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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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20112
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Subject: Soil Science and Agriculture Chemistry × Author: Hasna, K × Author: KAU × End date: 2011 × Start date: 2011 × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Influence of organic matter and moisture on adsorption of chloroacetanilide herbicides in laterite soil.
    (Departmental of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2011) Hasna, K; KAU; Durga Devi, K M
    Experiments were carried out to study the influence of organic matter and soil moisture on the adsorption of chloroacetanilide herbicides, viz., butachlor and pretilachlor, in laterite soil. The technical programme consisted of an incubation experiment and a pot culture study. In the incubation experiment, two moisture levels viz., air dry and field capacity were included along with two herbicides, butachlor and pretilachlor, and three organic matter sources, FYM, vermicompost and soil. The pot culture experiment consisted of six treatments with two herbicides and three organic matter sources. The herbicides, butachlor and pretilachlor were applied @ 1.25 kg ha-1 and 0.45 kg ha-1 respectively and the manures were applied @ 5.0 t ha -1. The soil sample collected for the study belongs to Ultisol order, the major characteristics of which are low pH, low CEC (4.7 and 4.67 C mol (+) kg-1 respectively ) and high sand content (73.13 % sand, 16.88 % silt and 10.00 % clay). Organic carbon content was in the medium range (0.61 %). Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is the most active fraction of organic matter and hence the procedure for DOC estimation in soil, FYM and vermicompost was standardized. Quantity of herbicides adsorbed by soil was determined by gas chromatography using standard protocols developed at AICRP on Weed Control, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara. In the incubation experiment, the degree of adsorption of butachlor and pretilachlor was evaluated using the Kd (distribution coefficient) values. The Kd values followed the order of organic carbon content in the soil samples taken from the treatments. The Kd values were higher for pretilachlor with the order being FYM > vermicompost > soil. Only slight variations were observed between air dry and field capacity levels indicating that moisture levels had no significant influence on the Kd values. This could be explained by hydrophobic character of the herbicides under study. The pot culture study showed that adsorption as well as dissipation of herbicides were more in vermicompost treatment. The results also indicated that initial adsorption of herbicides was lessened by dissolved organic carbon released from the farmyard manure. However, the half life of herbicides was more in FYM treatment when compared to vermicompost and control (soil alone). The half life of butachlor was 17.00 days and that of pretilachlor was 19.00 days in FYM treatment. The results indicated the superiority of FYM in retaining the herbicides for the desired period of weed control in rice. Phytotoxicity due to herbicide application was more with vermicompost treatment than that of FYM and soil alone treatments. This was due to the higher initial adsorption of herbicides by the soil matrix. Biometric observations on plant height, productive tillers, yield of grain and straw showed that FYM is superior to vermicompost in improving the growth and yield of rice. From the above study, it could be concluded that butachlor and pretilachlor are strongly adsorbed on soil organic matter and their adsorption onto soils is affected by the presence of soluble organic matter. Presence of high levels of dissolved organic carbon in the FYM treatment at the time of application of herbicides resulted in a reduction in the magnitude of adsorption. On comparing two organic matter sources, it was noticed that total as well as dissolved organic carbon were higher in the FYM applied soil. The dissolved organic carbon would have facilitated movement of chemicals while the particulate organic carbon improved their retention. Therefore, it is essential to consider both these factors when pre -emergence herbicides are applied to rice.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Normal view MARC view ISBD view Influence of organic matter and moisture on adsorption of chloroacetanilide herbicides in laterite soil
    (College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2011) Hasna, K; KAU; Durga Devi, K M
    Experiments were carried out to study the influence of organic matter and soil moisture on the adsorption of chloroacetanilide herbicides, viz., butachlor and pretilachlor, in laterite soil. The technical programme consisted of an incubation experiment and a pot culture study. In the incubation experiment, two moisture levels viz., air dry and field capacity were included along with two herbicides, butachlor and pretilachlor, and three organic matter sources, FYM, vermicompost and soil. The pot culture experiment consisted of six treatments with two herbicides and three organic matter sources. The herbicides, butachlor and pretilachlor were applied @ 1.25 kg ha-1 and 0.45 kg ha-1 respectively and the manures were applied @ 5.0 t ha -1. The soil sample collected for the study belongs to Ultisol order, the major characteristics of which are low pH, low CEC (4.7 and 4.67 C mol (+) kg-1 respectively ) and high sand content (73.13 % sand, 16.88 % silt and 10.00 % clay). Organic carbon content was in the medium range (0.61 %). Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is the most active fraction of organic matter and hence the procedure for DOC estimation in soil, FYM and vermicompost was standardized. Quantity of herbicides adsorbed by soil was determined by gas chromatography using standard protocols developed at AICRP on Weed Control, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara. In the incubation experiment, the degree of adsorption of butachlor and pretilachlor was evaluated using the Kd (distribution coefficient) values. The Kd values followed the order of organic carbon content in the soil samples taken from the treatments. The Kd values were higher for pretilachlor with the order being FYM > vermicompost > soil. Only slight variations were observed between air dry and field capacity levels indicating that moisture levels had no significant influence on the Kd values. This could be explained by hydrophobic character of the herbicides under study. The pot culture study showed that adsorption as well as dissipation of herbicides were more in vermicompost treatment. The results also indicated that initial adsorption of herbicides was lessened by dissolved organic carbon released from the farmyard manure. However, the half life of herbicides was more in FYM treatment when compared to vermicompost and control (soil alone). The half life of butachlor was 17.00 days and that of pretilachlor was 19.00 days in FYM treatment. The results indicated the superiority of FYM in retaining the herbicides for the desired period of weed control in rice. Phytotoxicity due to herbicide application was more with vermicompost treatment than that of FYM and soil alone treatments. This was due to the higher initial adsorption of herbicides by the soil matrix. Biometric observations on plant height, productive tillers, yield of grain and straw showed that FYM is superior to vermicompost in improving the growth and yield of rice. From the above study, it could be concluded that butachlor and pretilachlor are strongly adsorbed on soil organic matter and their adsorption onto soils is affected by the presence of soluble organic matter. Presence of high levels of dissolved organic carbon in the FYM treatment at the time of application of herbicides resulted in a reduction in the magnitude of adsorption. On comparing two organic matter sources, it was noticed that total as well as dissolved organic carbon were higher in the FYM applied soil. The dissolved organic carbon would have facilitated movement of chemicals while the particulate organic carbon improved their retention. Therefore, it is essential to consider both these factors when pre -emergence herbicides are applied to rice.