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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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20131
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Subject: Agronomy × End date: 2013 × Start date: 2013 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: Ph.D ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Geospatial analysis and soil nutrient dynamics of Rubber plantations in relation to growing environment
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2013) Shankar, Meti; KAU; Meera Bai, M
    Para rubber (Hevea brasiliensis Muell. Arg.) grown in varied soil and climate condition in traditional rubber growing regions of India. Variability in soil and climate influences performance of rubber and for this site specific management helps to increase input use efficiency and enhance crop production. Geospatial analysis under GIS environment helps to integrate soil and climate variability and identify the limitations and potential areas for enhancing the rubber production without horizontal expansion of rubber cultivation. Hence the present study was undertaken with the following objectives 1. To develop soil, climate, rubber area and rubber yield database to understand the variability of rubber productivity. 2. To prepare rubber distribution map and delineate productivity constraint area map of rubber in Kanaykumari and Kasargod. 3. To study the soil nutrient dynamics and phenology of rubber in different growing environments. Objectives of the present study were addressed by conducting two experiments. Under experiment I, two districts - Kanyakumari and Kasargod - were selected and identified 60 holdings in each district distributed over different Soil Management Unit (SMU). Recorded girth and Tapping Panel Dryness (TPD) observations and collected surface soil sample (0-30 cm) from identified holdings and analyzed for major nutrient and physical parameters. Using GPS reading developed holdings soil database and generated soil nutrient map and brought under GIS platform to identify the soil constraint areas. Water balance approach was followed to delineate climate constraint area in each district. Rubber distribution map was developed for each district using satellite image and overlayed with soil and climate constraint map to know the extent of rubber area under soil and climate constraint. Under experiment II, Kottayam district was selected for studying the soil nutrient dynamics of mature rubber plantation in relation to phenology and growing environment. Identified two holdings in each of three elevation classes; 0-100, 100-300 and > 300m. Collected surface soil samples and recorded rubber phenology at monthly interval. Soil samples were analyzed for pH, OC, nitrogen, exchangeable Al. Recorded annual litter fall and mineralization potential. Rainfall and temperature were recorded at one location in each of the three elevation classes. Mean soil OC, available P, K, Ca and Mg varied significantly between Kanyakumari and Kasargod district. Soil available P and K were significantly higher in Kanyakumari where as soil OC, available Ca and Mg were significantly higher in Kasargod. Within the district, soil OC, available P, K and Ca showed high spatial variability. Rainfall distribution was distinctly different in two districts. Well distributed rainfall with less dry period and long growing period was seen in Kanyakumari. In Kasargod rainfall was concentrated between June- September, as a result dry period was longer and growing period was shorter. During December to March period moisture stress level was more in Kasargod compared to Kanyakumari. Performance of rubber in terms of girth and rubber yield was better in Kanyakumari compared to Kasargod. Average per tree rubber yield (g/tree/tap) during dry period and annual yield per unit area (kg/ha/year) was significantly higher in Kanyakumari compared to Kasargod. Incidence of Tapping Panel Dryness (TPD) was significantly more in Kasargod compared to Kanyakumari. Leaf nutrient content showed balance level of N, P and K and deficiency of Ca and excess of Mg in Kanyakumari. In Kasargod leaf K was balanced, whereas Mg was in excess and deficiency of nutrient was in the order of P>Ca>N. Rubber showed a distinct signature compared to other vegetation. Satellite based rubber area was estimated with good accuracy and rubber area was comparable with ground statistics. Ovrelay analysis indicated that considerable extent of rubber area in Kanyakumari distributed over area without moisture stress but same was not seen in Kasargod. In general all rubber area in Kasargod comes under poor to very poor moisture adequacy during summer compared to only 48 per cent rubber area in Kanyakumari experienced poor moisture adequacy during summer. In Kanyakumari 28 per cent of rubber area distributed over low available P, medium in OC, K and high Ca and Mg followed by 18 per cent over area medium in OC, available P ,K and high in available Ca and Mg. In Kasargod, 61 per cent rubber area distributed over low available P, medium K and high in OC, available Ca and Mg. In Kanyakumari district soil cation (Ca and Mg), and soil OC factors showed significant relation with rubber growth and yield. In Kasargod only topography factor showed significant relation with rubber yield. In Experiment II rubber showed distinct phenological difference over elevation with rubber in high elevation showing early wintering compared to low elevation. Number of new leaf flushes was more in low elevation compared to high elevation. Annual litter addition did not vary along elevation; however rate of litter decomposition was slow at high elevation compared to low elevation. In general maximum and minimum temperature was low at high elevation where as no marked difference in quantity and distribution of rainfall was seen along elevation. Soil OC was significantly higher at high elevation compared to low elevation, but mineralization of soil OC and total N was significantly low at high elevation compared to low elevation. Peak soil total N was observed for short period at high elevation indicating the short growing period compared to low elevation. Wide gap between potential and actual NO3 and NH4 nitrogen at low elevation compared to high elevation indicated the loss at low elevation through leaching and denitrification. At low and medium elevation, rubber active growth stage coincided with peak N mineralization whereas peak rubber yield period coincided with low N mineralization. But at high elevation both active growth and peak yield coincided with peak N mineralization. At high elevation, climate factor showed significant positive relation with next month rubber yield indicating the climate limitation at high elevation. At low elevation, climate factor and soil reaction factor did not show significant relation with next month rubber yield indicating mineralization and climate are not limiting at low elevation.