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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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20191
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Subject: Farm, Machinery and Power × Author: Amrutha, K × Start date: 2000 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Studies on the effect of active tillage tools soil properties
    (Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 2019) Amrutha, K; KAU; Shivaji, K P
    Three active tillage implements; rotavator, power harrow and spading machine were tested in three fields at various engine speeds in order to study the tilth produced by these implements. It was observed that the suitability of an implement was changed according to the soil properties considered. Power harrow and spading machine can be recommended for getting lower bulk density, whereas rotavator and power harrow were suitable for higher soil pulverization and soil inversion. The deeper operating depth can be achieved by the usage of spading machine. Rotavator consumed less fuel and lower operating cost per unit area. The soil tilths obtained by these implements were compared using value of tillage performance index and ranking by grey relational mialysis. In both the cases rotavator was found to be better compared to others. The cost of operation, energy requirements and time of operation of the tillage implements showed that lower values of Rs. 3300, 827.91 MJ and 3.03 hours per hectare were observed in operation of rotavator followed by power harrow, Rs. 4500, 1029.68 MJ and 4.76 hours, and higher values of Rs. 7900, 1686.10 MJ, 9.09 hours were found in spading machine respectively. The implements were operated in multiple passes on the same field to study the variations in tillage quality. Two pass of rotavator, two pass of power harrow and three pass operation of spading machine were found to be similar based on the soil properties. The respective ratios of cost, energy and time expenditure were obtained as 1 : 1.33 : 2.93, 1 : 1.42 : 3.43 and 1 : 1.18 : 2.41 for rotavator, power harrow and spading machine. While considering in the point of view of grey relational ranking and tillage performance index, rotavator operation was found best. The cost and energy analysis of the operations also have computed. It also indicated rotavator has the best results. The spading machine can be used for fields which need higher operating depth, even though it's operating cost and time of operation were higher.