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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: Land and Water Management Engineering × Author: KAU × Start date: 1993 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Infilitration and water advance studies under surage flow furrow irrigation
    (Department of Land and Water Resources and Conservation Engineering, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology,Thavanur, 1993) Rema, K P; KAU; Xaviour Jacob, K
    Furrow irrigation necessitates the wetting of only a part of the surface of land, thus reducing evaporation losses, lessening the puddling of heavy soils and making it possible to cultivate the soil sooner after irrigation. Surge irrigation in furrows possesses the capability to increase irrigation efficiency, by ensuring water saving, better uniformity and reduced tail water losses in different soil and site conditions. To assess the suitability of the system for use in the sandy loam soils of Tavanur region, and to obtain suitable management parameters for surging in the area, a study was conducted at the Instructional Farm of KCAET, Tavanur. Continues flow was compared with surge flow of cycle ratios ½, 1/3 and 2/3 with cycle times 6.9 and 7.5 minutes for discharges of 1.3, 1.7, and 2.1 lps. Data of advance time, depth of flow and inflow-outflow measurements were collected during field irrigation runs. Surge flow in all cases advanced faster compared to continuous flow. For cycle ratio ½ the reduction in advance time ranged as 14.59, 22.8 and 14.77 per cent for the three discharge rates. In the case of cycle ratio 1/3, the reduction was 37.6, 41.94 and 38.01 per cent respectively, whereas for cycle ratio 2/3, the reduction was 34.29, 32.83 and 22.73 per cent respectively. Infiltration variability was lesser under surge flow and the values of infiltrated volume and infiltrated depth at various sections along the furrow length was lesser. Surging with cycle ratio 1/3 and a discharge of 1.3 lps showed the least variability in infiltrated depth and the greatest uniformity of application. Infiltration rate was found to decrease significantly along the length of the furrow and between consecutive surges. The lowest intake rate was obtained for surge flow of cycle ratio 1/3. Surging with cycle ratio 1/3, and a discharge of 1.3 lps required only 1.11 m3 of water to complete the advance. This was the least value compared to continuous flow and other surge flow cases. Analysis of variance of the volume required to complete the advance indicated significant difference between flow types at 5 per cent and 1 per cent levels. The variation between discharges was also significant at 5 per cent and 1 per cent levels. Thus surge flow proved advantageous compared to continuous flow in the sandy loam soils of Tavanur region and surging with cycle ratio 1/3 and a discharge of 1.3 lps was chosen as the best out of the selected treatments for the study.