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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: Silviculture and Agroforestry × Author: Aneesh, S × Start date: 2012 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Biomass production and nutrient dynamics in a multipurpose tree based black pepper production system
    (Department of Silviculture and Agroforestry, College of Forestry, Vellanikkara, 2013) Aneesh, S; KAU; Kunhamu, T K
    A field study was undertaken on a 22-year-old black pepper production system at Livestock Research Station, Thiruvizhamkunnu, Kerala during 2009-10 to evaluate the growth, biomass production, Carbon sequestration and nutrient dynamics in six multipurpose trees used as pepper standards viz. Acacia auriculiformis, Artocarpus heterophyllus, Grevillea robusta, Macaranga peltata, Ailanthus triphysa and Casuarina equisetifolia. Diameter at breast height (DBH), total height and bole height varied significantly between the six species. Maximum DBH was registered by Grevillea robusta (23.06 cm) which was closely followed by Artocarpus heterophyllus (22.12 cm). Mean tree total volume and bole volume production also varied, maximum mean tree bole volume was recorded by Grevillea robusta (0.360 m3) followed by Artocarpus heterophyllus (0.280 m3) and Acacia auriculiformis (0.260 m3). The aboveground biomass was estimated from destructively sampled 12 trees of each species and the belowground biomass was estimated following root excavation of three average sized trees of each species. Species-wise variation in terms of total biomass, aboveground biomass and belowground biomass was observed. Among the black pepper support trees Grevillea robusta recorded highest total biomass production (366 Mg ha -1) followed by Acacia auriculiformis (331 Mg ha -1) and the lowest was recorded in Ailanthus triphysa which is 155 Mg ha-1. The above ground biomass ranged from 264 Mg ha-1 in the case of Grevillea robusta to lowest of 122 Mg ha-1 in the case of Macaranga peltata. Stem wood accounted for maximum contribution to the total biomass in all the species. Maximum root biomass was recorded in the case of Grevillea robusta (63 Mg ha-1) closely followed by Acacia auriculiformis (62 Mg ha-1) and the lowest in the case of Ailanthus triphysa (24 Mg ha-1). Percentage contribution of root biomass to the total biomass varied from 11 to 24 depending on the species. Among different pepper support tree system, the Grevillea robusta based pepper production system recorded highest biomass Carbon stock to the tune of 169.24 Mg C ha-1. However with regard to soil Carbon Acacia auriculiformis based pepper production system recorded highest value (71.39 Mg ha-1) followed by Macaranga peltata (68.64 Mg ha-1) based system while the treeless control plot recorded the lowest carbon stock (38.17 Mg ha-1). Study indicate the overall improvement in site productivity in multipurpose tree based production systems and careful selection of the tree species can bring substantial benefits both in economic and ecological terms to the farmer.