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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: Betty, Bastin × Author: KAU × End date: 1998 × Start date: 1990 × Thesis Type: Ph.D ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Fate of carbofuran applied to the soil basin of black pepper
    (Department of Soil science and Agricultural chemistry, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1996) Betty, Bastin; KAU; Wahid, P A
    An investigation on the fate of carbofuran applied to the soil basin of black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) was conducted during 1992-1995 at the College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara. Laterite soils collected from the predominant pepper growing tracts of Kannur and Wayanad of Kerala state were used for the study. A field study was also conducted at the KADP farm attached to the College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara. The sorption of carbofuran in laterite soils and its persistence, influence of organic matter on the bio-availability of carbofuran, mobility of the insecticide in soil under field conditions and the effect of carbofuran on the growth of black pepper were assessed. The main findings of the study are given below. The sorption of insecticide in soil was found to be explained by Freundlich adsorption equation. The rates of sorption of carbofuran was not influenced by the organic matter contents . . An initial lag period was observed prior to carbofuran degradation in soil under laboratory conditions. Only one metabolite (3-hydroxycarbofuran) was detected as the product of degradation. The total content of 14C derived radioactivity was high in plants grown in soils with lowest organic matter content and vice versa. Hence, bioavailability of the insecticide is less in soils with high organic matter contents. So a discriminatory application of carbofuran is required depending on organic matter content of the soil. Thus for effective control of the pest in a soil with high organic matter content more quantity or carbofuran has to he applied than a soil with low content of organic matter. The residues of 14C-carbofuran absorbed plants left after HCl extraction, retained significant amounts of radioactivity which could be recovered following combustion. This indicated that determination of extraction efficiency by spiking or fortification of the samples with known quantities of insecticides would lead to overestimation of the recovery. The main metabolite of the carbofuran in the leaves was 3-hydroxy- carbofuran. Autoradiography of the bush pepper plants which was allowed to absorb 14C-carbofuran for 6 h showed that carbofuran was absorbed and translocated to the leaves and berry. Both carbofuran and hydroxycarbofuran were leached to the lower layers of soil (0-60 cm) during SW and NE monsoons. The content of hydroxycarbofuran was less than carbofuran in soils. In the foliage and berries carbofuran and the metabolite, 3-hydroxy- carbofuran accumulated. The content of hydroxycarbofuran was greater than that of carbofuran. As the harvesting time was delayed the content of residues also decreased. The early harvesting and use of immature berries may lead to more concentration of pesticide in the produce. This will lead to chances of more residue build-up in the human system.