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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: Asharf, M × Author: KAU × End date: 1992 × Start date: 1990 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Clay mineral characterisation of the major soil series of Trivandrum district
    (Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1992) Asharf, M; KAU; Subramonia Iyer, M
    The Trivandrum, Nedumangad Palode soil series are the major soil series established in The Trivandrum District. A study was undertaken to gather detailed qualitative and quantitative clay mineralogy of these soil series taking one representative the soil profile from each of the series. From the information on the field morphology, temperature and moisture regimes and mineralogy, it has been attempted to classify these soil series as per soil Taxonomy (USDA, 1975, 1987) upto the family level. The Trivandrum soil series situated in the mid land laterite zone of the Trivandrum District 20-25 meters above M.S.L. and 15-20 km away from the sea. While the Nedumangad and palode series is situated in the mid upland laterite zone, 25-50 meters above M.S.L. and 30-60 km away from the sea. The Trivandrum and Nedumangad series are comes under denudaded and cultivated laterite tract while the palode series comes under the retained semievergreen lateritic tract. All the three series are developed from the geneissic rocks rich in ilemanite and biotitemica. The laterisation is in the increasing order from palode < Nedumangad < Trivandrum series with developing lateritic argillic horizon (B12) and laterized Kaolinitic (B2t) horizons respectively. The Trivandrum and Nedumangad series are red to reddish brown coloured while the Palode series dark greyish brown to black coloured with gravelly sandy clay to gravelly clay texture. In all the three soil series the gravels are clay from the principal major components more than 45 per cent and more than 30 per cent respectively. The clay increase down the profiles is about two times in Trivandrum and Nedumangad series and it is about 1.5 times increase in Palode series. The Trivandrum and Nedumangad series are with Ochric epipedons and Kandic diagnostic subsurface horizon, while the Palode series is with mollic epipedon and developing lateritic argillic subsurface diagnostic horizons. All the soils are acidic, non saline and with low CEC. In the Trivandrum and Nedumangad series, the CEC is < 10 cmol kg -1 and in Palode series it is > 10 cmol kg-1. Hence the Trivandrum and Nedumangad series become Kaolinitic and low activity clay (LAC) soils and the Palode series is mixed and comparatively active clay soils. The sand mineralogy contains quartz, and leucoxene, heamatite, biotite, sillimanite in all the three soils series indicating the uniformity of parent materials. The chemical analysis and X-ray diffraction analysis reveal appreciable amounts of kaolinite (60-80 per cent), in the Trivandrum and Nedumangad series and 30-40 per cent in the Palode series.