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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: Gopi, C S × End date: 1985 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Foliar diagnosis in coconut (Cocos nucifera, Linn.) in relation to nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium
    (Department of soil science and agricultural chemistry, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1981) Gopi, C S; KAU; Jose, A I
    A study was undertaken to standardise the foliar diagnostic technique in coconut palm in relation to nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, making use of the experimental palms of a permanent NPK trial maintained at the Coconut Research Station, Balaramapuram, Trivandrum District. The palms of this experiment received applications of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in three levels each viz., 0, 340 and 680 g nitrogen per palm per year, 0, 225 and 450 g P2O5 per palm per year and 0, 450 and 900 g k2O per palm per year. For the standardization of tissue for foliar diagnosis, samples of leaf lamina and mid-rib were drawn separately from all the leaves of the experimental palms. Attempts were also made to establish critical levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the leaf and also to work out regression models to predict yield based on the tissue content of these nutrients. Observations revealed that the number of leaves retained by the palm was mainly a function of potassium applied. The number of leaves retained by the palm significantly correlated with the yield(r = 0.93**). The potassium content of lamina of the 2nd leaf can be predicted from the number of leaves retained, making use of the regression equation, Y = 5.32 + 8.95 x where x is the potassium per cent of leaf lamina and Y is the number of leaves retained. The number of leaves retained was also found to be significantly correlated with yield (r = 0.708**). The percentage of nitrogen in the leaf lamina increased with increasing age of leaf till leaf number 6 and thereafter steadily declined. The phosphorus and potassium contents of the leaf were maximum in the youngest leaf and declined with increasing age of leaf. Palms receiving higher levels of nitrogen and potassium retained correspondingly higher contents of nitrogen and potassium in leaf lamina. Application of different levels of phosphorus gave only marginal difference in the percentage of phosphorus in leaf lamina. The nitrogen content of leaf lamina of different leaf position was significantly correlated with yield, the highest coefficient of partial correlation of 0.777** being registered for the 10th leaf, followed by 0.699**for the 2nd leaf. The phosphorus content of leaf lamina failed to establish significant correlation with yield, irrespective of leaf positions. The coefficients of partial correlation between yield and potassium per cent of lamina of leaf positions 2, 3, and 6 were significant, the highest value of 0.663** being recorded for the second leaf. Taking the percentage of nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) in the lamina of 2nd leaf and leaf number (L) as independent variables, yield can be predicted with an accuracy of 84 per cent (R2 = 0.84**) by the regression model, Y = -14.956 + 39.215 N – 16.097 N2 + 83.873 K – 37.388 K2 -11.046 L – 0.202 L2 – 44.186 N x K + 5.529 N x L + 6.276 K x L. The yield can also be predicted with an accuracy of 72 per cent by the regression model, Y = -64.29 + 23.356 N + 1.779 L where N is the nitrogen percentage of lamina of 2nd leaf and L is the number of leaves retained. The critical values for nitrogen and potassium in the leaf lamina of 2nd leaf were found to be 3.31 per cent for nitrogen and 2.17 per cent for potassium. The pattern of distribution for nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the leaf mid – ribs was almost similar to the pattern of distribution of those nutrients in the leaf lamina. The coefficients of partial correlation between yield and nitrogen content of leaf mid-rib of leaf positions 6, 14, 15 and 18 were statistically significant, the highest value of 0.677** being recorded for the 14th leaf. The phosphorus content of mid-rib failed to establish significant correlation with yield. The coefficients of partial linear correlation between yield and potassium per cent of mid-ribs were significant for leaf positions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 10, the highest value being recorded for the 4th leaf (r = 0.762**). The multiple correlation coefficient between yield and percentage of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium was highest (R = 0.771**) for the lamina of the second leaf, among all the position and types of tissue examined and hence, this tissue is recommended as the best tissue for the foliar diagnosis of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.