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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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20174
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Subject: Silviculture and Agroforestry × Author: KAU × End date: 2017 × Start date: 2017 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Performance of calliandra (Calliandra calothyrsus meissn.) under diverse mangement regimes in a coconut based hedge row fodder production system
    (Department of Silviculture and Agroforestry, College of Forestry, Vellanikkara, 2017) Anu Sagaran, K; KAU; Asha, K Raj
    A study entitled “Performance of calliandra (Calliandra calothyrsus Meissn.) under diverse management regimes in a coconut based hedge row fodder production system” was carried out at Instructional Farm, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during 2014-2015. The main objective of the study was to assess the influence of management practices like tree density, pruning height and pruning frequency on initial growth, forage yield and nutritional qualities of calliandra intercropped in coconut gardens under humid tropical conditions of Kerala. The treatments consisted of three levels of plant density (27,777; 22,222 and 17,777 plants ha-1), three levels of pruning frequency (8, 12 and 16 weeks interval) and two levels of pruning height (0.5m and 1m) in all possible combinations laid out under factorial randomized block design with three replications. The results revealed that various management practices had a profound influence on the forage yield and quality aspects of calliandra when grown as an intercrop in coconut garden. Comparing plant densities, highest density stand (27,777 plants ha-1) yielded 55 percent more forage (11.73Mg ha-1yr-1, dry basis) than the lowest density (17,777 plants ha-1), with higher foliage fraction. Quality parameters of forage like crude protein, ash, dry matter, phosphorus and potassium content increased and crude fibre content decreased at higher densities indicating closer spacing for production of tender nutritive fodder. Pruning at the prolonged interval of 16 weeks yielded more total forage, but the majority of the fodder comprised of stem fraction as indicated by the poor leaf-stem ratio. Leaf –stem ratio of fodder harvested at 8 and 12 weeks showed an increment of 125 percent over that of the 16 weeks interval, indicating more foliage production than stem fractions when harvested at shorter intervals. Pruning frequencies also had profound influence on nutritive value of the forage. Harvesting at shortest interval of 8 weeks and 12 weeks yielded fodder with maximum crude protein, phosphorus and potassium content when compared to 16 weeks. Ash and dry matter content in 99 fodder was significantly higher at the longest interval of 16 weeks. Crude fibre content of forage increased sharply from 28.33 to 49.98 percent by prolonging the harvest interval from 8 to 16 weeks thereby adversely affecting the palatability of the forage. Pruning height showed more prominent influence on forage yield of calliandra than the nutritive parameters. Dry fodder yield increased from 8.11 to 10.81 Mg ha-1yr-1 with increasing pruning height from 0.5 to 1m, with a higher leaf-stem ratio for taller stocks. Similarly there was a significant improvement in CP yield from taller stocks (1.67 Mgha-1 )when compared to shorter ones (1.23 Mgha-1) The interaction effects of plant density, pruning height and pruning frequency had no significant effect on yield and quality parameters of callianrda. The highest yielding combination (13.39 Mg ha-1dry basis) was found to be D1H2F2 (27,777 plants ha-1 + pruning height 1 m + pruning interval 12 weeks ) with higher foliage fraction and better nutritive parameters, compared to all other management levels, which were inferior either in forage yield or nutritive value or palatability of forage. On the whole, the study revealed that forage yield and quality of young stands of calliandra underneath coconut garden could be optimized at the cheapest level by adopting a tree density of 27,777plants ha-1, pruning height of 1m and pruning interval of 12 weeks. Moreover, based on the growth and yield performance and quality aspects, it is found that calliandra is a promising fodder tree, which can be successfully integrated with the existing coconut gardens of Kerala. Establishment and proper management of calliandra in coconut garden at appropriate management levels thus offers a cheap source of quality forage to Kerala farmers against the highly expensive concentrate feeds.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Forage yield, soil fertility and carbon dynamics of calliandra (Calliandra calothyrsus meissn,) in coconut plantation
    (Departament of Silviculture and Agroforestry , College of Forestry, Vellanikkara, 2017) Jilna Joy; KAU; Asha, K Raj
    A study entitled “Performance of calliandra (Calliandra calothyrsus Meissn.) under diverse management regimes in a coconut based hedge row fodder production system” was carried out at Instructional Farm, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during 2014-2015. The main objective of the study was to assess the influence of management practices like tree density, pruning height and pruning frequency on initial growth, forage yield and nutritional qualities of calliandra intercropped in coconut gardens under humid tropical conditions of Kerala. The treatments consisted of three levels of plant density (27,777; 22,222 and 17,777 plants ha-1), three levels of pruning frequency (8, 12 and 16 weeks interval) and two levels of pruning height (0.5m and 1m) in all possible combinations laid out under factorial randomized block design with three replications. The results revealed that various management practices had a profound influence on the forage yield and quality aspects of calliandra when grown as an intercrop in coconut garden. Comparing plant densities, highest density stand (27,777 plants ha-1) yielded 55 percent more forage (11.73Mg ha-1yr-1, dry basis) than the lowest density (17,777 plants ha-1), with higher foliage fraction. Quality parameters of forage like crude protein, ash, dry matter, phosphorus and potassium content increased and crude fibre content decreased at higher densities indicating closer spacing for production of tender nutritive fodder. Pruning at the prolonged interval of 16 weeks yielded more total forage, but the majority of the fodder comprised of stem fraction as indicated by the poor leaf-stem ratio. Leaf –stem ratio of fodder harvested at 8 and 12 weeks showed an increment of 125 percent over that of the 16 weeks interval, indicating more foliage production than stem fractions when harvested at shorter intervals. Pruning frequencies also had profound influence on nutritive value of the forage. Harvesting at shortest interval of 8 weeks and 12 weeks yielded fodder with maximum crude protein, phosphorus and potassium content when compared to 16 weeks. Ash and dry matter content in 99 fodder was significantly higher at the longest interval of 16 weeks. Crude fibre content of forage increased sharply from 28.33 to 49.98 percent by prolonging the harvest interval from 8 to 16 weeks thereby adversely affecting the palatability of the forage. Pruning height showed more prominent influence on forage yield of calliandra than the nutritive parameters. Dry fodder yield increased from 8.11 to 10.81 Mg ha-1yr-1 with increasing pruning height from 0.5 to 1m, with a higher leaf-stem ratio for taller stocks. Similarly there was a significant improvement in CP yield from taller stocks (1.67 Mgha-1 )when compared to shorter ones (1.23 Mgha-1) The interaction effects of plant density, pruning height and pruning frequency had no significant effect on yield and quality parameters of callianrda. The highest yielding combination (13.39 Mg ha-1dry basis) was found to be D1H2F2 (27,777 plants ha-1 + pruning height 1 m + pruning interval 12 weeks ) with higher foliage fraction and better nutritive parameters, compared to all other management levels, which were inferior either in forage yield or nutritive value or palatability of forage. On the whole, the study revealed that forage yield and quality of young stands of calliandra underneath coconut garden could be optimized at the cheapest level by adopting a tree density of 27,777plants ha-1, pruning height of 1m and pruning interval of 12 weeks. Moreover, based on the growth and yield performance and quality aspects, it is found that calliandra is a promising fodder tree, which can be successfully integrated with the existing coconut gardens of Kerala. Establishment and proper management of calliandra in coconut garden at appropriate management levels thus offers a cheap source of quality forage to Kerala farmers against the highly expensive concentrate feeds.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Autoallelopathy of selected multipurpose tree species and the effect of their leachates on Agricultural test crop
    (Department of Silviculture and Agroforestry, College of Forestry, Vellanikkara, 2017) Neenu, P; KAU; Jamaludheen, V
    A study carried out in the tree nursery of College of Forestry, Vellanikkara, Thrissur to assess the autoallelopathic effect of selected multipurpose trees and the effect of their leachate on agricultural test crop. The study on allelopathy is very essential in agroforestry as it effect the yield and performance of the trees and crops grown together and is essential to make judgment on the compatibility of trees and crops. The allelopathic effect of different tree part leachates such as leaf leachate, bark leachate and root leachate of selected trees viz., Acacia auriculiformis, Acacia mangium, Ailanthus. triphysa, Grevillea robusta and Swietenia macrophylla on the germination and growth of their own seedling and an agricultural test crop cowpea (Var. Anaswara) were studied. The soil for the pot culture experiment was collected from well established plantations of the MPTs and is used as potting mixture with sand in equal proportion. The pots were irrigated with leachates of different tree parts of these trees by soaking the tree part in water for 24 hours in 1:10 w/v concentration. The monthly variation in nutrient status of the soil used for pot culture experiment and the variation in the physicochemical properties of leachates at six intervals is also estimated. The effect of tree part leachates considerably varied among the germination and biomass production in both allelopathic and autoallelopathic studies. The observations on the germination per cent in allelopathic and autoallelopathic study revealed greater inhibition in the pots treated with leaf leachate in all tree species, except for S. macrophylla. With regard to biometric observations and biomass production also, S. macrophylla performed as the best compared to other selected species investigated for autoallelopathy. In case of the test crop also, it showed a better growth in pots treated with the leachates from S. macrophylla. The physicochemical analysis of the leachate of tree parts used to irrigate the pots showed increasing trend in total solid, electrical conductivity, total phenol, total carbohydrate and a decreasing trend in pH upto 36 hours. The physicochemical analysis of leachates for total phenol showed a greater concentration in the leaves than the bark and root. Results converge to the generalisation that among the five selected tree species the effect of auto allelopathy is negligible in case of S. macrophylla. The better growth performance of the test crop in S. macrophylla tree part leachates shows the compatibility of the test crop with the tree than the other selected tree species.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Standardisation of propagation through branch cuttings in selected bamboo species of Kerala
    (Department of Silviculture and Agroforestry, College of Forestry, Vellanikkara, 2017) Sreejith, M M; KAU; Jijeesh, C M
    The present study attempted root induction in the branch cuttings of three commercially important bamboo species namely; Bambusa balcooa, Dendrocalamus giganteus and Thyrsostachys oliveri. The primary branches of each species were collected during three seasons viz. October to January (Season I), February to May (Season II) and June to September (Season III). Two noded branch cuttings were prepared out of the primary branches and subjected to soaking in growth regulator solutions of IBA and NAA at different concentrations of 0 (control), 100, 250, 500 and 1000 mg l-1 for 24 hours and planted horizontally in two media viz. sand alone and mixture of sand, soil and cow dung (1:1:1) filled in plastic trays. Results indicated that sprouting attributes of bamboo species varied among different treatments. In B. balcooa, sprouting percentage varied from 1.67 (branch cuttings of season I treated with IBA 250 mg l-1 kept in second medium) to 48.33% (branch cuttings of season II treated with NAA 250 mg l-1 kept in the sand). In D. giganteus, sprouting in the branch cuttings ranged from 5.00 to 43.3%. The highest sprouting was observed during season II in cuttings treated with NAA 500 mg l-1 kept in the second media and the least was in control of NAA kept in sand in the same season. Meanwhile, in T. oliveri, maximum sprouting was observed in cuttings treated with IBA 100 mg l-1 (41.67%) in third season kept in sand, while sprouting was absent in some treatment combinations along with the control. However, sprouted cuttings failed to initiate rooting in any of treatment combinations in three bamboo species. Further trials were conducted with higher concentrations (0, 1000, 2000 and 3000 mg l- 1 ) of growth regulators in sand medium. Maximum sprouting in B. balcooa, was observed in cuttings treated with IBA 1000 mg l-1 (36.66%) while, the least was in those treated with NAA 1000 mg l-1 (10.00%). Branch cuttings treated with IBA 1000 mg l-1 recorded the highest sprouting (26.66%) and those treated with IBA 3000 mg l-1 recorded the lowest value (10.00%) in T. oliveri. Here also, the expected rooting of cuttings was not observed. Hence, another trial with the application of NAA and IBA by quick dip method at concentrations 0(control), 1000, 1500 and 2500 mg l-1 was carried out. In B. balcooa, the highest sprouting was in the cuttings treated with NAA 1000 mg l-1 (30%) and the lowest was in those treated with IBA 2500 mg l- (6.00%). Whereas, in T. oliveri highest sprouting was observed in cuttings treated with IBA 1000 mg l-1 (33.33%) followed by IBA 1500 mg l-1 (23.33%). The least sprouting was observed in cuttings treated with NAA 2500 mg l-1 (13.33 %) followed by control (15%). Here also, the rooting was absent in different treatments. In the last experiment, B. balcooa branch cutting were treated with IBA and NAA solutions 0, 500, 1000, 1500 and 2000 mg l-1 concentration and planted in standard nursery beds. The lowest sprouting percentage was observed in cuttings treated with NAA 2000 mg l-1 (20.00 %) and the highest sprouting was in cuttings treated with IBA 500 and 1000 mg l-1 (40 %) but the sprouted cuttings did not produce any root. As the present study did not give the expected results, further trials are needed for the standardization of propagation through branch cuttings in the selected bamboo species.