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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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  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Temporal changes in the weather elements at Panangad region and their influence on the hydrography of a pond
    (Department of Fishery Hydrography, College of Fisheries, Panangad, 2004) Pronob Das; KAU; Raman, N N
    The present study was undertaken with a view to finding out the seasonal and diurnal changes of weather elements at Panangad region, seasonal and diurnal changes in the hydrographic parameters of a freshwater pond and finally to understand the possible influence of weather elements on hydrographic conditions of a pond during the four seasons viz. southwest monsoon season (June-September), post monsoon season (October-November), northeast monsoon season (December-February) and pre monsoon season (March-April) at the College of fisheries, Panangad, Cochin. Meteorological data were collected at 03 UTC (0830 IST) and 12 UTC (1730 IST) daily during the period from June 2003 to April 2004. Water samples were collected from a pond every fortnightly to analyse hydrographical parameters. To study the diurnal variation, 24-hour observation were taken at an interval of 3 hrs, once for each season. Meteorological observation includes air temperature, maximum temperature, minimum temperature, total rainfall, relative humidity, cloudiness, wind speed and direction. Hydrographic parameters like water temperature, pH, transparency, water level, total alkalinity, primary productivity, dissolved oxygen, nitrate, nitrite, phosphate and silicate were estimated. There was a considerable seasonal variation in water qualities. The surface temperature closely followed the air temperature and exhibits a clear double oscillation. Low pH values confined to the southwest monsoon period were due to heavy rainfall. pH showed a positive relation with air temperature. At higher temperature evaporation was more and water level decreased, which leads to the higher concentration of plankton bloom and low level of transparency. Presence of nutrient elements in optimum concentration and there by production of phytoplankton and algal bloom may be the possible reason for the high productivity during the northeast and pre monsoon periods. The low values of primary production during southwest monsoon period (June to September) and in October might be due to cloudy conditions before and during the sampling, which reduced light intensity, and along with incessant rains cut down production. The high concentration of alkalinity during pre monsoon may be due to decrease in water level due to evaporation. The effect of rainfall in decreasing bicarbonates is well known. Dissolved oxygen was at the highest level in ponds during colder months and was due to low temperature and intense photosynthetic activities. Subsequent fall of dissolved oxygen in pre monsoon period is attributed to the death and decay of plankton and presence of other organic matter. The plankton population in the pond was highest during the month of December/January to April, coinciding with the higher concentration of alkalinity and nutrients. Diurnal variations in water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, alkalinity and primary productivity were well marked. Among nutrients phosphate, nitrate and nitrite did not show any specific pattern, where as silicate concentration showed well-marked short-term variation in all seasons. Weather elements showed significant relationship with many hydrographical parameters and the variations might be due to the combined effects of all those factors. The influence may be direct or indirect. Among the weather elements the influence of air temperature and rainfall was most prominent. The seasonal and diurnal changes in weather elements were equally important for the changes in hydrographical parameters. Shallow water bodies quickly react to the changes in weather elements.