Loading...
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
11 results
Search Results
ThesisItem Open Access Status, availability and transformation of magnesium in acid soils of Kerala(Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1992) Prema, D; KAU; Jose, A IThe investigation consisted of four parts, namely (1) magnesium status of soils in Kerala (2) evaluation of laboratory indices of Mg availability (3) transformation of applied Mg in soil and (4) pattern of Mg uptake by banana from different sources at different levels. In Part I, one hundred and fifty surface samples were collected from all over the State of Kerala, to study the status of Mg as well as properties in relation to the behaviour of Mg in these soils. In part 2, some selected chemical agents were tried in twenty selected soils in order to evolve a suitable extractant for available Mg. In Part 3, two acid rice soils of Kerala namely, Karappadam and laterite were incubated at field capacity for a period of 180 days with and without the addition of magnesium sulphate, magnesite and dolomite at the rate of 1250, 2500 and 3750 kg MgO ha-1, to monitor the pattern of release of Mg from applied sources . Soil samples were drawn regularly at 15 days interval for the determination of available Mq and at 60 days interval for the determination of other important chemical properties. In Part 4, a field experiment of banana was conducted to study the response to applied Mg.ThesisItem Open Access Response of rice to application of micronutrients(Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1992) Muralidharan, P; KAU; Jose, A IA field experiment was conducted to study the response of rice to application of secondary and micronutrients during the first and second crop seasons of 1991. The experiment was conducted at the agricultural Research Station, Mannuthy using rice variety Jyothi and the soil was sandy clay loam in texture. The treatments consisted of the different micronutrients (Zn, Cu, Mn, B and Mo), magnesium, sulphur, a combination of the above said nutrients and stanes Microfood, a micronutrient formulation, in addition to the control with no micronutrients. Application of N, P and K was done uniformly in all the treatments. Soil and plant samples were collected at the maximum tillering, flowering and harvesting stages of the crop for the determination of uptake and availability of nutrients, pH and specific conductance. The continued effect of the application of micronutrient was studied by repeating the experiment in the second crop season with the same set of treatments applied to the same plots. Observations on the morphological and yield characters and yields of grain and straw were recorded in both the seasons of crop growth.ThesisItem Open Access Suitability of magnesite as a source of magnesium in acid rice soils of Kerala(Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1992) Susan Varughese; KAU; Jose, A IAn incubation study and a potculture experiment were conducted to assess the suitability of magnesite in comparison with that of magnesium sulphate and dominate in karappadam (Moncompu, Alappuzha district) and laterite (Vellanikkara, Thrissur district) soils of Kerala. In the incubation study, these three Mg sources were added to the two soils at the rate of 25 and 50 kg MgO ha-1 and their transformations under submergence were studied for 180 days drawing samples at regular intervals of 15 days. The samples were analysed for Mg fractions, available Ca and K, pH and EC. In the potculture experiment using rice (Annapoorna) as the test crop, the direct and residual effectof magnesite, dolomite and magnesium sulphate were studied. The soils and levels of Mg application were the same as in the incubation study. Application of N, P and K was done uniformly in all the treatments . Soil and plant samples were taken at 15 days interval for the determination of uptake and avilability of nutrients , pH and EC. The residual effect of Mg fertilizers was assessed by continuing the experiment for the second season without the addition of Mg fertilizers.ThesisItem Open Access Management of acidity by combined application of lime and gypsum in a low activity clay soil of Kerala(Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry,College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1992) Tessy Jacob, K; KAU; Venugopal, V KAn investigation was conducted at the College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara in the period 1989-'91, with a view to identify the most appropriate and economic lime recommendation method and the most suitable combination of lime and gypsum for profitable management of upland latent e (LAC) soils. The first study was to characterise the low activity clay soils of Kerala m respect of acidity contribution factors. Another laboratory experiment was also conducted with PVC columns to study the mobility of Ca and Mg using different liming materials m combination with gypsum. A potculture experiment was also carried out using soybean to study the effect of liming in combination with gypsum on the growth, yield and uptake of various nutrients. The characterisation study revealed that the soils in the Vellanikkara series come under the textural class ranging from silty loam to silty clay loam. The soils m general were acidic in reaction with fairly high content of exchangeable Al and low CaO and MgO contents. Sesquioxide, and Al2O3 contents were high. The soils were low m organic carbon and CEC. The leaching experiment revealed that CaCO3 and MgCO3 can be used as an ameliorant for acid surface soils as it neutralised exchangeable Al and increased pH in the surface layer only. CaS0.2H20, however can be used as an ameliorant for acid subsoils as it neutralised exchangeable Al and supplied Ca throughout the length of the profile. The combination treatment with MgCO3 + 75 per cent CaSO4 2H2O can be suggested as an ameliorant for acid surface as well as subsoils as it resulted in uniform distribution of exchangeable Ca and Mg throughout the length of the column and neutralised exchangeable Al in the whole length of the profile. Liming resulted m significant increase in plant height, nodule number, dry weight of pod, g r a m yield, haulm yield, total dry weight and N, P, K uptake. , Soil pH, effective CEC, total Ca, exchangeable Ca and available N were increased significantly due to liming. However significant reduction in total Mg, exchangeable Al, Al saturation and available P and K resulted due to liming. Liming at the rate of 1.5 times exchangeable Al content of soil was found to be the most appropriate and economic lime recommendation method for the highly weathered and leached acid soils of Kerala.ThesisItem Open Access Fractionation of organic and inorganic nitrogen in important soil types of Kerala(Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry,College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1992) Mini, E R; KAU; Sumam Susan, VargheseIn order to study the distribution of various organic and inorganic fractions of soil nitrogen in different soil types of Kerala, 100 surface soil samples belonging to five types were selected from various places of the state. The five soil types were laterite, forest, brown hydromorphic, coastal alluvium and Kuttanad alluvium . Observations on the general characteristics of soil revealed that total nitrogen and organic carbon was highest for forest soil and was least m the case of coastal alluvium . In general all the soil types were acidic in reaction. Electrical conductivity was highest in the case of Kuttanad alluvial soil Fractionation of nitrogen showed that the most dominant fraction in the case of laterite and brown hydromorphic soils a-e AaN and that for forest, coastal alluvium and Kuttanad alluvium is NHyN. Mean total nitrogen content for laterite soils is 0.174 per cent. Of this, 27 59 percent was AaN, 20.69 per cent FAN, 16.67 per cent NHyN, 14.94 per cent HyAN, 11.67 per cent UHyN, 3.85 per cent NH4-N, 2. 64 per cent NO3-N and 1. 95 per cent HyAN. The mean value of total nitrogen content of the forest soil was 0 304 per cent. Of this 41. 45 per cent was NHyN, 1 / 86 per cent AaN, 12.24 per cent HaN, 10.63 per cent FAN, 10.36 per cent UHyN 3.36 per cent NH4-N, 2. 37 per cent HyAN and 1. 74 per cent NO3-N The mean total nitrogen content of the brown hydromorphic soil was 0 180 per cent Of this, 21.60 per cent was AaN, 21 25 per cent UHyN, 18.20 per cen4, NHyN,17.20 per cent FAN, 13.76 per cent HaN, 3.16 per cent HyAN, 3.11per cent NH4-N and 1.67 per cent NO3-N. The mean content of total nitrogen of the coastal alluvial soil was 0.161 per cent. Of this,27.65 per cent NHyN, 22.26 per cent AaN, 19.96 per cent UHyN, 12.40 per cent FAN, 6.51 per cent HaN, 6.26 per cent HyAN, 3.10 per cent NH4-N and 1.74 per cent NO3-N. The mean content of total nitrogen of the Kuttanad alluvial soil was 0.2705 per cent. Of this, 37.04 per cent was NHyN, 15 16 per cent AaN, 14.94 per cent FAN, 11.42 per cent HaN, 10.76 per cent UHyN, 3.99 per cent NO3-N, 3 70 per cent NH4-N and 2.96 per cent HyAN In all the five soil types there was significant positive correlation between cation exchange capacity and FAN On studying the relationship of various nitrogen fractions to organic carbon on the selected soil types of Kerala revealed that 75 per cent variation of organic carbon in laterite soil, 87 per cent Variation of organic carbon in forest soil and 70 per cent variation of organic carbon in brown hydromorphic soil can be explained by the nitrogen fractions of the soils The significant relationship obtained between AaN and alkaline KMnO4 -N, considers alkaline KMn04-N as a reliable method of available nitrogen estimation, in the laterite soils of Kerala. In the three soil types, viz., crown hydromorphic, coastal alluvium and Kuttanad alluvium , a significant relationship between the alkaline i KMnO4-N and nitrogen fraction could not be established. So for these types of soil, a better analytical method of available nitrogen than that of alkaline KMnO4-N has to be taken up.ThesisItem Open Access Effect of long term application of manures and fertilisers on soil properties, utilization efficiency of nutrients and quality of rice(Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry,College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1992) Padmam, M K; KAU; Chinnamma, N PA study was conducted during the first crop season of 1990to assess the effect of long term application of manures and fertilizers on soil properties, utilization efficiency of nutrients and quality of rice making use of the soil and plant samples taken from the existing permanent manurial trial (dwarf indica) at the Regional Agricultural Research Station, Pattambi. This experiment was started at Pattambi during the first crop season of 1973. The soil of the experimental site is laterite. The experiment is laid out in randomised block design with four replications and eight treatments. The treatments consisted of application of entire quantity of N - 90 kg ha 1, as organic alone (cattle manure alone, .green manure alone and cattle manure + green manure) , inorganic alone (ammonium sulphate alone and NPK fertilizers) and a combination of organics with inorganics (cattle manure + NPK fertilizers, green manure + NPK fertilizers and cattle manure + green leaves + NPK fertilizers). Soil samples were collected from all the replications of the various treatments before planting, at different stages of crop growth viz., tillering, panicle initiation, 50 per cent flowering and harvest. Plant samples were also collected at the above growth stages. Data on yield of grain and straw were collected from the Regional Agricultural Research Station, Pattambi. Soil and plant samples were analysed in the laboratory to find out the effect of long term application of manures and fertilizers on physical and chemical properties of soil, uptake of nutrients and utilization efficiency of nutrients and quality of grain and straw. Results of analysis of soil samples collected before planting revealed the beneficial effect of organic matter addition on bulk density, water holding capacity and aggregate stability of soil. Long term application of manures and fertilizers singly and in combination had no significant influence on the soil reaction and CEC of the soil. The application of ammonium sulphate alone to supply 90 kg N ha continuously for the last 17 years has not changed the soil reaction considerably. Addition of organic manures at a high dose of 18 t ha for a long period of 17 years failed to increase the CEC of the soil. Results clearly indicated the favourable influence of cattle manure addition in increasing the content of organic carbon.ThesisItem Open Access Evaluation and suitability rating of ten major soil series of the command area of Kallada Irrigation project(Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Agriculture, Tavanur, 1992) Premachandran, P N; KAU; Aiyer, R S (Guide)The present study was undertaken covering the ten identified important soil series of the command area of Kallada Irrigation Project, with the objective of evaluating the soils based on their morphological and physico chemical characteristics. The soil series selected are Mannar, Adoor, Sooranad, Palamel, Mylom, Erath, Bharanikavu Kallada, Pooyappally and Kunnamkara. Profile pits were dug in the typical areas identified and the morphological features observed were recorded as per soil Survey Manual (1970). The salient features of the area in respect of location, physiography, drainage, vegetation and land use were also recorded. The physical and chemical properties of the soil samples collected were determined by standard analytical procedures. These soil series have been evaluated on the basis of land evaluation and rating of productivity parameters The productivity parameters considered in the present study include soil texture, depth, soil reaction, drainage, cation exchange capacity, base saturation, electrical conductivity, coarse fragments, slope and nutrient status. For each parameter, a range of scale is prepared, and numerical values assigned based on principles of land evaluation. Productivity of the soil has been calculated by multiplying the ratings of the individual parameters and expressed as percentage. The ten soil series selected for study have been classified as per the comprehensive soil classification system – Soil Taxonomy. Five soil series namely Kallada, Mannar, Erath, Pooyappally and Kunnamkara are grouped under Entisol. four series namely Bharanikavu, Palamel, Mylom and Sooranad under Inceptisol and Adoor series under Ultisol. The land capability classification of these soils shows that the Kallada soil series comes under class IIe, Sooranad, Mylom, Erath, Pooyappally and Kunnamkara series under class IIw, Palamel, Bharanikavu, major part of Adoor and a portion of Kallada under class IIIe and Mannar serious under class IIIsc. A portion of Adoor series is grouped under class IVe. The irrigability classification of these soils revealed that the Mannar series comes under class 2s, Kallada under class 2t, Sooranad, Mylom, Erath, Pooyappally and Kunnamkara under class 2d, Adoor, Palamel, Bharanikavu and a portion of Kallada series under class 3t. A portion of Adoor series in grouped under the irrigability class 4t. The productivity rating of these soil series gives the following results. The Kunnamkara soil series with a rating of 38.7 percent rank first for paddy. The study shows that the Earth soil series is the least productive for paddy. Coconut, tapioca and banana. The Palamel series having a rating of 31.4 percent, with good rating class is the most suitable for coconut. The kallada soil series ranks top both for tapioca and banana with rating of 27.6 and 38.8 percent respectively.ThesisItem Open Access Growth and nutrition of black pepper as influenced by decaying litter materials in soil(Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1992) Sivakumar, C; KAU; Wahid, P AAn investigation on the growth and nutrition of black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) as influenced by decaying litter materials in soil was conducted at the College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara. The black pepper variety Panniyur – 1 was invariably used for the study. Biomass production in black pepper was significantly increased following the incorporation of organic materials into the soil compared to the control vines. When the different levels of organic sources were compared, total biomass production of the vine decreased at highest level (3 per cent) of application of coffee and black pepper leaves. This was attributed to allelopathic effect of the decaying material. There was a steady increase in biomass production with increasing level of garuga leaf application. Significant increase were noticed in the N ,P and K concentrations of leaf and stem, Mg concentration of leaf, S concentration of leaf and stem, Fe content of stem and foliar Mn content of the vine following the organic matter treatments as compared to control vines. The vine removed significantly higher quantities of N, p, K, Ca, Mg, S, Fe and Mn following the soil application of leaf materials as compared to the control vines. The average nutrient removal by a six – month – old black pepper vine to produce 11.19 g of shoot dry matter was 200.19 mg N, 18.92 mg P, 432.53 mg K, 155.89 mg Ca, 19.44 mg Mg, 12.33 mg S, 1517 µg Fe and 3546 µg Mn. The contribution of leaf to the total nutrient removal was more compared to that of stem. Significant increases in major and micronutrient availability in soil were noticed following the incorporation of leaf materials. On an average, the rate of organic carbon loss in laboratory incubation was the slowest in soil with coffee or silver oak leaves as the organic source and was fastest when the garuga was the organic source. The half – life values for organic carbon was the organic source. The half – life values for organic carbon loss varied from 91 – 193 days. The half – life values obtained for coffee, erythrina and black pepper leaves in field decomposition study were 40, 44 and 53 days respectively.ThesisItem Open Access Electro-chemical properties of selected oxisols and ultisols of Kerala with special reference to charge characteristics and surface mineralogy(Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1992) Rajendran, P; KAU; Subramonia Iyer, RA study has been conducted in seven selected profiles of Oxisols and Ultisols representing the important pedological units with a wide geographical distribution in the state to have a deeper insight in to the electro-chemical behaviour of these soils. A multipronged approach to the studies made are highlighted to enable a clear understanding of the achievements as against the major objectives and approaches made. A laboratory study with thirty six samples from seven profiles representing six Ultisols and one Oxisol has been carried out. Path coefficient analysis of important thirteen charge contributing factors against two parameters for measurement of charge and the inter-relationship of 15 soil characters show that organic matter5, clay %, R2 O3%, Alo% and Feo% are the major factors that control the surface charge behaviour of the soils. The factors studied explained only 55% and 48% of the variability of cation exchange and anion exchange respectively. Study of the distribution of the electric charges in the surface and sub- surface horizons of the soils was made by the means of potentiometric titrations and by measurement of adsorption of ions in the presence of varying concentration of electrolytes. The titration curves at different ionic strengths crossed at the common point intersection the zero-point of charge (zpc). Thus the electro-chemical behaviour of these soils was found to be similar to that exhibited by many metallic oxides in which the surface potential of reversible double layer is determined solely by the activity of potential determining ions, H+ and OH- in the bulk of the solution. The zpc for the surface horizons was found to be lower than the sub-surface and sub- surface horizons in all the soils studied. Soil to soil variation in zcp between surface and sub-surface horizons were more or less the same for all samples. Thus zcp can not be recommended as a taxonomic tool in soil classification to distinguish Oxisols from Ultisols. From known values of surface area and zpc of these soils, the values for net electric charge was calculated by the application of the Gouy- Chapman model of double layer and was found to obey the theory only at a critical electrolyte concentration. As the soils were found to be similar to that of constant potential systems, the charge distribution varied substan\tially with PH and electrolyte concentration. Direct measurement of adsorption of ions from solutions of KC1 NaCl and CaCl2 showed that the nature and valence of index cations also influenced the magnitude of the negative charges on the soils particles. On the basis of the influence of PHJ, electrolyte concentration and the valence of the counter-ions on the electric charges of the soils most of the conventional methods of ion-exchanged determinations using buffered electrolytes at high concentrations appears to be inappropriate for tropical soils. In a study for the evaluation of ion-exchange measurements it was found that the compulsive exchange methods is most suitable for the combined estimation of CEC and AEC. The traditional ammonium acetate method was found to give over estimations of CEC and thus very high values. Calcium chloride, 0.002 M was found to be equally effective but owing to the simplicity of the procedure, the former appeared better. The compulsive exchange method is free from the inherent defects of neutral normal ammonium acetate and hence would seem well suited for the Oxisols and Ultisols of Kerala. Although sesquioxidic components in combination with organic matter apparently dominate the charge properties of these soils, there was evidence from the titration curves to shows the presence of small amounts of clay minerals with permanent negative charge. This was confirmed by different methods and was found in good agreement with the estimated theoretical results. However under field conditions the expression of this constituent was minimum and the variable charge components such as Fe, al oxides certainly control the electro-chemical characteristics. In a separate experiment to find out the contribution of organic matter and sesquioxides towards exchanges properties of soils, it was observed that bout 64% of the negative sites and 8% of the positive was contributed from organic matter. Sesquioxides explained only 11% of the variablility in CECX and 22% of the variability in AEC. The combined effect of organic matter and R2O3 removal was highly significant with respect to CEC and AEC in all the soils studied. Mineralogical investigation revealed the presence of kaolinite as the dominant clay mineral. Appreciable amounts of smectities, quartz and gibbsite was also identified. The presence of smectities was not reflected in the CEC of any of the samples. Scanning electron micrographs did not give much information other than the presence of a thick coating of iron and amorphous materials over clay aggregates. The specific surface measured by ethylence glycol retention method invariably showed higher values than the determined values obtained for negative adsorption data. The specific surface determined closely followed the organic matter content of the samples inspite of the vertical increase in clay content with in profiles.