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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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Author: Anitha, S × Start date: 1990 × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Concurrent growing of green manure crops in dry and wet seeded rice
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2008) Anitha, S; KAU; Jose, Mathew
    An investigation entitled ‘Concurrent growing of green manure crops in dry and wet seeded rice’ was conducted at Agricultural Research Station, Mannuthy to develop a comprehensive technology package for the system of concurrent growing of green manure crops in direct seeded rice. The investigation consisted of four experiments viz., Experiment Ia - Concurrent growing of green manure crops in dry seeded rice, Experiment Ib - Residual effect of concurrent growing of green manure crops in dry seeded rice, Experiment IIa - Concurrent growing of daincha in wet seeded rice and Experiment IIb - Residual effect of concurrent growing of daincha in wet seeded rice. The experiment on concurrent growing of green manure crops in dry seeded rice consisted of two green manure crops (horse gram and cowpea), three methods of incorporation (Incorporation by cono weeder, desiccation by 2,4 - D spray @1.0 kg ha-1 and allowing for self decomposition) and two levels of nitrogen (100 and 75% of recommended N) and a control without green manure crops . Among the two green manure crops, cowpea was the best in supplying the required quantity of green matter with 25 per cent savings of N fertilizer and a substantial reduction in weed incidence. All the three methods of incorporation were found to be equally effective. Hence in places where there is a difficulty in self decomposition, cowpea can be effectively incorporated by conoweeder or by spraying 2, 4-D. The cowpea variety used in this study was a short duration bush type variety facilitating additional pod yield from cowpea before it was incorporated. Concurrent growing of cowpea along with dry seeded rice is a viable system as it resulted in increased productivity, profitability and sustainability dry seeded rice. In the experiment to study the residual effect of concurrent growing of green manure crops in dry seeded rice, the main plots of dry seeded rice crop during the 1st crop season were divided into two sub plots and applied 100 and 75 per cent N to the subplots. The results revealed that concurrent growing of green manure crops were effective in increasing the yield and sustaining soil fertility status compared to pure crop of rice receiving 5 t ha-1 of FYM and 100 per cent of the recommended nitrogen. But there was no savings of N fertilizer to the succeeding transplanted rice crop as the highest yield of succeeding rice was achieved only when it received 100 per cent of the recommended N. The profitability of the rice- rice cropping system was the highest with concurrent growing of cowpea in dry seeded rice. The experiment on concurrent growing of daincha in wet seeded rice consisted of two stages of incorporation of daincha (20 DAS and 30DAS), three methods of incorporation (Incorporation by cono weeder, desiccation by 2, 4 - D spray @1.0kg ha-1 and Desiccation by Chlorimuron ethyl+ met sulfuron methyl spray @ 4.0 g ha-1 met sulfuron methyl spray @ 5 g ha-1) and two levels of nitrogen (100 and 75% of recommended N) and a control without daincha. Results indicated that concurrent growing of daincha can be successfully practiced in wet seeded rice with improved productivity. Incorporation of 30 days old daincha employing any of the three methods of incorporation was equally effective in increasing the productivity and profitability of wet seeded rice. Incorporation of daincha at 30 DAS could add about 14 t ha-1 of green matter with minimum investment and resulted in 70 per cent weed suppression. Concurrent growing of daincha receiving both 100 and 75 per cent of recommended N produced significantly higher yield than pure crop of rice receiving 5 t ha-1 of FYM and 100 per cent of the recommended nitrogen. Hence there was a saving of 25 per cent N without affecting the yield. The highest yield was obtained when 100 per cent of recommended N was applied to the system. The treatments for the experiment to study the residual effect of concurrent growing of daincha in wet seeded rice were similar to that of dry seeded rice. The results showed that concurrent growing of daincha and its incorporation at 30 DAS was effective in increasing the yield of succeeding rice and sustaining soil fertility status compared to pure crop of rice receiving 5 t ha-1 of FYM and 100 per cent of the recommended nitrogen. The highest yield of succeeding rice was achieved only when it received 100 per cent of the recommended N hence there was no savings of N fertilizer to the succeeding transplanted rice crop. Concurrent growing of daincha in wet seeded rice increased the profitability of the rice- rice cropping system. Concurrent growing of green manure crops in dry and wet seeded rice is a management alternative to reduce the production cost and to increase the yield of rice and is a practical model for sustainable rice production.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Resource use & plant interaction in chilli Intercropping system in summer rice fallow
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1995) Anitha, S; KAU; Geetha Kumari, V L
    An investigation entitled “Resource use and plant interaction in chilli intercropping system in summer rice fallow” was conducted at Rice Research Station, Kayakulam to assess the bio and economic suitability of chilli intercropping system. The experiment consisted of two intercrops (French bean and amaranthus), three nutrient levels (NL 100, NL 75 and NL 50) and two planting methods (normal row planting and paired row planting). Among the three cropping system viz. Chilli – French bean, chilli – amaranthus and pure crop system, performance of chilli in chilli – French bean system was the best. All the growth and yield attributes, nutrient uptake and yield of chilli in chilli – French bean system was superior to chilli – amaranthus system and pure crop system. Better growth and yield performance of chilli was observed at 100 per cent of the nutrient dose for both the crops. The maximum benefit from chilli intercropping system was also realized at this level of nutrient. Intercrop yield of chilli was not influenced by planting geometry. Intercrop yield of amaranthus significantly increased with nutrient levels. Intercrop yield of amaranthus at 100 and 75 per cent nutrient does was significantly higher than intercrop yield of amaranthus at 50 per cent nutrient dose and pure crop yield. Performance of both pure and intercropped French bean was very poor hence this crop could not be recommended for summer rice fallow. Higher LER, LEC, ATER, CEY, monetary return based on LER, gross return, net return, return per rupee invested and per day return revealed the bio and economic suitability of chilli amaranthus system. Bio and economic suitability of chilli intercropping system was maximum when both crops were given 100 per cent of the nutrient dose. Nutrient status of the soil was not affected by intercrops, nutrient levels and planting geometry. A positive build up of all the nutrients in the soil revealed the sustainable nature of these systems. The results indicated that, French bean was not ideal for summer rice fallows. To reap the maximum biological and economic advantage, both the crops should be supplied with 100 per cent of the recommended dose. Chilli – amaranthus intercropping system can be recommended as an economically viable, biologically suitable and a sustainable cropping system for summer rice fallows of Kerala.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Nutritional evaluation of cycas seed flour (Cycas circinnalis L.)
    (College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2011) Anitha, S; KAU; Indira, V
    The study entitled “Nutritional evaluation of cycas seed flour (Cycas circinalis L.)” was undertaken to evaluate the nutritional and antinutritional constituents of cycas flour prepared from seeds collected from forest and non forest areas. The study also aimed to evaluate the effect of processing on the chemical constituents present in the cycas flour. Fresh and matured cycas seeds were collected from forest and non forest areas of Thrissur district during August 2010. The collected seeds were sun dried for 8 to 10 days and pooled separately as forest and non forest samples. The samples were processed by six different methods. The methods included were soaking the seeds in cold water for 12 and 24 hours (T1 and T2), soaking in boiling water for 2 hours after cold water treatment for 12 and 24 hours (T3 and T4) and washing of powdered flour of T1 and T2 for three times in water (T5 and T6). The flour prepared from unprocessed seed was taken as the control (T0). The processed seeds and the control were powdered and dried in a cabinet drier at 60 ± 5◦ C to a moisture level of 10 to 12 per cent. The prepared flour was analysed for different constituents like moisture, protein, starch, total carbohydrate, crude fibre, fat, calcium, phosphorous, sodium, potassium, iron, zinc, crude alkaloid, cycasin and hydrocyanic acid. The flour of cycas seeds collected from forest area was found to be relatively high in starch, total carbohydrate, crude fibre and minerals when compared to the flour prepared from seeds collected from non forest area. The crude alkaloid content was found to be relatively low in forest samples. During processing, the rate of nutrient loss from cycas seed flour increased gradually with advancement in the duration of soaking and increase in the temperature of soaked water. Among the different processing methods, maximum retention of nutrients was noticed in cycas flour prepared from seeds soaked in cold water for 12 hours. The percentage loss of protein, starch, total carbohydrate, crude fibre and fat varied from 2 to 48 per cent. Among minerals, the leaching of potassium was found to be very high. Maximum loss of nutrients was observed in T6, in which the flour was prepared by soaking the seeds in cold water for 24 hours and washed thrice in water. The mean crude alkaloid content in unprocessed cycas flour was 1.58 mg 100g-1 (T0) and it reduced to 0.60 mg 100g-1 during processing (T6). The cycas flour prepared from the seeds collected from forest area was found to be more nutritious. The processing of cycas seed could reduce the antinutritional constituents with considerable loss in nutrients. But, processing is highly essential for cycas seeds to be used as a food ingredient and for product diversification.