Thumbnail Image

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.

Browse

20142
Reset filters
Subject: Soil Science and Agriculture Chemistry × Author: Chris, Joseph × Author: KAU × Start date: 2010 × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
Reset filters

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Quality assessment of pokkali soils under different land uses
    (Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry,College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2014) Chris, Joseph; KAU; Sreelatha, A K
    The present study entitled ‘Quality assessment of Pokkali soils under different land uses’ was undertaken to evaluate the soil and water quality of acid saline Pokkali soils under different land uses and to develop geo-referenced database and maps on soil characterization. For this purpose, surface soil samples and water samples were collected from the selected panchayaths representing five land use pattern in the Pokkali tracts. Initial survey was conducted on Pokkali area and five panchayaths were selected from Ernakulam district namely, Kuzhippally, Nayarambalam, Elamkunnappuzha, Edavanakkadu and Kottuvally with all the selected land use patterns. The land use patterns under study were i) paddy alone ii) paddy – shrimp iii) shrimp alone iv) fallow and v) mangroves. The soil samples were analysed for their physical (texture, bulk density, soil moisture constants, aggregate stability), chemical (pH, EC, CEC, base saturation, available N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, S, B) and biological (organic carbon, dehydrogenase activity, microbial biomass carbon) attributes. Water samples were also characterized for parameters like pH, EC, TSS and heavy metals. Measured attributes were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance using statistical package MSTATC to examine the effect of land use type on soil properties. Soil quality evaluation was done by the method described by Andrews et al. (2002). Three main steps of this technique includes, i) selection of minimum data set (MDS), ii) scoring of the MDS indicators based on their performance of soil functions, and iii) integration of the indicator scores into a comparative index of soil quality. Analysis of variance revealed that land uses have significant effect on most of the measured attributes except fine sand percent, base saturation percent, content of Mg, Zn, organic carbon and dehydrogenase activity. The statistical analysis resulted in selection of minimum data set which highly influenced the quality of the soil. Indicators in the MDS included available water content, pH, fine sand percent, aggregate stability, silt percent, available Mg, bulk density, available S, microbial biomass carbon, available Mn, organic carbon, base saturation and EC. The highest soil quality index (4.92) was observed in paddy- shrimp land use system in Nayarambalam panchayath and least value (2.07) was observed in shrimp alone land use pattern in Kottuvally panchayath. The observed soil quality index value was in the order, paddy- shrimp> paddy alone> fallow> mangrove> shrimp alone. Based on the relative soil quality index value, all land uses were categorized into three groups, ie, poor, medium and good. Paddy- shrimp land use system in Nayarambalam panchayath was the only one land use system coming under the ‘good’ category. For all the panchayaths and RRS, Vyttila GIS based soil quality index maps were prepared.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Quality assessment of pokkali soils under different land uses
    (College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2014) Chris, Joseph; KAU; Sreelatha, A K
    The present study entitled ‘Quality assessment of Pokkali soils under different land uses’ was undertaken to evaluate the soil and water quality of acid saline Pokkali soils under different land uses and to develop geo-referenced database and maps on soil characterization. For this purpose, surface soil samples and water samples were collected from the selected panchayaths representing five land use pattern in the Pokkali tracts. Initial survey was conducted on Pokkali area and five panchayaths were selected from Ernakulam district namely, Kuzhippally, Nayarambalam, Elamkunnappuzha, Edavanakkadu and Kottuvally with all the selected land use patterns. The land use patterns under study were i) paddy alone ii) paddy – shrimp iii) shrimp alone iv) fallow and v) mangroves. The soil samples were analysed for their physical (texture, bulk density, soil moisture constants, aggregate stability), chemical (pH, EC, CEC, base saturation, available N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, S, B) and biological (organic carbon, dehydrogenase activity, microbial biomass carbon) attributes. Water samples were also characterized for parameters like pH, EC, TSS and heavy metals. Measured attributes were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance using statistical package MSTATC to examine the effect of land use type on soil properties. Soil quality evaluation was done by the method described by Andrews et al. (2002). Three main steps of this technique includes, i) selection of minimum data set (MDS), ii) scoring of the MDS indicators based on their performance of soil functions, and iii) integration of the indicator scores into a comparative index of soil quality. Analysis of variance revealed that land uses have significant effect on most of the measured attributes except fine sand percent, base saturation percent, content of Mg, Zn, organic carbon and dehydrogenase activity. The statistical analysis resulted in selection of minimum data set which highly influenced the quality of the soil. Indicators in the MDS included available water content, pH, fine sand percent, aggregate stability, silt percent, available Mg, bulk density, available S, microbial biomass carbon, available Mn, organic carbon, base saturation and EC. The highest soil quality index (4.92) was observed in paddy- shrimp land use system in Nayarambalam panchayath and least value (2.07) was observed in shrimp alone land use pattern in Kottuvally panchayath. The observed soil quality index value was in the order, paddy- shrimp> paddy alone> fallow> mangrove> shrimp alone. Based on the relative soil quality index value, all land uses were categorized into three groups, ie, poor, medium and good. Paddy- shrimp land use system in Nayarambalam panchayath was the only one land use system coming under the ‘good’ category. For all the panchayaths and RRS, Vyttila GIS based soil quality index maps were prepared.