Thumbnail Image

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

20091
Reset filters
Subject: Soil science and Agricultural Chemistry × Author: KAU × End date: 2009 × Start date: 2002 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
Reset filters

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Soil test based fertilizer requirements for Oriental pickling melon (Cucumis melo var. conomon)
    (College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2009) Lamina, V K; KAU; Betty, Bastin
    The emphasis on soil test based fertilization has become much more relevant in the present scenario of high fertilizer cost and yield maximization programme. Oriental pickling melon (Cucumis melo var. conomon) belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae is an important vegetable crop of Kerala. The present study was undertaken to test verify the targeted yield equations developed for oriental pickling melon by the AICRP on STCR centre, Vellanikkara of Kerala Agricultural University in farmers’ field. For this purpose fields were selected at two locations in Pattikkad area of Thrissur district during the year 2008-09. Test experiments consisted of six treatments namely, farmer’s practice (T1), package of practices recommendations of KAU (T2), soil testing laboratory recommendations of Kerala (T3), STCR recommendations for a yield target of 30 t ha-1 (T4), STCR recommendations for a yield target of 45 t ha-1 (T5) and organics alone (T6) . Among the treatments, T4 (STCR recommendation for a yield target of 30 t ha-1) gave the maximum yield and B/C ratio. Soil, plant and fruit analyses were carried out to study the nutrient interactions in the plant and the quality aspects of the fruit. From the interaction study it was found that the maximum uptake occurs for the nutrient K followed by N and K. Fruit yield as such was influenced by the soil K content. Similarly the plant K content also showed positive correlation with the yield. High N contents in the soil at the harvest stage of the crop negatively influenced the yield. Fruit yield increased with the N content in the fruit. Keeping quality of the fruit decreased as the N content in the fruit increases. Crude fibre content decreased the rotting percentage of the fruit. Addition of fertilizers increased the vitamin C and Si contents in melon. From this study it can be concluded that the fertilizer applied as per the targeted yield equations is contribute much towards the crop requirements for good yield. However future works have to be done in several other locations before the recommendation of these equations.