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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: Seed Science and Technology × End date: 2009 × Start date: 2000 × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Amelioration of subsoil acidity by calcium sources in laterite soils of black peper garden
    (Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry,College of Horticulture, Vellakikkara, 2008) Deepa K, Kuriakose; KAU; Suresh, P R
    Soil acidity is a major problem in humid tropical regions due to high rainfall and temperature. Hydrogen and aluminium are the major ions responsible for soil acidity. Historically, soil scientists and agronomists have addressed the problem of soil acidity and recommend amelioration by conventional liming and ploughing. Black pepper, an important and widely used spice around the globe, is cultivated widely in our state. In Kerala, this crop is grown in laterite soils, which poses many soil related stress of which soil acidity is a major one. The productivity of pepper is very low in these tracts, and lower compared to other places. High exchangeable Al and low Ca content in subsurface horizons act as barriers for the root growth of black pepper towards lower layers. The effect of conventionally surface applied liming materials like CaCO3, Ca(OH)2 will be confined to the top layer alone. While in materials like Phosphogypsum, Ca is soluble and can move to lower depths and offer possibility of ameliorating subsoil layers. Isotopic techniques are useful for a quick and reliable means of studying the movement of ameliorants through the soil and also to examine the distribution of active roots at lower depth of soil column without destroying the plant. With this background, an investigation was carried out at College Of Horticulture, Vellanikkara about the subsoil acidity amelioration in laterite soil of black pepper garden using three calcium sources- CaCO3, Ca(OH)2 and Phosphogypsum. The whole study was conducted as 5 experiments using the soil collected from the pepper garden, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara. Analysis of soil sample revealed that the exchangeable aluminium content was 69 ppm at the subsoil layer is in significantly higher concentration than the surface. On the basis of this an incubation experiment using three calcium sources, lime, slaked lime and Phosphogypsum was done and the results revealed that lime is more effective in increasing the pH while Phosphogypsum is effective for reducing the exchangeable Al in soils. In continuation to this soil column study using PVC columns filled with soil layers simulating field condition revealed that liming at 1 LR level was better for good plant growth. The effect of three sources on ameliorating subsoil acidity was evaluated by measuring the root activity of pepper plants grown in the columns by isotopic method. For this 32P was applied at a depth of 50 cm depth and the counts on leaf after a period of 8 days were taken as an indication of presence of active roots at 50 cm depth. The counts obtained from the leaf sample of black pepper revealed that count rates increased with increase in level of application of liming materials. In soil columns treated with phosphogypsum, significantly higher counts were noticed which indicates better root growth at subsurface layer of the PG treated columns. This result was confirmed by performing a leaching experiment in PVC columns using 45Ca labelled ameliorants. Radio assay and autoradiography done on this experiment also proved that, in Phosphogypsum, Ca is highly mobile compared to CaCO3 and Ca(OH)2. In order to understand the response and tolerance level of Al on pepper plants specifically on roots a solution culture experiment was also done by growing rooted plants in Hoagland solution containing different levels of Al. Solution culture experiment proved that the pepper root tolerates an Al concentration of 5 and 10 ppm and beyond this level plants die off and roots decay. How ever at 5 ppm level of Al profuse root growth was noticed. The anatomical observation of the roots were also done and some modification in the tissue orientation is noticed. On the basis of this investigation it can be concluded that 1. A sub surface zone with high concentration of exchangeable Al exists in laterite soil of the pepper garden of College of Horticulture. 2. Phosphogysum offers a potential option for ameliorating the subsoil layers and to promote root growth of black pepper to deeper soil layers. 3. Some promoting effect on black pepper root growth is noticed at 5 ppm Al, in solution culture. On the basis of these observations it is suggested that further investigations are needed on other soil types and also to validate by field trials. The acidic nature of PG at the zone of its application has to be contained by blending this material with CaCO3 or Ca(OH)2. The biochemical responses of the black pepper plant to exposure to Al, needs to be studied in detail by elaborate experiments.