year 2006-07. P.maximum started flowering at the beginning of January and continued up to July 2007. It took one month from flowering to seed maturity. However, no phenological events related to flowering were observed in T.cymbaria during the experimental period. Growth was comparatively fast in P.maximum than T.cymbaria. Plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, leaf weight, stem weight and dry matter production per plant were the highest in P.maximum during all the growth stages. Similarly, growth indices like leaf area ratio (LAR), specific leaf area (SLA), leaf area duration (LAD), relative growth rate (RGR), absolute growth rate (AGR) and net assimilation rate (NAR) showed higher values in P.maximum than T.cymbaria. However, the value of leaf weight ratio (LWR) was higher in T.cymbaria than P.maximum. Both grasses showed a decline in growth during summer season. However, with the onset of monsoon, both grasses performed well. The fodder production potential of T.cymbaria was compared with Guinea grass cv. Makueni under irrigated and rainfed conditions by harvesting the herbage at 30, 45, and 60 days intervals. Growth characters like plant height, number of leaves, leaf weight, stem weight and leaf area index (LAI) were found to be higher in P.maximum than T.cymbaria. The green and dry fodder yields at the end of the experimental period of 10 months from planting indicated a clear yield advantage for Guinea grass over Potha grass. Between irrigated and rainfed grasses, although there were yield differences at some stages of cutting, total yields showed no significant difference. The highest green and dry fodder yields were recorded in irrigated Guinea grass. Regarding cutting intervals, 45 days cutting interval performed better compared to 30 and 60 days intervals. From yield point of view, Poth grass may not be comparable with Guinea grass. However, Potha grass could be recommended as a soil conservation grass as it did not show any flowering and seed formation. Growth during the dry period was also normal. It could be an ideal alternative as a soil conservation grass for farmers who also rear livestock, instead of the usually recommended non-edible Vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides). Nutrient aspects like crude protein, ether extract, nitrogen free extract, ash, phosphorus, magnesium, and oxalate contents of both grasses were found to be similar under irrigated and rainfed conditions at different cutting intervals. However, crude fibre content was higher in Potha grass, while potassium and calcium contents were higher in Guinea grass. From nutrient point of view, there is hardly any difference between the two grasses. Potha grass can replace Guinea grass in feeding with the same quality.ThesisItem Open Access Performance of summer crops in rice fallows and its effect on succeeding transplanted rice(Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2009) Shrikant P, Golabhavi; KAU; Latif, P HA field experiment entitled “Performance of summer crops in rice fallows and its effect on succeeding transplanted rice” was taken up at the Cropping systems research station, Karamana, Thiruvananthapuram during February 2008 to October 2008 that covered the summer (third crop) and virippu (the first crop) seasons of rice cultivation. The main objectives of the experiment was study the performance of different upland crops in the summer rice fallows of southern Kerala in terms of resource utilisation, yield, soil health and carry over effect on succeeding rice crop, and to arrive at a sound practice of summer rice fallow utilization. The experiment was laid out in a randomised block design with three replication and seven treatments (T1 - Control or summer rice fallow, T2 - Sweet potato, T3 - Pumpkin, T4 - Sesamum, T5 - Amaranthus, T6 – Cowpea and T7 - Daincha) which were followed by rice crop in the virippu season. Al the crops were raised as par the KAU package of practices recommendations. Results of the study revealed that there was a significant variation in the composition of weed flora of summer crops and the succeeding rice crop. The associated weed species of summer crop also varied significantly. Cowpea (T6) being grown on pandal had no weed separation effect and hence had the higher WDMP and SDR. Amaranthus (T5) recorded the highest economic yield and rice yield equivalent, water productivity, net profit and B:C ratio. However, sweet potato (T2) recorded the highest energy yield per unit area and highest nutrient uptake of macro and micro nutrients. The nutrient balance sheet showed a general negative balance for N and P except for sweet potato (T2) and Daincha (T7) where as K showed a negative balance for all treatments. The succeeding rice crop was not significantly influenced by the summer crops with respect to yield and yield attributes. The post rice soil was left less acidic by pumpkin-rice sequence, where as Daincha-rice significantly increased the soil acidity. The post rice soil significantly varied in the available P and K with the highest value noted in Amaranthus-rice (T5). Significantly higher quantity of Zn was recorded in Daincha-rice (T7).ThesisItem Open Access Standardisation of organic manures and effect of microbial inoculants on growth, yield and quality of kasthuri turmeric(Curcuma aromatica Salisb.)(Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2009) Nirmalatha, J D; KAU; Sulekha, G RThesisItem Open 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