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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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20212
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Subject: Soil Science and Agriculture Chemistry × Author: KAU × Author: Shafna, S H × End date: 2021 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Assessment of soil quality in the post - flood scenario of AEU 9 in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala and generation of GIS maps
    (Department of Soil Science and Agricultural chemistry, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2021) Shafna, S H; KAU; Gladis, R
    A study entitled “Assessment of soil quality in the post-flood scenario of AEU 9 in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala and generation of GIS maps” was carried out during 2018-20 with the objective to evaluate the soil quality in the flood affected areas of AEU 9 of Pathanamthitta district, to work out the soil quality index and to generate maps of various soil attributes and quality indices using GIS techniques. Survey conducted to identify the flood affected areas in AEU 9 of Pathanamthitta district revealed that the flood affected panchayats includes Kaviyur, Thumbamon, Kulanada, Thottapuzhassery, Kallupara, Mezhuvely, Panthalam, Kozhanchery, Aranmula, and Mallapally. All these panchayats were severely affected by flood havoc and submergence that occurred in Manimala, Pamba and Achankovil rivers during August 2018. A total of seventy five geo referenced surface soil samples were collected from the flood affected panchayats and analyzed for various physical, chemical and biological attributes. Minimum data set of soil indicators for computing soil quality was selected using principal component analysis. The selected parameters were sand content, bulk density, available B, available S, available K, available Mn and organic carbon. Scores and weights were assigned to each selected indicator, and computed the soil quality index. GIS techniques were used to generate thematic maps of various soil attributes and soil quality indices. Sediment deposition was observed in all panchayats, while highest deposition of sand and silt were observed in Aranmula and Thumbamon panchayats. The flood did not cause much alteration in the soil texture of AEU 9 of pathanamthitta. The dominant textural class was loam. The particle density and bulk density of soil ranged from 2.07 to 2.45 and 0.87 to 1.76 Mg m -3 respectively. More than 89 per cent of the soils showed porosity in the range of 50 to 80 per cent. The soil moisture content ranged between 15.2 to 50.8 per cent. The water holding capacity and water stable aggregates ranged from 25.4 to 62.4 per cent and 38.6 to 68.5 per cent respectively. 137The electrical conductivity of soil ranged between 0.05 and 0.40 dS m -1 . Post flood soil showed an increase in the organic carbon status of the soil. Majority (95 %) of soil comes under medium and high organic carbon status after flood. About 54.7 per cent of the soils are medium in available N content. Available phosphorus content varied between 8.10 and 104 kg ha -1 with a mean of 31.9 kg ha -1 and available potassium varied between 78.7 and 493 kg ha -1 with a mean of 246 kgha -1 . The post flood soils are adequate in available sulphur (92 %) and deficient in boron status (100 %). The soil quality analysis revealed that majority of soils had high soil quality index (86.7%). Land quality index was very low in 64 % of soils while 32 % samples showed low land quality index. Nutrient index for nitrogen was low in most of the panchayats, medium and high for phosphorus, potassium and organic carbon. The results of the study revealed that most of the soil became strongly acidic after flood. Organic carbon, potassium, phosphorus and sulphur are high and medium status while nitrogen is low in most of the panchayats. Deficiency of calcium and magnesium increases after flood. The entire study area showed deficiency of boron. The results outline the need for regular liming to control soil acidity and alleviate calcium deficiency. It is also suggested to supplement magnesium and boron to improve soil quality.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Assessment of soil quality in the post - flood scenario of AEU 9 in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala and generation of GIS maps
    (Department of Soil Science and Agricultural chemistry, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2021) Shafna, S H; KAU; Gladis, R
    A study entitled “Assessment of soil quality in the post-flood scenario of AEU 9 in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala and generation of GIS maps” was carried out during 2018-20 with the objective to evaluate the soil quality in the flood affected areas of AEU 9 of Pathanamthitta district, to work out the soil quality index and to generate maps of various soil attributes and quality indices using GIS techniques. Survey conducted to identify the flood affected areas in AEU 9 of Pathanamthitta district revealed that the flood affected panchayats includes Kaviyur, Thumbamon, Kulanada, Thottapuzhassery, Kallupara, Mezhuvely, Panthalam, Kozhanchery, Aranmula, and Mallapally. All these panchayats were severely affected by flood havoc and submergence that occurred in Manimala, Pamba and Achankovil rivers during August 2018. A total of seventy five geo referenced surface soil samples were collected from the flood affected panchayats and analyzed for various physical, chemical and biological attributes. Minimum data set of soil indicators for computing soil quality was selected using principal component analysis. The selected parameters were sand content, bulk density, available B, available S, available K, available Mn and organic carbon. Scores and weights were assigned to each selected indicator, and computed the soil quality index. GIS techniques were used to generate thematic maps of various soil attributes and soil quality indices. Sediment deposition was observed in all panchayats, while highest deposition of sand and silt were observed in Aranmula and Thumbamon panchayats. The flood did not cause much alteration in the soil texture of AEU 9 of pathanamthitta. The dominant textural class was loam. The particle density and bulk density of soil ranged from 2.07 to 2.45 and 0.87 to 1.76 Mg m -3 respectively. More than 89 per cent of the soils showed porosity in the range of 50 to 80 per cent. The soil moisture content ranged between 15.2 to 50.8 per cent. The water holding capacity and water stable aggregates ranged from 25.4 to 62.4 per cent and 38.6 to 68.5 per cent respectively. 137The electrical conductivity of soil ranged between 0.05 and 0.40 dS m -1 . Post flood soil showed an increase in the organic carbon status of the soil. Majority (95 %) of soil comes under medium and high organic carbon status after flood. About 54.7 per cent of the soils are medium in available N content. Available phosphorus content varied between 8.10 and 104 kg ha -1 with a mean of 31.9 kg ha -1 and available potassium varied between 78.7 and 493 kg ha -1 with a mean of 246 kgha -1 . The post flood soils are adequate in available sulphur (92 %) and deficient in boron status (100 %). The soil quality analysis revealed that majority of soils had high soil quality index (86.7%). Land quality index was very low in 64 % of soils while 32 % samples showed low land quality index. Nutrient index for nitrogen was low in most of the panchayats, medium and high for phosphorus, potassium and organic carbon. The results of the study revealed that most of the soil became strongly acidic after flood. Organic carbon, potassium, phosphorus and sulphur are high and medium status while nitrogen is low in most of the panchayats. Deficiency of calcium and magnesium increases after flood. The entire study area showed deficiency of boron. The results outline the need for regular liming to control soil acidity and alleviate calcium deficiency. It is also suggested to supplement magnesium and boron to improve soil quality.