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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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ThesisItem Open Access Soil test crop response studies on groundnut in laterite soils of Kerala(Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2005) Sidha, P S; KAU; Betty, BastinThe investigation entitled “STCR studies on groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) in laterite soils of Kerala” was conducted during 2003-2004 in the farm attached to College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara. Objectives of the study were to develop soil test based balanced fertilizer recommendation for specific yield targets to groundnut in laterite soils of Kerala, and to develop a basis for fertilizer recommendation for maximum and economic pod yield at varying STVs. The experiment consisted of FGE and STCR experiment. The aim of FGE was to create desired gradient in soil fertility in one and the same field by applying graded doses of N, P and K fertilizers and raising an exhaustive crop, fodder maize Co-1. After development of fertility gradient, the STCR experiment was conducted in the same field with the test crop groundnut variety TAG-24. The soil nutrient status before and after the experiment were analysed for both FGE and STCR. The nutrient requirements of groundnut variety TAG-24 were estimated as 49.46, 4.25 and 19.52 kg ha-1 N, P and K respectively to produce one tonne of pod. The soil efficiencies were worked out as 28.11, 7.70, 6.88 per cent for N, P and K respectively for groundnut in laterite soil. The contribution of nutrients from fertilizers were estimated as 45.61, 11.18 and 27.33 per cent for N, P and K respectively and the contribution from organic manure were 49.46, 4.25 and 19.52 per cent N, P and K respectively to produce one tonne of pod. Fertilizer prescription equations for specific yield targets of groundnut variety TAG-24 were derived by using the above basic data and the equations were as follows: Without FYM FN = 108.44 T - 0.616 SN FP = 38.01 T - 1.577 SP FK = 71.43 T - 0.305 SK With FYM FN = 108.44 T - 0.616 SN - 1.59 OM FP = 38.01 T - 1.577 SP - 1.87 OP FK = 71.43 T - 0.305 SK - 1.85 OK Multiple regression models were calibrated with yield as dependent variable and soil available and applied nutrients as independent variables. Among the three nutrients, P and K showed normal type (+, -, -) of response in both models with 15 and 17 variables. So equations were calibrated for these two nutrients. The equations were as follows: With 15 variables FP = 32.47 - 0.709 SP FK = 321.36 - 0.429 SK With 17 variables FP = 76.27 - 2.645 SP FK = 312.37 - 0.413 SK Simple correlation coefficient was worked out for nutrient uptake with yield, nutrient uptake and yield with available and applied nutrients and major plant nutrient content with yield. The study is useful to adjust fertilizer doses based on the specific objective and available resources of groundnut farmers of the state.ThesisItem Open Access Geographic information system for micro-level decision making in the agricultural sector of Central Midlands of Kerala(Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2005) Anup Balakrishnan; KAU; Saifudeen, NThe present study was carried out in the Centre for Land Resources Research and Management, Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Horticulture, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur during the period 2001 to 2004 with the broad objective of integrating available data on the land and agricultural resources of Madakkathara Panchayat into a Geographic Information System (GIS) and to demonstrate the capability of GIS as a decision support system to design projects for integrated resource management. Cadastral maps (1:3960 scale) of the Panchayat and the land use and assets map of the Panchayat were used as base maps for the study. These maps were processed , traced, scanned, joined and digitised. Various features were digitised as separate themes. The digitised maps were then projected and converted to shape files using PC ARC/INFO resulting in the spatial data. Primary and secondary information on watershed and panchayat were collected and tabulated using MS Access and MS excel to form the attribute data of the respective themes. Then spatial and attribute data were integrated to prepare the GIS of Madakkathara Panchayat.ThesisItem Open Access Impact of organic farming practices on soil health,yield and quality of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis (L.) Verdcort)(Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2005) Devi Krishna; KAU; Usha P BThe research work entitled “impact of organic farming practices on soil health, yield and quality of cowpea [Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis (L.) Verdcort]” was conducted at the Instructional Farm, College of Agriculture, Vellayani. The study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of different nutrient sources (organic, inorganic and integrated) on soil health, yield and quality of cowpea using the variety Sharika. The experiment was laid out in RBD with three replications. Vermicompost, poultry manure, farmyard manure, their combinations with PSM, POP recommendation and NPK alone application as inorganic fertilizer constituted the eight treatments. The nutrient application was according to the POP (KAU, 2002) recommendation @ 20 : 30 : 10 kg ha-1 along with 20 t farmyard manure in all the treatments except the treatment receiving only inorganic fertilizer. Soil characters like porosity, water holding capacity, pH, CEC, organic C content, available nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Zn and Cu), enzyme activities (dehydrogenase and phosphatase) were significantly enhanced with vermicompost application either alone or in combination with PSM, but bulk density, soil temperature and C : N ratio get decreased with it. S status was improved by poultry manure addition. Available soil P significantly increased with PSM application. The growth characters including height of plant, number and weight of effective nodules, leaf area index recorded the highest values with vermicompost + PSM application (T5). Regarding yield, the treatment with POP recommendation (T1) was found to have higher pod yield and harvest index. Bhusa yield and total dry matter production got the highest values with vermicompost + PSM application. Statistically pod yield was found to be on par in (T1),(T5) and (T4) treatments. Concerning the quality attributes vermicompost + PSM application got superior values. The highest protein content, shelf life and the lowest fibre content were with vermicompost + PSM application. Organoleptic result showed superiority of poultry manure and vermicompost application. The nutrient content (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Zn and Cu) in bhusa at 50 per cent flowering stage and at harvest stage was the highest with vermicompost + PSM application (T5) except Mn and Cu which got slightly higher values with vermicompost application alone. P values were higher with PSM application for the three manures. S got higher values with poultry manure + PSM application. Regarding N, P, K, Ca and Mg, the treatment with POP recommendation showed a greater difference in values between the two stages of analysis. Pod nutrient status also showed the same trend, except the fact that the highest value for pod Mn was with the treatment receiving vermicompost alone. The bhusa, pod and total uptake values for N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Zn and Cu was with vermicompost + PSM application except Zn which got higher values with vermicompost alone application. S uptake was highest with poultry manure + PSM application. All the soil characters, plant growth characters and yield attributes were best correlated with yield. Uptake of all nutrients and quality attributes showed positive and significant correlation. From the above points, it can be concluded that POP recommendation registered the highest pod yield, even though statistically it was on par with T5 and T4. While concerning environmental safety and quality of products, vermicompost + PSM application stands supreme.ThesisItem Open Access Zinc and boron availability in soils and impact of carriers on crop productivity(Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2005) Jyolsna, V K; KAU; Usha MathewA study entitled “Zinc and boron availability in soils and impact of carriers on crop productivity” was carried out at College of Agriculture, Vellayani 2003-2005 to monitor the effect of moisture levels with and without FYM on the availability of B and Zn in three types of soil viz., red, laterite and Onattukara sandy and the influence of carriers of Zn and B on tomato. The experiment consisted of two parts viz., incubation study and separate pot culture experiments with B and Zn. The physico-chemical analysis of soils used for incubation study was done using suitable analytical procedures. Incubation study was conducted at the laboratory to monitor the availability of B and Zn in red, laterite and Onattukara sandy soils. Two kg of each type of soil was taken in earthern pots of uniform size and incubated for two months at three moisture levels viz., air dry, field capacity and full saturation with and without FYM. The experiment was laid out in CRD with six treatments. They were, T1 – Air dry, T2 – Field capacity, T3 – Full saturation, T4 – T1 + FYM, T5 – T2 + FYM and T6 – T3 + FYM. Soil samples were drawn at fortnightly intervals and analysed for the available content of boron and zinc following standard analytical procedures. Separate pot culture experiments were conducted to study the influence of B and Zn using laterite soil on growth, yield and quality of tomato. They were laid out in CRD with treatments viz., T1 – fertilizers alone as per POP, T2 – fertilizers and FYM as per POP, T3 - T1 + B/Zn @ 0.5 /2.5 kg ha-1, T4 – T1 + B/Zn @ 1.0/5.0 kg ha-1, T5 – T1 + B/Zn @ 1.5/10 kg ha-1, T6 – T2 + B/Zn @ 0.5/2.5 kg ha-1, T7 – T2 + B/Zn @ 1.0/5.0 kg ha-1 and T8 – T2 + B/Zn @ 1.5/10.0 kg ha-1. Observation on various biometric and yield parameters had been recorded. Soil, plant and fruit analysis were done using standard analytical procedures. From the incubation study, it can be seen that B availability was more at full saturation condition than at air dry and field capacity moisture regimes in all the three soils. It was minimum at air dried state of soil. Available Zn recorded maximum value at air dried state than at field capacity and full saturation moisture regimes. The influence of B and Zn on the growth, yield and quality of tomato can be clearly understood from the pot culture experiments. Plant height and number of primary branches showed significant increase with B and Zn application. Yield, B : C ratio and quality parameters were higher in the treatments which comprise B/Zn along with FYM. Available K in soil after pot culture increased with increase in levels application of boron. The same trend was shown by DTPA-extracted Zn and Cu. Available Fe and Mn decreased by B application. Soil B increased with increase in level of B application. Plant content of these nutrients showed the same trend as that of soil content. Available P, Fe, Mn and Cu decreased with increase in levels of Zn application in the pot culture experiment with Zn. Soil available Zn increased with increase in level of application of Zn. Plant nutrient content showed considerable variations. There was an increasing trend for uptake of nutrients from T1 to T8 as there was an increase in total dry matter production in both the experiments. From the results cited above it can be confirmed that B and Zn fertilization has an important role in improving yield and quality of tomato. The highest yield, quality and B : C ratio were obtained when B was applied @ 1.5 kg ha-1. This indicates that further experiments may be conducted by raising the level of B above 1.5 kg ha-1 to verify its effect on contributing to further increase in yield. In the experiment with Zn, though the yield was the highest in T8, the B : C ratio was higher in T7 than in T8 . This indicates that economic yield was obtained when Zn was at 5 kg ha-1. For the purpose of formulating recommendations on application of B and Zn, more field studies need to be conducted.ThesisItem Open Access Dissipation of chlorpyrifos in red loam soil and its effect on soil organisms(Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2005) Rekha, P R; KAU; Thomas GeorgeThe persistence and degradation of chlorpyrifos, a contact insecticide, widely used for the control of soil inhabiting insects were studied in relation to the application of organic manure and lime and also its effect on soil organisms. The experiment was done in field plots at Instructional Farm, College of Agriculture, Vellayani. The insecticide (chlorpyrifos 20 % EC) was applied @ 3 ml l-1 in different treatments. Soil samples were drawn 0, 5, 10, 20, 40 and 60 days after application and after the crop harvest. The residues were estimated in a gas liquid chromatograph using ECD. The results showed that dissipation of chlorpyrifos followed a biphasic pattern with an initial phase of rapid dissipation followed by a phase of slow dissipation. Significant difference in dissipation was observed among different treatments. In the presence of lime chlorpyrifos was found to be highly unstable and dissipated easily by alkaline hydrolysis. Organic manure applied plots the persistence of chlorpyrifos was high due to the adsorption of insecticide in organic matter. The combined application of lime and organic manure cause significant difference in the degradation. The pattern of degradation of chlorpyrifos at lower depth of 15-30 cm soil were similar to surface layer except the initial survey of the insecticide at lower surface layer was less compared to upper layer (0-15 cm). Application of chlorpyrifos inhibited the population of bacteria and arthropods, irrespective of the treatment. The bacterial population showed a significant decrease upto 10 days of application of chlorpyrifos and the original count was regained in 75 days. The result also showed that chlorpyrifos application did not affect fungal population. Chlorpyrifos was found to be highly toxic to soil arthropods upto 10 days of application and were not regained till 75 days of application. There was a slight decrease in nodulation in cowpea as compared to control. No residue of chlorpyrifos was detected in the plant parts (pods and grain) from any of the treatment after harvest. Nutrient content on the soil showed an increase in the analytical values due to the treatment effects.ThesisItem Open Access Phosphorus dynamics in an ultisol(Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2005) Smitha, M S; KAU; Sureshkumar, PA pot culture experiment was carried out at Radiotracer laboratory of College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, using laterite soil (Ultisol), from the main campus of Kerala Agricultural University with the objectives to trace the fate of fertilizer P and to study the dynamics of P by the addition of amendments. The experiment included 13 treatments of three levels of P and four amendments and an absolute control. Amendments were added to the respective treatments and kept for wetting and drying cycles for two weeks 32P labelled KH2PO4 (32P @ 0.4mCig-1 P) was added as per the treatments. Seeds of cowpea @ 3 seeds pot -1 were sown. Application of Phosphorus at different levels significantly contributed to available P status different P fractions i.e. non occluded Al-P and Fe-P, P sorbed by carbonate, occluded P and Ca-P in a linear fashion at all the stages of crop growth i.e. just before sowing, flowering and harvesting. The amendments also contributed to the above pools. Among the amendments Pongamia leaves was found to have better influence in contributing to the above pools except for Ca-P, where lime was found to have a better influence. This was supported by the data on plant P content, where the increasing levels of P and amendments improved the plant P content at 15 DAS, flowering and at harvest. Further Ca-P fraction was dominantly contributing to the available P suggesting that applied P might get transformed to non occluded Al-P and Fe-P, occluded P as well as P sorbed by carbonate, which might be slowly transformed to Ca-P fraction probably Ca (H2PO4)2, the soluble form which is contributing to available P. It was observed that, non occluded Al-P and Fe-P was contributing to plant P as time proceeded due to solubilisation of this fraction. Application of P at increasing level and amendment significantly increased the dry weight of pods and haulm. Radioactive 32P labelled with the applied phosphorus could be traced out in the available pools and fractions of P only at just before sowing, flowering. Percentage of P derived from applied P were the highest for higher level of P and amendment sodium silicate.ThesisItem Open Access Standardization of techniques for production and enrichment of vermiwash(Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2005) Thankamony, K; KAU; Sushama K, KThe study on the ‘Standardization of Techniques for Production and Enrichment of Vermiwash’ was conducted at College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, during the year 2003-2005 with the objective to standardize the substrate controlled environment for worm multiplication, to identify the enrichment techniques of vermiwash and to evaluate the efficiency of enriched vermiwash on crop and soil. The standardization of substrate controlled environment was based on the principle of aerobic composting. For this, plastic drums of 50 litre capacity with appropriate fabrications and arrangements were taken. Agro wastes such as banana pseudostem, coconut leaf, green leaf and cow dung in different combinations were kept for pre-composting with the addition of fungal inoculums. The earthworms were inoculated @ 1000 numbers per unit. In contrast to the aerobic composting, then are no distinct stages in vermicomposting based on temperature. Microbial count for bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes, nitrogen fixers and phosphate solubilizers were observed at initial, middle and final stages respectively. The population of phosphate solubilizers were maximum in the initial stage (pH range of 6.53 to 6.84) and nitrogen fixers, in the middle stage (pH range of 7.63 to 8.11). The earthworm population was found to be controlled by a substrate controlled criterion. Even the substrate combination containing good portion of coconut leaves becomes conducive for worm multiplication by the proper blending with succulent substrates like banana pseudostem. As the substrate combination, banana pseudostem : glyricidia leaves : coconut leaves : cowdung in the ratio 2:2:2:1 registered the least C:N ratio of 12.25 which attained maturity within 47 days, it was identified as the best substrate controlled environment for vermicompost production. The selected treatment which comprised of Banapseudostem : Greenleaf : Coconut leaf : Cowdung in the ratio 2:2:2:1 registered a pH of 7.68 and nutrient contents of 1.19, 0.36 and 0.87 per cent respectively. It had a relatively good load of microflora as the banana pseudostem favours the flourishment of the microbial and worm population. The selected substrate combination was taken for the further enrichment techniques. An Organic Enriching Media (OEM) was prepared using neemcake, poultry manure and bonemeal. Vermiwash was collected after the compost maturity. The plain vermiwash was enriched by mixing OEM @ 10 per cent of substrate. The resultant and best enriched vermiwash registered nutrient contents of N (1.425%), P (0.096%), K (0.410%) and Zn (169.0 ppm) with a pH value of 8.01. With respect to the crop response studies, foliar application of one per cent urea recorded the highest yield of 95.70 g pot-1. The soil application of vermiwash at 50 per cent field capacity also proved better than foliar application of vermiwash. The crude protein content was also higher in foliar application of urea as well as in soil application of vermiwash at 50 per cent field capacity. For fertigation, the vermiwash was found to be very effective on the test crop of amaranthus.ThesisItem Open Access Land evaluation and crop suitability rating of the acid sulphate soils of Kuttanad for sustainable land use planning(Kerala Agricultural University;Thiruvananthapuram, 2005) Beena, V.I.; KAU; Thampatti, K.C. ManoramaThesisItem Open Access Critical analysis of the soil plant atmosphere continuum for increasing the productivity of rice in lateritic soils(Kerala Agricultural University;Thrissur, 2005) Sailaja Kumari, M.S.; KAU; Mariam, K.A.