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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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20162
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Subject: Soil Science and Agriculture Chemistry × Author: Aditya, Mohan × Start date: 2002 × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Ion interactions and rice nutrition in acid saline pokkali soils
    (Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry,College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2016) Aditya, Mohan; KAU; Sreelatha, A K
    The present study entitled ‘Ion interactions and rice nutrition in acid saline Pokkali soils’ has been carried out to assess the ion interactions in acid saline Pokkali soil, to identify the chemical constraints in plant nutrition and emerging deficiencies or toxicities of nutrients in Pokkali soils. For this purpose, soil samples and plant samples were collected from eight Pokkali locations of Kottuvally panchayath and one from RRS, Vyttila. The eight locations included Mundothuruth, Kalappumpadi, Muppathezhukettu, Periyali, Diamond, Kaitharam, Padinjare Kaitharam and Thathapilli. The soil samples were collected during three stages of cultivation namely mound preparation, mound dismantling and harvest. Two growth stages namely maximum tillering and harvest were selected for the collection of plant samples. The soil samples were characterized for physical (soil texture), chemical (pH, EC, CEC, exchangeable cations, ESP, SAR, percent cation saturation, anions, available N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, B, Al and Na) and biological attributes (MBC, DHA and organic carbon) and the plant samples were analyzed for nutrient contents and uptake. The measured attributes were analysed by two- way analysis of variance using statistical package operational statistics. Canonical analysis was done to find out the decisive ions in Pokkali soils. The t-test was carried out to identify the toxicity and deficiency of nutrients in Pokkali soils and rice. The correlation of Net Ionic Equilibrium (NIE) ratios of K, Mg, Cu and Na with various soil parameters were carried out to identify ion interactions in soil. Analysis of variance revealed that, among various measured attributes, pH, EC, redox potential, available nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Al and Na), anions (chloride, bicarbonate, sulphate and phosphate), exchangeable cations ( Mg, Na, K, Al, Fe and Mn), percent cation saturation (Ca, Mg, Na and K) and dehydrogenase activity varied significantly among the three stages of cultivation. The decisivecations identified in the exchange complex of Pokkali soils were potassium and magnesium, copper and sodium. Sulphate and phosphate were the predominant anions existing in the soil. Step down regression identified ‘potassium’ having predictive ability towards the presence of sulphate ion. Higher concentrations of P, K,Ca, S, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Al and SO42− were observed in the soil. Magnesium was found to be deficient in the available pool of Pokkali soils. . The plant nutrients namely P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, B and Na were significantly varying among three stages of cultivation. Magnesium was present in higher concentration in plant despite the deficient concentration of magnesium in soil. The variation in Pokkali rice yield (45 per cent) can be mainly accounted for potassium, calcium, zinc and copper content in soil at the mound preparation stage. During the harvest stage, yield was correlated only with available P. Zinc, boron and aluminium were present in toxic concentrations in plant. The NIE ratios K/ [(Ca+ Mg+ Fe+ Mn) 1/2 + (Al) 1/3 ] and Na/ [(Ca+ Mg+ Fe+ Mn) 1/2 + (Al) 1/3 ] showed significant positive correlations only with CEC and sodium. Phosphate showed a strong negative correlation with both the ratios. The other NIE ratio Mg/ [(Ca+ Mg+ Fe+ Mn) + (Al) 2/3 ] showed significant negative correlation with pH and phosphate. The ratio Cu/ [(Ca+ Mg+ Fe+ Mn) 1/2 + (Al) 1/3 ] showed a negative correlation with electrical conductivity, Na and K. The availability of cations namely K, Mg, Cu and Na was significantly influenced by various soil parameters. The present investigation identified high concentrations of micronutrients, Al and B in Pokkali soils, toxic concentrations of Zinc, boron and aluminium in plant and influence of different soil parameters on availability of K, Mg, Cu and Na. The rice yield mainly depended on available K, Ca, Zn, P and Zn contents in soil.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Ion interactions and rice nutrition in acid saline pokkali soils
    (College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2016) Aditya, Mohan; KAU; Sreelatha, A K
    The present study entitled ‘Ion interactions and rice nutrition in acid saline Pokkali soils’ has been carried out to assess the ion interactions in acid saline Pokkali soil, to identify the chemical constraints in plant nutrition and emerging deficiencies or toxicities of nutrients in Pokkali soils. For this purpose, soil samples and plant samples were collected from eight Pokkali locations of Kottuvally panchayath and one from RRS, Vyttila. The eight locations included Mundothuruth, Kalappumpadi, Muppathezhukettu, Periyali, Diamond, Kaitharam, Padinjare Kaitharam and Thathapilli. The soil samples were collected during three stages of cultivation namely mound preparation, mound dismantling and harvest. Two growth stages namely maximum tillering and harvest were selected for the collection of plant samples. The soil samples were characterized for physical (soil texture), chemical (pH, EC, CEC, exchangeable cations, ESP, SAR, percent cation saturation, anions, available N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, B, Al and Na) and biological attributes (MBC, DHA and organic carbon) and the plant samples were analyzed for nutrient contents and uptake. The measured attributes were analysed by two- way analysis of variance using statistical package operational statistics. Canonical analysis was done to find out the decisive ions in Pokkali soils. The t-test was carried out to identify the toxicity and deficiency of nutrients in Pokkali soils and rice. The correlation of Net Ionic Equilibrium (NIE) ratios of K, Mg, Cu and Na with various soil parameters were carried out to identify ion interactions in soil. Analysis of variance revealed that, among various measured attributes, pH, EC, redox potential, available nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Al and Na), anions (chloride, bicarbonate, sulphate and phosphate), exchangeable cations ( Mg, Na, K, Al, Fe and Mn), percent cation saturation (Ca, Mg, Na and K) and dehydrogenase activity varied significantly among the three stages of cultivation. The decisivecations identified in the exchange complex of Pokkali soils were potassium and magnesium, copper and sodium. Sulphate and phosphate were the predominant anions existing in the soil. Step down regression identified ‘potassium’ having predictive ability towards the presence of sulphate ion. Higher concentrations of P, K, Ca, S, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Al and SO42− were observed in the soil. Magnesium was found to be deficient in the available pool of Pokkali soils. . The plant nutrients namely P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, B and Na were significantly varying among three stages of cultivation. Magnesium was present in higher concentration in plant despite the deficient concentration of magnesium in soil. The variation in Pokkali rice yield (45 per cent) can be mainly accounted for potassium, calcium, zinc and copper content in soil at the mound preparation stage. During the harvest stage, yield was correlated only with available P. Zinc, boron and aluminium were present in toxic concentrations in plant. The NIE ratios K/ [(Ca+ Mg+ Fe+ Mn) 1/2 + (Al) 1/3 ] and Na/ [(Ca+ Mg+ Fe+ Mn) 1/2 + (Al) 1/3 ] showed significant positive correlations only with CEC and sodium. Phosphate showed a strong negative correlation with both the ratios. The other NIE ratio Mg/ [(Ca+ Mg+ Fe+ Mn) + (Al) 2/3 ] showed significant negative correlation with pH and phosphate. The ratio Cu/ [(Ca+ Mg+ Fe+ Mn) 1/2 + (Al) 1/3 ] showed a negative correlation with electrical conductivity, Na and K. The availability of cations namely K, Mg, Cu and Na was significantly influenced by various soil parameters. The present investigation identified high concentrations of micronutrients, Al and B in Pokkali soils, toxic concentrations of Zinc, boron and aluminium in plant and influence of different soil parameters on availability of K, Mg, Cu and Na. The rice yield mainly depended on available K, Ca, Zn, P and Zn contents in soil.