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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: Soil Science and Agriculture Chemistry × Author: Anila Mathew × Author: KAU × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Suitability of sul-po-mag as a potassium cum magnesium fertilizer for banana in Kerala
    (Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1997) Anila Mathew; KAU; Chinnamma, N P
    The present investigation was carried out in the Department of Soil Science and Agriculture Chemistry, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during the period of September 1994 to August 1995. The study was aimed to bring to light the suitability of Sul-Po-Mag as a potassium cum magnesium fertilizer for banana in Kerala. The treatments included Sul-Po-Mag substitutes of potassium to the extend of -25, 50 and 100 per cent in the normal recommended dose of NPK as urea, diammonium phosphate and muriate of potash at the rate of 190 g N, 115 g P205 and 300 g K20 per plant per year. Treatments of muriate of potash supplemented with magnesium and sulphur separately and with magnesium and sulphur together were also included and they were compared with the recommended practice. The experiment was laid out in randomised block design with three replication. During the early stages of growth, the treatments failed to influence the morphological characters such as height, girth and number of leaves of the plant. But at the later stages, the girth and the number of leaves differed significantly and the application of Sul-Po-Mag showed a favourable influence on these characters. No significant difference was observed in characters like total number of suckers, days to flower, days to mature and total duration of the crop among the treatments. Among the bunch characters, numbers of hands, length and girth of fingers and bunch weight were influenced by the difference in treatments while the number of fingers per bunch and weight of fingers remained unaffected. The maximum yield was given by the treatment where potassium was supplied by Sul-Po-Mag and muriate of potash in half doses. Though the treatments differed significantly in yield from the control, where no fertilizer was applied, the treat- ments of muriate of potash and Sul-Po-Mag are on par indicating that Sul-Po-Mag is as good as MOP for its capacity to meet potassium requirement of the crop. The treatments did not differ significantly in quality parameters such as reducing sugars, total sugars, sugar acid ratio, weight of pulp and peel and pulp peel ratio. But significant difference was observed with total soluble solids, ascorbic acid content, non reducing sugars and acidity. High value of these characters were recorded with Sul-Po-Mag except for the reducing sugars and total sugars. Treat- ments with magnesium and sulphur were found to decrease the sugar content of fruits. High pulp peel ratio of Sul-Po-Mag treatments showed increased storage quality. The nitrogen, phosphorus and sulphur contents of leaves remained unaffected both at vegetative and harvest phases, while potassium, calcium and magnesium differed significantly between the treatments. The contents in leaf of N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S were decisively influenced by the treatments at the time of shooting. Nutrient contents of leaves were found to increase till shooting and a drastic reduction was observed thereafter. Calcium, magnesium and sulphur contents in the fertilizer increased their availability in soil and the plant content. Treatments with Sul-Po-Mag and magnesium showed high content of potassium in leaves. The contents of potassium, calcium, magnesium and sulphur were found to be the highest in the pseudostem followed by leaves. Rhizome and fruit also showed appreciable amount of these nutrients. The total uptake of potassium, calcium, magnesium and sulphur ranged between 365.26-221.06, 73.57-57.97, 4.45-14.5 and 3.71-4.94 g plant-1 respectively. Only the total uptake of magnesium was decisively influenced by the treatments. The maximum values of uptake of magnesium found in treatment which was supplied with Mg equivalent to that present in half dose of Sul-Po-Mag. Available P, available K and available S contents of the soil were found to be nonsignificant both at vegetative and harvest stages. The sulphate containing treatments were found to decrease the pH of the soil. Maximum electrical conductance was found with Mg supplied treatments. Organic carbon content was found to be significant only at harvest stage. Calcium, magnesium and sulphur contents in the fertilizer were found to increase the soil content of these elements.