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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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1982 - 198931990 - 19944
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Author: Balagopalan, M × Author: KAU × End date: 1994 × Type: Article ×
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Now showing 1 - 7 of 7
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    ArticleItemOpen Access
    Dynamics of organic carbon and different forms of nitrogen under first and second rotation teak plantations of Kerala
    (Kerala Agricultural University, 1982) Balagopalan, M; Jose, A I; KAU
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    ArticleItemOpen Access
    Distribution of organic carbon and forms of nitrogen in soil under mahogany and teak
    (Kerala Agricultural University, 1982) Balagopalan, M; Jose, A I; KAU
    A study was made on the influence of mahogany and teak vegetation on soil characteristics, namely, pH, organic carbon and different forms of nitrogen. Soils under teak were more acidic than those under mahogany. The content of organic matter decreased with depth. Accumulation of organic matter was more under mahogany vegetation. This was true in the case of total nitrogen also. The C:N ratio of the soil was little influenced either by depth or by the type of vegetation. The ratios of total N to available N, total N to ammoniacal N and total N to nitrate N increased with increase in depth of the profile under both type of vegetation.
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    Soil properties as influenced by elevation: A factor analysis
    (Kerala Agricultural University, 1994) Rugmini, P; Balagopalan, M; KAU
    Soil properties in 0-100 cm layer of three different elevations, 150 (E,), 750 (E2) and 1450 (E,) m asl were subjected to factor analysis. Out of the nine variables studied viz., gravel, sand, pH, water holding capacity, organic carbon, cation exchange capacity, total N, P and S, factor analysis identified three factors in E, and E, and two factors in E, in the 0-100 cm layer. In E, and E, three factors accounted for 70% and 78% variations, respectively while in E; two factors accounted for 67% variation.
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    ArticleItemOpen Access
    Factor analysis of soil properties in Paraserianthes Falcataria (L.) nielson plantations
    (Kerala Agricultural University, 1994) Rugmini, P; Balagopalan, M; KAU
    Soil properties in different layers viz., 0-20 cm, 20- 40 cm, 40-60 cm and 0-60 cm in Paraseriantfies falcataria plantations in Kerala were subjected to factor analysis. Out of die eleven variables studied viz., gravel, sand, pH, organic carbon, exchange acidity, exchangeable bases, total N, P, K, Ca and Mg, factor analysis identified four factors which accounted for more than 72% of the variation in these variables in each layer. The four factors were textural component, organic matter component, acidic component and nutrient capital of the soil. Certain factors in 0-20 cm, 20-40 cm and 40-60 cm layers were common with those in the 0-60 cm layer. The study indicated that it is more advisable to interpret the different factors in the 0- 60 cm layer rather than those in individual layers.
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    ArticleItemOpen Access
    Soil humic fractions of red ferrallitic soils as influenced by vegetational types
    (Kerala Agricultural University, 1993) Balagopalan, M; Jose, A I; KAU
    Humic and fulvic acids (HA and FA) extracted from evergreen, semi-evergreen and moist deciduous forests, and plantations of teak, eucalypt and rubber soils belonging to red ferrallitic type of Kerala were quantified and characterised by UV and IR spectroscopies. The HA and FA conlenis were relatively higher in the natural forests. They differed significantly between vegetational types and varied in chemical composition. The IR spectra of HA and FA were very weak and their aliphatic groups were lower in eucalypt soils.
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    ArticleItemOpen Access
    Comparative study on the properties of soils in relation to vegetational types
    (Kerala Agricultural University, 1993) Balagopalan, M; Jose, A I; KAU
    Soil properties under six types of vegetative covers, evergreen, semi-evergreen and moist deciduous forests, and plantations of teak, eucalypt and rubber showed that they differed significantly. Soils in the natural forests have higher water holding capacity, cation exchange capacity, organic carbon, N, PzOs, K2O and CaO and MgO. Soils in the plantations, on the other hand, possess greater accumulation of gravel, contain highest amounts of FezOs and AhCb. Organic carbon and N contents up to an appreciable depth were considerable in soils under natural forests. It was found that growing eucalypt after clearfelling natural forests has deleterious effect on soil properties.