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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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1983 - 198911990 - 19951
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Subject: Soil Science and Agriculture Chemistry × Author: Sudharmai Devi, C R × End date: 1995 × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Partial substitution of muriate of potash by common salt for cassava (Manihot esculenta crantz) in oxisols of Kerala
    (Department of Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1995) Sudharmai Devi, C R; KAU; Padmaja, P
    Field experiments were carried out in the College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 1991 to 1994 to study the possibility and extent of substitution of K of Muriate of Potash with the Na of common salt in Cassava variety M4 used as the test crop. Substitution of K was tried at 4 levels viz. 25, 50, 75 and 100 per cent of the recommended dose. Muriate of potash, replaced by wood ash and a combination of KHCO3 and NaHCO3 (eliminating chlorine source) also were included in the experiment. Plant growth characteristics like plant height and number of leaves did not vary significantly as a result of substitution. The maximum LAI was observed in the case of 50% K as MOP + 50% Na as CS treatment at all the growth stages. An increase in chlorophyll content was observed with NaCl substitution. In the early growth stages there was no significant variation in the production of roots, but at the later stages there was significant difference in this aspect. The root volume at 2 MAP varied significantly between treatments. In general, there was an increase in total weight of plant with NaCI substitution upto 50% and thereafter a decrease with higher levels of substitution, at all growth stages. Significant treatment difference could be observed in tuber yield in both the years of the experiment. T3 (50% MOP +50% CS) registered the highest tuber yield and T5 the lowest. The bulking rate and Utilisation Index also differed significantly among treatments. The cooking quality of the tubers from T3 was as good as that of T1. Significant differences could be observed in total sugars, reducing sugars and sucrose content of fresh tubers under different treatments. With increasing levels of substitution, the content of total sugars increased. Sucrose content was found to increase with Na application upto 75% substitution of K by Na. Significant variation was observed in the crude protein, total amino acid and free amino acid content of tubers. Hydrocyanic acid, total phenols and crude fibre also differed significantly between treatments. The keeping quality studies revealed that tubers from T3 could be stored fresh up to 35th day in moist soil, whereas tubers from T1 could be stored only upto 12th day, without deterioration. Enzyme studies revealed significant difference in the activity of starch synthesising enzymes, but NRA at 6 MAP was not affected by different treatments. The uptake of N was highest in T1 and P and K in T3. Na uptake by T1 which received no Na was generally higher than other treatments receiving Na. Ca and Mg uptake also differed significantly between treatments. Changes in soil organic carbon, available P, available K and available Mg were statistically significant between treatments but that of Ca was significant only from 4 MAP onwards. Yield of tubers was positively and significantly correlated to the uptake of N, P, K, Na, Ca and Mg. Yield at harvest was positively and significantly correlated to the root weight and root volume and also to the bulking rate at 2 MAP. Path coefficient Analysis revealed that the maximum direct effect on yield was contributed by the drymatter of roots at 2 MAP. From the results, it can be concluded that in soils having low to medium status of K, the K of MOP can be substituted up to 50% by Na of commonsalt in cassava without affecting the quality and quantity of tubers.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Nature of acidity in upland and rice fallows in relation to response of pulse crop to liming
    (Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry,College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1983) Sudharmai Devi, C R; KAU; Aiyer, R S
    Soils over vast areas of uplands and rice lands in Kerala are acidic in nature. High concentrations of Al and Mn often limit the productivity of pulses when grown in these areas. The present investigation was aimed at detecting the toxic factors causing acidity and locating suitable varieties of cowpea and blackgram suited to these soil situations. It was further programmed to find out the optimum levels of lime that would be required to arrive at a low input management programme for pulses. For this purpose a large number of soil samples were analysed. Several pulse varieties were screened in respect of their tolerance and a pot culture study was conducted to assess their productivity, the results of which are summarised and appropriate conclusions drawn. The collected soils were acidic in nature, the factors causing toxicity being high concentration of Al and Mn. The soils require large amount of lime as amendment. Cation exchange capacity of these soils is very low and to some extent contributed by Al and Mn. Screening experiments were conducted to select varieties which are tolerant to Al and Mn toxicity. As a result S-488, a cowpea variety and Velloor, a blackgram variety were selected as tolerant ones. Comparative assessment of the yielding ability of the selected varieties, with the recommended varieties New Era (cowpea) and T9 (Blackgram) revealed that they could yield as much as or even better than the recommended varieties. The recommended varieties require high doses of lime for a substantial yield whereas the selected varieties could give economic yield with practically no liming. The observations on number of pods, grain yield, haulm yield and number of nodules revealed that the two selected varieties could excel the others in these aspects Uptake studies indicated that the increased yield in the case of the selected varieties is mainly due to the enhanced uptake and fixation of N and uptake of P and K. From the results of the study, it was concluded that the cowpea variety S-488 and the blackgram variety Velloor can be cultivated successfully under acid soil conditions. They possess the ability to give economic yields with little or no liming. These results have to be tested in farmers 'fields to evolve a low input management strategy for pulse cultivation in garden lands as a vegetable in kharif season and in the rice fallows in summer season.