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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: Forestry × Author: Geo, Basil Paul × Author: KAU × End date: 2013 × Start date: 2013 × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Biomass and carbon sequestration in silver oak (Grevillea robusta A.cunn) stands in the midlands of Kerala
    (Department of Forest Management and Utilisation, College of Forestry, Vellanikkara, 2013) Geo, Basil Paul; KAU; Vidyasagaran, K
    The present study was conducted in College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara on biomass production and carbon sequestration potential of a 20-year-old Grevillea robusta A. Cunn. plantation standing in the midlands of Kerala. The study reveals the biomass production and productivity, volume production, nutrient export through harvest, and carbon allocation of the above plantation. The mean aboveground biomass production was 197.89 kg tree-1. Whereas on unit area basis it was 62.59 Mg ha-1.The percentage contribution of various components to AGB was in the order: stem wood > branch > leaves > twig. Diameter profoundly influenced the biomass production on per tree basis, whereas on unit area, it was influenced mainly by density. Equations were developed for predicting AGB and biomass components with respect to DBH alone, DBH and total height/bole height together. With respect to the DBH alone as independent variable, for the total AGB, stem, branch, twig the best fit equation was ln Y = a0 + a1* lnD. However, in leaves, the equation selected was ln Y = a0+ a1*lnD + a2*(lnD)2 with high R2 value and lowest Furnival index. For predicting the total volume and bole volume the best fit equation was ln Y = a0 + a1*D + a2*D2. Studies on nutrient dynamics revealed that (N P K) among the components, leaves had the maximum concentration of the nutrients and stem wood the lowest. The nutrient accumulation in various biomass components was found to be in the decreasing order: stem wood > leaves > branch > twig. The maximum nutrients accumulated in stem wood (169.32 kg tree-1) and minimum in twigs (3.94 kg tree-1). Among the nutrients, N accumulated maximum followed by K and P. Stands showed a greater accumulation of nutrients with high potential of nutrient export through harvest. The mean carbon concentration was found to be 46.58 per cent and among components, the leaf portion had the maximum concentration (48.36 %) of carbon and stem wood the lowest (45.67 %). The carbon sequestration potential of 20-year-old G. robusta plantation was 27744 kg ha-1.