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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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ThesisItem Open 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, KFurrow 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.ThesisItem Open Access Effect of land use on water yield from small agricultural watersheds of western ghats(Department of Land and Water Resources and Conservation Engineering, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 1993) Abdul Hakkim, V M; KAU; Xaviour Jacob, KEffect of deforestation and other land use changes brought about by human activities of hydrologic cycle continues to be of great concern. A study was conducted to assess the effect of land use on water yield from small agricultural watersheds of Western Ghats of Kerala. Four small watersheds planted with cashew, rubber, coffee and tea were selected for the study. To get information regarding rainfall, temperature, humidity and daily evaporation; raingauges, thermometers and USWB class A Pan evaporimeters were installed in each watershed. The runoff which is of specific concern was measured using stage level recorders along with weirs and flumes. Infiltration measurements were done using double cylinder infiltrometers. Soil samples were collected from each watershed and were analysed for grain size distribution, soil pH and organic carbon content. Different geomorphological characteristics of the watersheds were also worked out. Analysis of rainfall and runoff data indicated that nearly 50 per cent of the total rain fall leaves these watersheds as runoff except in the case of rubber watershed. The infiltration studies indicated that all these watersheds have high infiltration rates even after saturation, thereby absorbing even the most intense storms of the study period. From the hydrograph analysis of these watersheds it was observed that the hydrographs attain a sharp peak immediately as the rainfall and there is a baseflow which is folowing through the 3 watersheds, except in the case of rubber watershed. The rubber watershed is very small and lies adjacent to the Kuttiadi reservoir. The interflow from the rubber watershed was observed to join the reservoir avoiding the measuring channel. From the soil profile analysis of Western Ghat region it was observed that there is an impermeable clay layer lying below the laterite having an average thickness of 3.5 m located at 7 to 10.5 m below the ground surface. The results of the study leads to the conclusion that the infiltrated rain water meets the impermeable layer and there it flows laterally through the soil. This lateral interflow reaches the valley portion of the watersheds where it saturates the soil. This saturated area acts like an impervious layer producing 100 per cent surface runoff and it is responsible for the sharp peak of hydrographs. Runoff is generated from these source areas and Hortanian overland flow is a rare phenomenon in these watersheds. Thus from the study it was concluded that land use has no significant effect on water yield from the selected small agricultural watersheds of Western Ghats of Kerala.ThesisItem Open Access Mathematical model for sediment yield in agricultural watershed(Department of Land and Water Resources and Conservation Engineering, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 1998) Babu, V; KAU; Remadevi, A NThe knowledge of temporal distribution of sediment yield is required in the design and operation of soil and water conservation programmes on watershed basis. For the project planning purposes, the estimates made are mostly based on experience. Such estimates are very approximate and grossly inadequate for engineering analysis. Therefore there is an urgent need for , rational analysis of erosion data from catchments, inorder to obtain relationship for erosion rate. Therefore a mathematical daily sediment yield model is developed for Thuthapuzha drainage basin (940 km2 ) of Bharathapuzha basin, corresponding to Muskingum routing equation. The model is based on combined approach of translation and routing for simulating sediment graphs. Thirty seven selected storm events of the drainage basin observed during 1986- 92 are used for estimation of model parameters by Lagrange multipliers method and three storm events of 1993 are used for verification of the model. The model is used to compute temporal distribution of suspended sediment yield on storm basis and their performance is evaluated both qualitatively and quantitatively. Mathematical relationships of mobilized ~ sediment with effective rainfall; computed sediment flow rates with observed sediment flow rates and observed and computed sediment flow with effective rainfall and mobilized sediment were also established. The Correlation Coefficient of all those equations are found to be close to one. The statistical measures of Percentage Absolute Error in peak sediment flow rates, Absolute Prediction Error, Integral Square Error, Correlation Coefficient and Coefficient of Efficiency of the model are obtained as 3.9934, 9.0007, 5.3286, 0.9951 and 0.9659 respectively. The study reveals that the developed model is a very effective tool in the real time forecasting of sediment yield in Thuthapuzha drainage basin.ThesisItem Open Access Simulation studies on different design parameters of spurs (Groynes)(Department of Land and Water Resources and Conservation Engineering, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 1995) Roy, Mathew; KAU; Xavior Jacob, KThe Use of spurs as river training measure has proved to be an effective means of protecting river bank and their design requires indepth knowledge about its parameters related to the solution of a specific river training problem. To analyse various design parameters of spurs, a simulation study was conducted at KERI,Peechi. Characteristics such as flow pattern, velocity distribution and scour pattern was analysed for different spur lengths 25 cm, 35 cm, 45 cm and 55 cm, spur angles 900, 1000, 1100 and 1200, spur spacings 2L, 3L, 4L and 5L and for discharge rates 14.14 1ps, 28.28 1 ps and 42.42 1 ps. Single spur and multiple spur scheme were tested on rigid as well as mobile bed condition. The analysis of the obtained flow pattern, velocity distribution and scour pattern reveals that the specified design parameters have a significant effect on flow diversion, length of bank protected, maximum scour depth at the spur nose, percentage increase in velocity at opposite bank etc. The analysis of the present study also led to conclusion that L/B ratio of 0.19, spure angle of 900 was the best combination for single spur study and the same with a spacing of 5L was most effective for multiple spur scheme.ThesisItem Open Access Design fabrication and testing of a rainfall simulator(Department of Land and Water Resources and Conservation Engineering, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 1993) Kurien, E K; KAU; George, T PRainfall simulators are considered as effective aids in soil conservation research. Simulators make it possible to produce predetermined storms at any desired time and location. A rainfall simulator suitable for soil erosion studies was designed and fabricated at KCAET Tavanur. The developed simulator was tested for its performance. Erosion studies on laterite soil was conducted using the developed simulator. The rainfall simulator designed and fabricated was of an oscillating, tubing tip type. The crop former unit consisted of 112 numbers of 18 gauge hypodermic needles fitted on a 1.8 cm GI pipe network. The speed of oscillation was 8 oscillations per minute. The drop former unit was supported at a height of 3 cm above ground level. Intensity of rainfall was varied by changing the pressure of water supply to the simulator. The simulator was tested for intensity, droplet size and uniforimity of application of the rainfall produced. The intensity of rainfall was related to the pressure of water supply as 1 = 6.0386 – 31.9152 P + 177.30 P2 The drop size obtained was 2.31 mm for an intensity of 4.77 cm/hr and the corresponding drop sizes for intensities of 5.60, 6.73, 6.99 and 8.80 cm/hr were 2.20, 2.18, 1.05 and 0.80 m respectively. Christiansen’s uniformity coefficients calculated for intensities ranging from 4.77 to 8.80 cm/hr varied from 82 to 88 per cent. Experiments were also conduced to study soil loss and runoff from laterite soil. The soil loss increased with the intensity of rainfall for all the slopes studied. Maximum soil loss of 1464 kg/ha/hr occurred from a slope 20 per cent at a rainfall intensity of 8.80 cm/hr. A general trend of increase in soil loss with slope was observed. At an intensity of 8.80 cm/hr the soil loss from 5 per cent slope was 940.2 kg/ha/hr whereas the soil loss from 20 per cent slope was 1464 kg/ha/hr for the same intensity. At 5.60 cm/hr intensity of rainfall the runoff from a slope of 5 per cent was 325.33 m3 /ha/hr whereas the runoff was 432 m3 /ha/hr at 6.73 cm/hr intensity for the same slope. Empirical equations were developed for estimating soil erosion and runoff for various intensities of rainfall and land slopes. The equations are : 1. E = -982.384 + 2834.63 S + 225.239 1 (R = 0.94) 2. Q = -216.174 + 1104.65 S + 79.375 1 (R = 0.92)ThesisItem Open Access Effect of different tillage methods on percolation loss in rice fields(Department of Land and Water Resources and Conservation Engineering, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 1993) Mini, P K; KAU; George, T PWater loss by deep percolation constitutes a major part of the total water loss from the rice fields. Puddling is widely carried out in rice field to create favourable soil condition for the growth of rice plant and to reduce the loss of water through percolation. An experiment was conducted in sandy loam soil to determine the effect of different tillage methods on percolation loss of water and to evaluate their effect on grain yield. The treatments choosen for the study were puddling with power tiller, puddling with tractor cage wheel, puddling with animal drawn puddler (TNAU helical blade type), compaction using roller and puddling with country plough along with planking (control). The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with five replications. Seedlings of short duration rice variety ‘triveni’ were used for transplanting. The daily water loss from the experimental plots was measured using field hook guage. The water loss through percolation was obtained by subtracting the evapotranspiration from the total water requirement. The mean water requirement was highest in the plots puddle with country plough (1609.3mm) and was lowest in the plots puddled with tractor cage wheel (1510.3mm). The percolated water constitute 62 per cent and 64.34 per cent of the total water requirements in the plots puddled with tractor cage wheel and country plough respectively. The lowest mean percolation of 936.12 mm was recorded in the plots puddle with tractor cage wheel. It was followed by puddling with power tiller (949.92 mm), compaction using roller (966.02mm), puddling with animal drawn puddler (1025.02mm) and puddling with country plough (1035.12mm). However, the treatments did not differ significantly regarding the loss of water through percolation. The percentage variation of the percolated water for the different treatments over the control was maximum (17.66 per cent) during the vegetative phase. The variation from the control decreased during the latter two stages and was minimum during the ripening stage (3.89 per cent). The plots puddle with tractor cage wheel recorded the highest yield (11.26 kg/plot) compared to other treatments. The water use efficiency varied from 15.68 kg/ha-cm (puddling with country plough) to 18.64 kg/ha-cm (puddling with tractor cage wheel). The yield and water use efficiency also did not differ significantly among the treatments. The reason for the insignificant among the treatments regarding the loss of water through percolation, yield and water use efficiency could be attributed to the sandy loam nature of the soil since the response of rice plant to various tillage methods depends up on soil texture. It is known that the surface soil aggregates play a major role in controlling the infiltration rate of soil. Since the soil in the experimental field consists of 10 per cent gravel, 65 per cent sand, 12.5 per cent silt and 12.5 per cent clay, the amount of finer particles available for clogging of pores and surface seal development are less in these type of soil, which might be the reason for the treatments not showing any significant variation in the water loss through percolation. From the study undertaken, it was concluded that different tillage methods have no effect in light textured soil in controlling the loss of water through percolation.ThesisItem Open Access Effect of different types of mulches on growth and yield of drip irrigated vegetables(Department of Land and Water Resources and Conservation Engineering, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 1997) Gilsha Bai, E B; KAU; Jobi V PaulThe present project was to study the effect of drip irrigation along with two colours of plastic mulching on the growth and yield of summer season vegetable. Two types of irrigation methods, drip and surface, and two colours of plastic mulches, black and transparent, were used in the experiment. Three levels of irrigation water, v, 0.8V and 0.6V volume, were applied in drip treatments. Mulches increased the soil temperature. High soil temperature was developed under transparent mulch compared to black mulch. Black mulch increased the soil temperature in the root zone by 3 to 4°C compared to non-mulched plots. This increase in soil temperature under the black mulch was advantageous to the crop. Presence of mulch sheet over the soil reduced the evaporation from the soil. Hence, moisture depleted from the non-mulched plots were more than mulched plots. Water saving obtained by the use of plastic mulch was about 30 to 35% in the different treatments. Black mulched and non-mulched treatments did not show significant difference in the plant height. Maximum plant height was observed in the non-mulched drip irrigated treatment with O. BV volume of water. Maximum plant spread was observed in the surface irrigated black mulch treatment. Surface irrigated treatments gave more plant spread than drip irrigated treatments. Use of mulch sheets reduced the weed growth in the field. Practically, there was no need of weeding from the plastic mulched plots. Earlier flowering and maturity of fruits were observed in the mulched plots. All treatments with black mulch increased the yield compared to the control. Treatment with black mulch and drip irrigation with O.BV volume of water gave 76.5% more yield than the control. Most of the treatments with transparent mulch reduced the yield. This reduction in yield was due to the high soil temperature developed under the transparent mulch. Yield was increased with the soil temperature upto an optimal level of about 46°C and then decreased with the increase in soil temperature. In drip method O.BV volume of irrigation water level was the best. It gave highest yield and growth in mulched as well as non-mulched treatments. Drip irrigation along with mulching in summer vegetable can reduce the cost of cultivation through efficient water management. Also the area of cultivation can be increased with the available water in the water scarce areas.ThesisItem Open Access Laboratory studies on soil moisture flow and runoff generation in laterite soil(Department of Land and Water Resources and Conservation Engineering, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 1998) Roshni, Sebastian; KAU; Noble, AbrahamIf land and water are to be put to the best use, a full understanding of soil- water relation is necessary. Much of the research on retention and movement of water in soil and the use of water by plants is done with this objective. Modelling of water movement in soils requires knowledge of hydraulic conductivity as a function of volumetric water content or soil water pressure head, and the soil water retention curve. Laterite soils are by far the most important group occurring in Kerala and cover the largest area. A study was conducted to analyse the saturated and unsaturated flow of water in laterite soil under selected precipitation intensities. The objective was to establish a relation between hydraulic conductivity, moisture content and hydraulic head. Runoff generation and relation between runoff and soil moisture status were also considered. A rainfall simulator and a soil trough were fabricated. The design of the rainfall simulator was based on that of Bhardwa] et al (1992). The rainfall simulator comprised of a drop forming mechanism mounted on a supporting frame. A float valve maintains a constant head of water in the drop forming tank to get a desired rainfall intensity. The soil trough had provision for collecting surface and subsurface outflow of water. Provision was also made to incline the soil trough when a sloping plot was required. The experimental set up was installed in the Soil and Water laboratory of KCAET, Tavanur. \1\'.31 The rainfall simulator was tested for different rainfall intensity by changing the head of water in the tank Rainfall intensity increased as the head of water in the tank was increased. At a head of 22 cm, a maximum rainfall intensity of 285.6 rnrn/h was obtained. Drop size determination by flour - pellet method showed that the simulated raindrop size remained almost constant The uniformity coefficient also increased with increase in intensity. The basic soil properties were also determined. The particle size distribution curve showed that the soil was coarse graded. The bulk density of the soil was 1.53 g/cm3. The piezometer readings in the soil trough showed that unsaturated flow takes place through the soil under simulated rainfall. Experiments were done for different rainfall intensities of 20, 40, 90, and 285.6 mm/h and also at 10% and 20% slopes with 40 and 90 mm/h intensity. The variation in moisture content with time was found to increase with intensity of rainfall. Steeper slopes also increased the rate of depletion of moisture with time. Instantaneous profile method was adopted to determine hydraulic conductivity. An exponential relation was observed between hydraulic conductivity and volumetric soil moisture content Matric suction and volumetric moisture content were observed at different depths - 10, 20, 30 and 40 cm. The hydraulic conductivity - moisture content relationships were established. Studies on runoff generation showed that inclination of the bed rock is a major factor controlling subsurface outflow. Variation in intensity of rainfall did not cause considerable variation in outflow. Surface runoff also was affected only by the slope of the soil trough.ThesisItem Open Access Monthly water balance model for lateritic hill slope- a case study(Department of Land and Water Resources and Conservation Engineering, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 1996) Beena, Thomas; KAU; Noble, AbrahamThe groundwater balance of K. C. A. E .T. Campus, Tavanur, Kerala has been studied and a deterministic model has been developed for the prediction of depth to water table in this hill slope based on Darcy’s equation. The input data required are the precipitation, evapotranspiration, specific yield, initial water table, elevation of the points under consideration and the distance between the points. The weekly precipitation and evapotranspiration were calculated and from this the recharge to groundwater was estimated. The groundwater recharge was taking place only during the southwest monsoon season. The change in storage divided by the hydraulic gradient for a period without rainfall i.e., from 01 December 1994 to 16 February 1995 were determined. Using these values and other inputs in the model, the depth to water table for a period from 26 May 1994 to 25 May 1995 were estimated from the model. These values were compared with the observed values for the same period. It was found that the estimated values give a reasonable estimate of the depth to water table in the study area. This model can be used to predict the changes expecting in the water level in a particular region. The model has several areas of application in the fields of groundwater resource development and irrigation. The infiltration characteristics of the selected area was evaluated and observed that the infiltration rate was increasing towards the higher elevation. The model was simulated for different percentages of effective rainfall and found that, at 50 per cent it accounts as groundwater recharge and the rest as surface runoff.
