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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
    Spatial arrangement and harvesting schedule in a Silvipastoral system
    (Department of Forestry, College of Forestry, Vellanikkara, 1988) Sunil, P L; KAU; Krishnan Nair, V R
    An experiment was conducted in the Social Forestry Plantation located at Viyoor, near Trichur from August 1987 to June 1988 to evaluate different spatical arrangements and harvesting schedules in a silvipastoral system. The crop components were subabul and guinea grass. The experiment, replicated thrice, was laid out in a factorial RBD with twenty treatments, involving five spatial arrangements and four harvesting schedules. The results revealed that subabul – guinea grass intercrop gave higher green fodder yields during the summer season compared to a sole crop of either species. Dry matter yields of 1.83 T and 9.36 T/ha/year were obtained from subabul and guinea grass, respectively. The spatical arrangement in which subabul was planted at 1.5 x 1.5 m spacing with five rows of guinea grass between two adjacent rows of subabul and the harvesting schedules in which subabul was harvested every second month and guinea grass 15 days earlier or later recorded higher green fodder yields. Percentage rate of increase in height of grass decreased with increasing light intensity, while tillering rate increased. Light intensity received during the experimental period steadily increased and the maximum lux readings were obtained between 12.20 and 14.20 MST. Soil chemical analysis conducted before and after the experimental period indicated that the organic carbon, available N and soil pH of the intercropped treatments increased significantly. This proved the soil ameliorating properties of subabul.