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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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Subject: Forest Product and Utilisation × Author: Gayathri Mukundan, KAU × End date: 2019 × Start date: 2019 × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Standardization of kiln seasoning schedule for coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) wood
    (Department of Forest Products and Utilization, College of Forestry,Vellanikkara, 2019) Gayathri Mukundan, KAU; Anoop, E V
    Coconut palm is a versatile and commercially important palm grown in the tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. Technological up gradation of the coconut wood processing methods can bring in improvement in quality of products and greater preference by the consumers. The purpose of the present study is to popularise the commercial value of coconut as a timber species through improved processing. This study titled aims at standardising kiln seasoning schedule for high and medium density coconut wood, which are mainly used for structural purposes. Drying is one of the most important processing techniques, because a proper drying process will be the main key to ensure high quality wood products. Freshly cut samples were collected from farmer’s plot and converted into desirable sizes. Pilodyn standardisation was done to sort the coconut wood into different density classes. The regression equation formulated for basic density and Pilodyn Penetration Depth (PPD) was Y= -0.02096 (X) + 1.077583, where Y is the density of coconut wood in g/cm3 and X is the PPD in millimetres. Fundamental physical properties of wood like moisture content, dimensional shrinkage and dimensional shrinkage were also studied. Moisture content of coconut palm wood across different density classes showed significant differences. The mean moisture content for high density wood was 52.76 per cent. Mean moisture content was 103.95 per cent for medium density coconut palm wood. In low density coconut palm wood, the moisture content averaged at 186.54 per cent. There was no significant difference in volumetric shrinkage across density classes. There was significant difference in the dimensional shrinkage between different density classes. Quick drying test was conducted in the laboratory in a hot air oven to study the degree and type of defects during drying. The major seasoning defects observed in coconut palm wood were surface cracking, end splitting, twisting, cupping and bowing. Defects were 2 graded according to Terasawa scale. Seasoning schedule treatments were determined for both high density and medium density wood. There were five treatments for high density coconut wood and three treatments for the medium density wood. Samples were given different seasoning schedule treatments in a convection kiln to determine the best treatment based on grading of defects. The best kiln conditions for high density wood were with initial Dry Bulb Temperature (DBT) of 45oC, final DBT of 80oC and initial Wet Bulb Depression (WBD) of 1.8oC. The best kiln conditions for medium density 72 wood were with initial Dry Bulb Temperature (DBT) of 49oC, final DBT of 80oC and initial Wet Bulb Depression (WBD) of 2 oC. The drying time for high density wood was 11 days whereas for medium density wood the drying time was 12 days in a convection kiln of 20 cubic meters. The regression equation for high density coconut wood is Y = (0.1335× X) + 11.737, where Y is the kiln drying time in days and X is the moisture content in percentage. The regression equation for the medium density coconut palm wood were Y = (-0.08503× X) + 11.0064. Air drying of coconut palm wood took 13 weeks for high density wood and 15 weeks for medium density wood to reach the equilibrium moisture content.