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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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20211
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Subject: Soil Science and Agriculture Chemistry × Author: Anisha, V A × End date: 2021 × Start date: 2021 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Evaluation of water hyacinth co- composts for nutrient retention in lateritic soil
    (Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Agriculture, Vellanikkara, 2021) Anisha, V A; KAU; Durga Devi, K M
    Water hyacinth is a serious menace in low land ecosystems and it’s spread has threatened water quality and aquatic life. Various biological, chemical and physical methods that have been employed to control the weed has yielded minimal results. Hence management through utilization is a viable strategy. It can be effectively utilized in many ways to support crop production. Co-composting has been proved as a promising technique for safe and quick disposal of the weed by utilizing the co-substrates viz., poultry manure, sawdust, biochar, glyricidia, paddy straw, dried leaves and cattle manure. As the weed accumulates N, P, K and other essential nutrients, compost made from water hyacinth can be utilized for improving soil fertility and crop production. Hence, the present investigation entitled “Evaluation of water hyacinth co-composts for nutrient retention in lateritic soil” was under taken in the Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry at College of Agriculture, Vellanikkara during 2020-2021. The objectives were; (i) To find out the suitable combination of water hyacinth and co-substrates for enhancing the quality of water hyacinth composts (ii) To assess the nutrient retention capacity of different co-composts in lateritic soil. Different co-substrates were collected from nearby areas and water hyacinth was collected from Kole lands of Thrissur. Water hyacinth and co-substrates were characterized prior to composting. Water hyacinth co-composts (vermi compost) were prepared using the aforesaid substrates in concrete tanks. The physical and chemical properties of the composting mixtures were recorded at 40 days interval starting from 20 days of composting until 100 days. The yield of water hyacinth co-composts was estimated and the various co-composts were characterized for their physical and chemical properties. Incubation study was conducted to evaluate the nutrient retention capacity of different water hyacinth co-composts in lateritic soil during December 2020 with eight treatments and three replications (soil+ 7 co-composts and soil alone as absolute control). The lateritic soil for study was collected from Instructional Farm, Vellanikkara and analysed for chemical properties. Compost amended soils were incubated for a period of 28 days and nutrient retention capacity (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Zn) was estimated at 4 different time periods after incubation (7, 14, 21, 28 days). Data on characterization of co-substrates revealed that substrates vary in their chemical properties and nutrient content. Among the co-substrates, poultry manure possessed many favourable characteristics. Changes in physical and chemical properties of composting mixtures at different intervals indicated the progress of composting process and stage of compost maturity. All the co-substrates gave reasonably good yield of water hyacinth co-composts. A notable increase in compost yield to an extent of 159.7 per cent was realized in the biochar treatment. Addition of co-substrates improved the bulk density and porosity of water hyacinth co-composts. Application of co-substrates improved the pH of final compost. Highest increase was noticed in the treatment with paddy straw. Addition of paddy straw had significant adverse effect on the electrical conductivity of final co-compost (170.6 % increase in EC over water hyacinth sole treatment) and all the other treatments showed EC below maximum permissible limit for plant growth. The total carbon content of all the co-composts was higher than water hyacinth sole compost. Nitrogen content of the co-compost was improved to a greater extent by the application of paddy straw and poultry manure. Co-composts with sawdust, biochar and dried leaves had significantly lower quantity of nitrogen compared to water hyacinth sole compost. Glyricidia and poultry manure were highly effective in improving total phosphorus content of the co-compost. Total potassium content of water hyacinth compost was significantly improved with the addition of co-substrates like paddy straw and biochar, the extent of increase being 192 and 170 per cent, respectively. Carbon to nitrogen ratio of water hyacinth co-compost was significantly lowered by using poultry manure as a co-substrate. Addition of poultry manure improved all the three secondary nutrients viz., Ca, Mg and sulphur to a higher magnitude. No favourable effect was noticed on the boron content of co-compost by the addition of different co-substrates. However, Fe and Mn levels of final co-composts were considerably lower than the water hyacinth sole compost. This could be considered as a favourable effect of co-composting of water hyacinth with different substrates. Zinc content of the co-compost was significantly improved by the inclusion of co-substrate particularly with the use of poultry manure and dried leaves. Copper content of the co-compost was significantly higher with the addition of poultry manure as co-substate. The addition of co-compost to lateritic soil, improved retention of nutrients particularly nitrogen. The only exception was co-compost with paddy straw (0.9 per cent decrease in the nitrogen retention capacity). Irrespective of the treatments, cocompost retained all the phosphorus and boron present in the co-compost amended soil. The soil’s potassium, magnesium, sulphur and zinc retention capacity could be improved when amended with water hyacinth co-compost. In general, soil with biochar co-compost showed significantly high retention capacity with respect to plant nutrients particularly nitrogen. Further study should be focused on field experiments to test the agronomic efficiency of different water hyacinth co-composts, testing suitability of various crop residues and organic wastes as co-substrates and to derive suitable substrate combinations and ratios to eliminate the adverse effects of co-substrate on compost quality.