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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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19992
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Subject: Soil Science and Agriculture Chemistry × Author: KAU × End date: 1999 × Start date: 1999 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: Ph.D ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Characterisation of Soils Under Reed (Ochlandra Travancorica Benth.) In the Western Ghats
    (Department Of Soil Science And Agricultural Chemistry,College Of Horticulture,Vellanikkara, 1999) Sujatha, M P; KAU; Jose, A I
    A study was carried out at the Kerala Agricultural University and the Kerala Forest Research Institute during 1993-1996 mainly to characterise the reed growing soils of Western Ghats. The study comprises four parts, viz., pedological / taxonomical characterisation of reed growing soils, evaluation of fertility status of reed growing soils, assessment of growth performance of reed in relation to soil fertility and study on litter decomposition and nutrient release from reed leaf litter. The pedological / taxonomical characterisation was carried out by digging representative soil profile (with 3 replications) at two different types of topography (flat-undulating and sloping) in two different elevations (200-300 m and 600-800 m) at four locations viz. Vazhachal, Pooyamkutty, Adimali and Pamba. Reed growing soils were found to carry litter on soil surface which was. under varying stages of decomposition. The colour of the surface soils was mostly in the hue of 7.5 YR and subsurface layers were dominated by either 5 YR or 10 YR. Fine fibrous roots were found to mat the soil surface giving granular and crumb structure. The subsurface layers were generally massive without any distinct structural development. Reeds were found to flourish on both shallow and deep soils. In pure reed brakes where upper canopy was closed, the undergrowth was completely absent. The content of gravel, especially the secondary gravel, was very low in these soils. In most of the cases the textural make up turned from sandy loam to sandy clay loam from top to bottom of the profiles. Bulk density was found to increase with increase in depth of the profiles while porosity and water holding capacity to showed a diminishing trend. These soils were strongly to moderately acid in reaction and in pure reed areas surface soils were more acid than subsurface soils. But in areas where reed was growing as undergrowth in teak and moist deciduous forest, surface soils were less acidic than subsurface soils. In general, exchangeable bases, exchange acidity, cation exchange capacity and percentage base saturation were found to show a diminishing tendency from surface to bottom of the profiles. Distribution of organic carbon, total and available N, total and available P and available K was in a decreasing trend with increase in depth of the profiles while total K was found concentrated in lower layers. In general, the change in location, elevation and topography was not found to exert any definite impact on the depth wise distribution of soil properties in these soils. These soils were classified under Ustic Kandihumult, Ustic Palehumult, Ustic Haplohumult,' Ustic Kanhaplohumult, Typic Kanhaplustult, Ustic Hurnitropept, Ustoxic Hurnitropept, Ustic Dystropept, Ustoxic Dystropept, Oxic Ustropept and Lithic Dystropept at sub group level. The content of gravel, especially the secondary gravel was low in the 'Surface soils of reed growing soils. These soils were sandy loam in texture with low bulk density and moderately high water holding capacity and porosity. In general, these soils were strongly acidic in reaction with high content of organic carbon and available N and K. But the status of available P was very low. Contents of available Ca and Mg were in moderate quantities. Cation exchange capacity was also high, but the percentage base saturation was low. Significant variation with respect to various soil properties viz., gravel, silt, clay, bulk density, porosity, water holding capacity, pH, organic carbon, available N, K, Ca, Mg and percentage base saturation was observed due to change in location. Change in elevation was found to exert significant impact on bulk density, porosity, organic carbon and cation exchange capacity. In general variation in topography was not found to exert any significant and definite impact on various soil properties. Results in general reveal that reed bamboo play a significant role in conserving soil and its fertility. Number of matured culms / ha was found to be a better parameter injudging the growth performance of reed and Class I reed was found to have higher number of matured culms / ha than Class II and Class Ill. Soils of Class I reed was significantly acidic and contained higher organic carbon but lower available N and K than the class Ill. The model fitted through stepwise regression relating number of culms to different soil properties viz., soil pH, organic carbon, available N, P and K was Y = 501.0420 - 179.881920xI + 16.1516x12 + ! .9450XIX2 where Y= number of culms / ha, XI = soil pH and X2 = organic carbon. Dry weight of both culms and leaves per hectare and uptake of N, P and K were significantly high in Class I than the other two classes. The models fitted through stepwise regression relating dry weight of culms and leaves with the uptake ofN, P and K were YI=-1294.29 + 37.265N + 321.410 P + 226.442K, Y2=2.1 + 38.403 + 187.2 K where YI is the dry weight ofculms / ha and Y2 is the dry weight of leaves / ha. Reed growing soils were found to conserve comparatively higher content of soil moisture. Mass loss during decomposition of reed leaf litter was highly influenced by rainfall and the annual decomposition rate constant did not vary significantly (0.229 and 0.234) at two sites studied. The time required for 50 per cent and 95 per cent decomposition was 3 and 13 months respectively. Based on the concentration and absolute content, the nutrient mobility from decomposing reed leaf litter was in the order K > N > Mg > Ca > P.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Status and impact of heavy metals in selected soils and crops of Kerala
    (Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1999) Usha Mathew; KAU; Alice Abraham
    Status of Cu, Zn, Ni, Pb and Cd in samples of selected soils, fertilizers, manures and crops were estimated. A critical analysis of the total content of these heavy metals in the soils studied here revealed that Cu arid Cd are existing beyond the critical level in the some of the samples. In the wetland soils, content of all heavy metals was lowest for phytotoxicity and food safety in samples from absolute control plots of rice PME at Pattambi, Moncompu and Kayamkulam and highest in samples from plots receiving maximum quantity of organic manures and inorganic fertilizers. The DTPA extractable form is only a very minor part of their total content. The heavy metal load of the commonly used P fertilizers in Kerala is found to be highly variable. Zn is the highest contaminant followed by Pb, Ni, Cd and Cu. With respect to manures commonly used in Kerala, Zn is the most abundant among the five elements studied followed by Cu. Retention of heavy metals was found to be more in the roots of all plants compared to the above ground portions except Zn in amaranthus. The grain, straw and root of rice plants collected from PME plots which were receiving organic manures and inorganic fertilizers continuously for several years had a distinctly higher content of all heavy metals compared to the samples obtained from absolute control plots. The content of Cu in rice samples and that of Zn and Cu in the fodder samples from sewage farm exceeded the critical level to express phytotoxicity. In some of the samples of amaranthus and cowpea, content of Zn, Pb and Cd exceeded the food safety standards prescribed in Germany. Studies on the pattern of retention of applied Cd and Ni in undisturbed soil columns of important soil types of Kerala showed that retention of Cd and Ni was more in the top than in the bottom layers. Higher retention and lower leaching loss of applied Cd and Ni was observed in the columns not treated with FYM. Pot culture studies have shown a significant reduction in yield of rice, sesame and cowpea at various levels of Cd and Ni with and without FYM. Nutrient content of seed, shoot and root showed variations but did not reveal any specific pattern in various crops. In cowpea, low levels of Cd and Ni in the absence of FYM stimulated nodulation and nitrogen content. Intake of Cd and Ni in various plant parts of rice, sesame and cowpea was in the order root> shoot> seed. It was more in the presence of FYM than in its absence. The toxic effects of Ni on growth and yield parameters were of lesser magnitude compared to Cd especially in rice and cowpea. Maximum accumulation of Cd in edible portions was recorded by sesame with no ill effect on germination. However a moqerate accumulation of Cd in rice seeds resulted in significant reduction in germination. An alarming observation obtained from the study was that almost all samples of rice grains exceeded the food safety standard of 1 mg Cd kg-1 indicating that rice, the staple food of the people of Kerala is contaminated with Cd, the most hazardous heavy metal for human health. This pioneer study on the heavy metal status of selected soils and crop plants of Kerala has brought out the need for conducting detailed studies on these aspects.