Thumbnail Image

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.

Browse

20196
Reset filters
Subject: Farm, Machinery and Power × Author: KAU × End date: 2019 × Start date: 2019 ×
Reset filters

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 6 of 6
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Investigations for the development of electrostatic pollinator
    (Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 2019) Rinju lukose; KAU; Dhalin, D
    The problems in fruit setting with artificial pollination (contact type) can eradicate by the application of electrostatic forces (non - contact pollen collection and deposition), hence the study was undertaken to develop an electrostatic pollinator. Anagha variety of tomato and Preethi variety of bitter gourd were selected. Morphological characteristics of these flowers were studied for design of pollinator. A high voltage amplification unit with flyback transformer and MOSFET, a spherical shaped electrode and a DC input source were the major components of the electrostatic pollinator. The pollen collection capacity of two electrodes E1 (10 mm) and E2 (7.5 mm) were evaluated at voltage potentials of 3 kV, 4 kV, 5 kV and 6 kV at 5 mm, 10 mm and 15 mm distance from the anther tip of flower. The maximum number of pollens (409 for tomato and 2827 for bitter gourd) was collected by electrode E1 with a charging potential of 6 kV at 5 mm distance, both in case of tomato and bitter gourd. This high pollen collection rate was due to high detaching forces acting on the pollen grains at shorter distance between the anther tip and electrode. The pollen collection capacity was minimum (87 for tomato and 1227 for bitter gourd) for electrode E2 with an electrode potential of 3 kV at 15 mm distance. Pollens were deposited into the flower using the two electrodes (E1 and E2) at voltage potential of 1 kV, 3 kV and 6 kV at 5 mm distance from the tip of stigma. The fruit set efficiency of electrostatic pollination in tomato was 80% and artificial manual pollination was 40%. In bitter gourd, fruit set efficiency of electrostatic pollination and artificial pollination was 100%. But damage of stigma during hand pollination caused reduction in size, weight and number of sound seeds.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Design development and testing of a power operated paddy hill seeder
    (Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 2019) Bandi Nageswar; KAU; Manoj Mathew
    Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is important leading food crop and it is widely cultivated in India. The farmers are facing problems due to lack of labour, time, inputs cost and also due to drudgery in work. Nevertheless, mechanization in paddy cultivation can boost higher productivity and considerably reduce the cost of production. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to design and develop a power operated paddy hill seeder in paddy cultivation. The power operated paddy hill seeder was developed and tested based on the, engineering and physical properties of dry and pre-germinated paddy seeds. The tests were conducted on sand bed to evaluate the seed metering mechanism performance with respect to spacing, seed rate, quality of feed index, multiple index, miss index, and seed damage at two different forward speeds (1.5 and 1.8 km h-1), two cell sizes and three transmission speeds (1:1.7, 1:1.2 and 1:0.95). The mean hill to hill spacing was ranged from 0.09-0.20 m, 3 to 7 seeds per hill, seed rate of 21-58 kg ha-1. The missing index and multiple indexe were less for the different combinations of study parameters (speed 1.5 kmph, cell size 9 mm, Transmission ratio 1:1.7), (Speed 1.8 kmph, Cell size 9 mm, Transmission ratio 1:1.7) and (Speed 1.8 kmph, Cell size 12 mm, Transmission ratio 1:1.7). The quality feed index were 86.1, 88.6 and 91.1 respectively for above sequence of combinations of study parameters. The average field capacity of the paddy hill seeder was 0.22 ha h-1 and 0.26 ha h-1 with efficiency of 80.00% and 76.00 % for forward speeds of 1.5 and 1.8 kmph respectively. Based on the performance evaluation results, it is concluded that the developed power operated paddy hill seeder is economical and efficient for direct sowing of paddy.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Design and development of a multipurpose tool carrier for homestead agriculture
    (Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 2019) Arya, K T; KAU; Shaji James
    Homesteads lack appropriate machinery that suits their diverse requirements. Homestead agriculture warranted an affordable and versatile powered multipurpose tool carrier capable of improving the efficiency of human power. Hence development of a MPTC powered by the engine of a 1.5 kW backpack brush cutter which is commonly available in farming households was under taken so as to avoid the requirement of different implements and power sources for different operations. Main components of MPTC were support frame along with handle, transmission systems with gear reduction units which converted 9340 rpm of the engine to 226 rpm with necessary transmission shafts and transportation wheels. Tools developed as attachments to MPTC were rotary tiller/weeder for vegetable crops, paddy weeding attachment, surface pulveriser cum two-row vegetable weeder, horizontal auger for coconut basin listing and vertical auger for digging pits. The multipurpose tool carrier with its different attachments was tested in fields with moisture contents ranging from 10 to 30%. From the field evaluation of rotary weeding attachment, it was found that the depth of cut was 3-5 cm and the average weeding efficiency was 90.07%. The fuel consumption, field efficiency, average weeding efficiency and average plant damage in the case of paddy weeder were 0.675 l h-1, 66.4%, 71.09% and 4.87%, respectively. Surface pulveriser cum two-row vegetable weeder attachment for row crop vegetables gave an average weeding efficiency of 80.27% with a fuel consumption of 1.64 l h-1 and a field capacity of 0.024 ha h1. Coconut basin lister could make 14-25 shallow basins per hour based on soil conditions. Earth auger could dig 8 pits with a maximum depth of 45 cm and 15 cm diameter. Total cost of fabrication of different attachments with MPTC was Rs.35640/-.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Development and testing of potting mixture Filling machine for filling grow bags
    (Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 2019) Amal Dev, J; KAU; Jayan, P R
    Grow bag cultivation is getting popular in our state due to urbanisation. It necessitated easy method of filling grow bags as per the favourable agronomic conditions for crop growth. A grow bag filling machine was hence developed and tested for filling grow bags of different size. The machine was developed by modifying the KAU manure pulverizer by suitably fixing a collecting hopper beneath the sieve, grow bag holders attached to one leg of the stand for holding different bags and pedal for controlling the filling. The machine consists of an electric motor, a feeding chute, pulverizing drum, transmission unit, rotating blades, sieve and a supporting stand. Materials were pulverized and mixed due to rotations of the blade which caused the cutting and shearing actions and got pulverized in the clearance between the blade and the sieve. The grow bag mixture was discharged through the sieve and got collected in the bottom hopper. A pedal operated valve was inserted into the small hopper to facilitate metered discharge of the potting media. As and when it is allowed to open a metered quantity of the mixture was discharged into the grow bags placed below it. The machine was tested to determine its performance and to optimize the machine parameters and material parameters at different moisture contents of 10,15,20,25 and 30 percent, clearances of 15, 20 and 25 mm, two ratios of soil: coir pith: FYM as 1:1:1 and 1:0.5:1 mixture and for three bag sizes of small medium and large. Dried soil, coir pith and FYM get pulverized, mixed and filled in the grow bags. The properties of grow bag mixtures obtained were found out and were on par with the ideal recommendations. The properties such as water holding capacity (165.02 percent), bulk density (0.493 g.cm-3), porosity (65.43 percent), fineness modulus (5.31), angle of repose (46.66º), pH (6.76), electrical conductivity (2.19 dS.m-1) and uniformity of mixture were observed at the ratio 1:1:1 (S:C:FYM) at the moisture content of 15 percent. Performance parameters such as weight of bags filled (6.18 kg) time of operation (230 s), capacity of the machine (385 kg.h-1), number of bags filled (63) and energy consumption (0.31 kWh for four bags) were obtained with an overall efficiency of 97.70 percent. The cost of grow bag filling machine is Rs.49500. The hourly cost of operation for the machine is calculated as Rs.357. The analysis of the results indicated that the performance of the machine was optimum for filling large grow bags at 15 percent moisture content at the ratio S: C: FYM as 1:1:1 for all clearances.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Department and testing a power operated pre-germinated paddy seed broadcaster
    (Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 2019) Sreedhara, B; KAU; Manoj Mathew
    Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is important leading food crop and it is widely cultivated in India. The farmers are facing problems due to lack of labour, time, inputs cost and also due to drudgery in work. Nevertheless, mechanization in paddy cultivation can boost higher productivity and considerably reduce the cost of production. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to develop and evaluate the performance of a battery operated pre-germinated broadcaster in paddy cultivation. The power operated pre-germinated paddy seed broadcaster was developed and tested based on the, engineering and physical properties of dry and pre-germinated paddy seeds. The performance parameters of paddy seed broadcaster were the application rate, coefficient of variation, skewness ratio and uniformity coefficient of distribution. The maximum application rate of 149.02 kg ha"' was observed for the treatment Q2S201 in single pass. The minimum application rate of 0.14 kg ha"' was observed for the treatment Q2S201 in single pass. In multiple pass the maximum and minimum application rate of 182.52 kg ha"' and 47.05 kg ha"' were observed for the treatments Q2S101 and Q2S202 for three meter spacing of seven meter effective swath width. The maximum skewness ratio was about 101% for the treatment QlSlOl in single pass. The minimum skewness ratio observed was about 48% for the treatment Q2S102. The minimum coefficient of variation observed was about 57.15 % for the treatment Q1S201 in single pass. The minimum coefficient of variation of about 8.19% was observed for the treatment Q1S102 for four meter spacing application rate. The average effective field capacity and field efficiency for four meter was about 0.59 ha hr"' and 65% for six-meter effective swath width at walking speed of 1.5 km ha"'. The savings in cost and time for battery powered centrifugal broadcaster about 76.34% and 78.88% compared to manual broadcasting. From the perfonnance evaluation test, it was concluded that the battery operated centrifugal paddy seed broadcaster can perform paddy seed broadcasting operation efficiently and economically.
  • Thumbnail Image
    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.