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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: KAU × Author: Rose Mary Jose × End date: 2019 × Start date: 2018 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Understorey productivity of selected fodder grasses in mature coconut and rubber plantations
    (Department of Silviculture and Agroforestry, Vellanikkara, 2018) Rose Mary Jose; KAU; Jamaludheen, V
    A field experiment was conducted at Vellanikkara, Thrissur, Kerala from May 2017 to February 2018 to assess the understorey productivity of four fodder grasses viz congosignal (Brachiaria ruziziensis), guinea (Panicum maximum) and two hybrid napier cultivars CO-3 and CO-5 when grown under mature coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) and rubber (Heavea barsiliensis Muell. Arg,) plantations, which are the two prominent land use systems in Kerala. The biophysical attributes influencing the productivity of these land use systems and the biochemical changes in the products of understorey crops were also studied. Growth parameters of understorey fodder crops varied remarkably among these land use systems. The fodder grasses grown in coconut plantations showed an increased plant height, leaf area index, leaf area ratio, and leaf weight ratio as compared with treeless open plot. However, the number of tillers per clump and number of leaves per clump showed a decreasing trend when grown as understorey crops in mature coconut and rubber plantations. Rubber grown fodder grasses expressed substantially poor performance both in growth and yield attributes. Regarding fodder production, open grown fodder grasses consistently showed maximum biomass dry weight throughout the harvests. On comparing with the open, the rubber plot showed a substantial reduction of 91.35% in the total biomass dry weight from all harvests whereas the reduction was only 39.02% under coconut plantations. Mean mid day (12–1p.m) understorey photosynthetic Photon Flux Density (PPFD) were 1342.5 moles μ m -2 sec -1 in rubber and 1575 μ molesm -2 sec -1 in coconut, with respective understorey PAR transmittance of 39.84 % and 56.08% of full sunlight. The understorey crops in coconut and rubber showed an increased chlorophyll-a, chlorophyll-b, and total chlorophyll content and leaf moisture content over treeless control. The maximum crude protein value was noticed in the rubber (11.97%) grown fodder grasses and was on par with open while 124 coconut (9.29 %) accounted the least crude protein content. The understorey crops showed a decreased crude fibre content as compared to open. The maximum leaf nitrogen content was observed in the rubber plot (1.92%) and this was followed by open plot (1.87%). The lowest nitrogen content was observed in the coconut plot (1.49%). No noticeable changes were observed in foliar phosphorus and potassium content across both land use systems. The soil analysis revealed that the organic carbon and available nitrogen content of the top soil were increased under both the tree based cropping systems as a result of understory intercropping. However, on comparing with the initial values of different soil properties studied, only modest changes were observed in the soil properties in general across both the land use systems and treeless open plot. It is concluded that the coconut based fodder production systems with these grasses are almost comparable, in terms of growth and yield, to the open areas and hence recommended for farmers adaption. This practice of integrating fodder grasses in coconut plantations gains immense importance in Kerala, where mature coconut plantations forms one of the extensive and prominent land management system. Thus, judicious use of the vast area of interspaces under these matures coconut plantations for fodder production is very ideal especially in the state of Kerala. The best proven combination of land use system and the fodder grass in a coconut based intercropping scenario was the cultivation of CO-3 fodder grass under matured coconut plantations. However, the rubber based fodder production system is not at all feasible and further conclusive studies may be done for affirming more reasons for such a substantial reduction of growth and yield in rubber based system.