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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Status, availability and transformation of magnesium in acid soils of Kerala
(Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1992) Prema, D; KAU; Jose, A I
The investigation consisted of four parts, namely (1) magnesium status of soils in Kerala (2) evaluation of laboratory indices of Mg availability (3) transformation of applied Mg in soil and (4) pattern of Mg uptake by banana from different sources at different levels. In Part I, one hundred and fifty surface samples were collected from all over the State of Kerala, to study the status of Mg as well as properties in relation to the behaviour of Mg in these soils. In part 2, some selected chemical agents were tried in twenty selected soils in order to evolve a suitable extractant for available Mg. In Part 3, two acid rice soils of Kerala namely, Karappadam and laterite were incubated at field capacity for a period of 180 days with and without the addition of magnesium sulphate, magnesite and dolomite at the rate of 1250, 2500 and 3750 kg MgO ha-1, to monitor the pattern of release of Mg from applied sources . Soil samples were drawn regularly at 15 days interval for the determination of available Mq and at 60 days interval for the determination of other important chemical properties. In Part 4, a field experiment of banana was conducted to study the response to applied Mg.
Open Access
Quality of copra and oil of coconut as influenced by sodium chloride nutrition
(Kerala Agricultural University, 1987) Prema, D; Jose, A I; Narayanan Nambiar, P K; KAU
Open Access
Effect of sodium chloride on growth and yield of coconut palms in a laterite soil
(Kerala Agricultural University, 1987) Prema, D; Jose, A I; Narayanan Nambiar, P K; KAU
An investigation was carried out drawing soil and leaf samples from coconut palms of a sodium chloride trial conducted at the Regional Agricultural Research Station, Pilicode, Kasaragod, Kerala, in order to evaluate the effect of sodium chloride on growth, yield and uptake of nutrients by coconut palms grown in laterite soil. The treatments were superimposed on 24 year old palms in 1976 and samples for the study were drawn in 1986. The palms were receiving substitution of KCI by NaCI in various proportions for the last 10 years. The study revealed that there was no significant difference in yield of nuts by substitution of KCI by NaCI. However, treatments receiving 100% recommended dose of K20 and that receiving 50% substitution of K20 by Na20 appeared superior to other treatments- There was no significant difference between treatments in the case of other growth characteristics, and the nutrient uptake by the palms except K and Na. Palms receiving higher amount of K or Na retained higher amount of these elements. The available nutrient status of the soil except available K and basic chemical properties of the soil like, pH, EC and CEC remained the same. The available K content in soil increased with increased application of K to the soil.
Open Access
Effect of potassium chloride and sodium chloride on the performance of coconut in a laterite soil
(Kerala Agricultural University, 1992) Prema, D; Jose, A I; Narayanan Nambiar, P K; KAU
A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of Nad on the performance of young coconut palms grown in a laterite soil at the Regional Agricultural Research Station, Pilicode. The treatments were the substitution of K2O (applied as KC1) by Na2O (applied as Nad) to the extent of 100, 75, 50, 25 and 0 per cent. The palms receiving 50 per cent substitution of toO by Na2O retained maximum number of functioning leaves. The treatments differed significantly in their influence on nutrient uptake of the palms in the case of K, Na and Cl. Palms receiving higher amount of K or Na retained higher amount of these elements. Palms receiving neither KG nor Nad registered significantly lower uptake of Cl than palms receiving other treatments. The available K and available Na increased with increased application of K and Na respectively while the other characteristics of the soil were not affected.
Open Access
Magnesium status of soils
(Kerala Agricultural University, 1994) Prema, D; Jose, A I; KAU
The magnesium status of the soils of Kerala was studied. In general, they were deficient in total Mg reserves (61 per cent of the soils studied). Altogether, 17 per cent of the soils were deficient in available Mg and 25 per cent deficient in exchangeable Mg. Black soils were rather rich in total Mg, available Mg and exchangeable Mg. The most deficient were the sandy loam soils of coastal alluvium. The laterite group was in between. The inter-relati onships among total, available and exchangeable Mg were found to be significant and positive. Exchangeable Mg correlated positively with other exchangeable cations. About 24 per cent of the total Mg reserve in the soils under study is considered available and 11 per cent exchangeable. The total Mg reserves in Kerala soils are found to be poor and Mg can be considered as a critical element in these acid soils.
Open Access
Evaluation of laboratory indices of magnesium availability
(Kerala Agricultural University, 1995) Prema, D; Jose, A I; KAU
A study was conducted to evolve a suitable extractant of available Mg in soil. Twenty soils were selected for the study assuring wide variation in their properties in relation to Mg availability. The various extractants in the final screening showed the following decreasing order in their efficiency for extracting Mg; 0.005 M DTPA + 0.005 M CaCI2 .Mathew's triacid > 0.1 M acetic acid + 0.04 M Ca lactate > Keith's reagent > 0.0125 M CaCI,, 1 N NH4OAc > 0.05 M HCI > 0.005 M DTPA. The amount of Mg extracted by various extractants failed to correlate significantly with the Mg uptake of test crop (rice) as well as the per cent of Mg in the crop. The performance of 0.05 M HCI was promising with respect to the pattern of release, degree of variability due to varying periods of equilibration ami the magnitude of Mg extracted at the optimum period of equilibration.
Open Access
Effect of sodium chloride on soil characteristics, yield and quality of coconut grown in a laterite soil
(Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Horticulture, 1987) Prema, D; KAU; Jose, A I
The coconut palms of the sodium chloride trial conducted at the Regional Agricultural Research Station (K. A. U.), Pilicode, Kasaragod district, Kerala were made use of for the present study. At the Reegional Agricultural Research Station, Pilicode there are two field experiments laid out in 1976, in order to evaluate the effect of NaCl on coconut palms. The soil type of the experiment site is laterite. The design, layout and treatments were the same for both the experiments. It is randomized block design with six treatments and four replications retaining six palms per plot. Treatments T1 control T2 1000 g K2O/palm/year T3 750 g K2O + 250 g Na2O/palm/year T4 500 g K2O + 500 g Na2O/palm/year T5 250 g K2O + 750 g Na2O/palm/year T6 1000 g Na2O/palm/year Potassium was applied as KCI and sodium as NaCI. In both experiments the crop is rainfed and the area receives an average annual rainfall of 3200 mm. The present study was conducted with soil and leaf samples drawn from these two experimental sites. The first experiment was conducted with 24 year old stock of hybrid palms (TxD) which received N, P and K as per the recommended dose till 1976 after which the above treatments were superimposed. Thus the palms received the treatments only for the last 10 years from 1976 to till the time of sampling for this study (January, 1986). The second experiment was laid out with newly planted coconut seedlings (DxT) and therefore the treatments were given from planting to till the date of sampling. The soil, leaf and nut samples were collected from the first experiment for chemical analysis to find out the effect of NaCI on soil characteristics, nutrient uptake, yield and quality of copra. In the second experiment, as the palm had not reached the bearing stage only the soil and leaf samples were collected. Data on the yield and morphological characteristics of the palms were collected from the R. A. R. S., Pilicode. In the second experiment as the palms have not reached stabilized yield, the yield data were not collected. The nutrient contents of leaf and copra were analysed and the quality of oil was estimated. The soil samples were subjected to physical and chemical analysis. The fertilizer treatments did not differ significantly in respect of the number of functioning leaves retained by the palms in the experiment No.1. Yield was significantly correlated with the number of functioning leaves and a unit increase in number of leaf would correspond to an increase in yield of 5.045 nuts per palm. In the second experiment, the number of functioning leaves was significantly influenced by the fertilizer treatments. The maximum number of leaves (18.48) was recorded by treatment No.4 (50% substitution of K2O by Na2O) and the minimum number of leaves (15.3) was registered by T1 (control). The treatments did not differ significantly in their influence on the total number of leaves produced per palm per year in the case of the first experiment and on the total number of leaves produced so far by the palms of the second experiment. Differences between treatments were not significant with regard to the number of female flowers produced per palm in the first experiment or the early flowering nature of the palms of the second experiment. Observations on yield, in the first experiment revealed that yield of the palms increased continuously with progressing period of time and the maximum increase in yield was in T4 (50% substitution of K2O by Na2O). Though there was 104.15 per cent increase in yield in T4 as compared to T1, the difference was not found statistically significant, the significance being lost by marginal difference. When the data were subjected to the analysis of covariance the adjusted treatment mean values varied significantly, the maximum being recorded by T2 (1000 g K2O) and the minimum by T1 (control). Treatment T2 was closely followed by T4 and the difference between T2, T4, T5, T6 and T3 were not significant. The treatments did not differ significantly in their influence on the copra weight per nut. The percentage oil recovery of copra did not differ significantly by the application of treatments. Nitrogen and phosphorus uptake by the palms in both the experiments did not differ significantly by the application of treatments. The potassium uptake was decisively influenced by the treatments in both experiments. Treatments receiving higher levels of K showed a correspondingly higher uptake of this element. The treatment T1 (control) registered a higher uptake of K than T6 (1000 g Na2O). The sodium uptake by the palms in both the experiments was also significantly influenced by the treatments. In general palms receiving higher levels of Na retained higher amount of Na in their leaves. Antagonism between K and Na in leaves was also exhibited in both experiments. The uptake of divalent cations (Ca and Mg) by the palms was not decisively influenced by the application of treatments in both experiments. The treatments did not differ significantly in the uptake of CI by the palms in the case of the first experiment. But in the second experiment, the CI uptake of the palms was decisively influenced by the treatments. The treatment T1 (control) which received no application of CI recorded the minimum value which was significantly lower than all other treatment mean values. All other treatment mean values were statistically on par. The soluble K content of coconut water did not differ significantly by the application of treatments whereas the soluble Na content of coconut water showed significant variation between treatments. The maximum amount of Na was in T6 (1000 g Na2O). The copra analysis showed that the treatments did not differ significantly with regard to their influence on the extent of N, P and K in copra. The sodium content of copra was found to be influenced by the treatments. The Na content increased with increasing application of Na. The differences between treatments in the case of Ca, Mg and CI contents of copra were not statistically significant. The analysis on the quality of oil revealed that there was no significant difference in the specific gravity, Refractive index, iodine number and saponification value of oil, between treatments. The pH and Ec of the soil did not differ between the treatments in both the experiments. The soil physical constants viz., apparent density, absolute specific gravity, percentage pore space, percentage volume expansion and maximum water holding capacity were not significantly different under various treatments in both the experiments. The moisture retension characteristics like field capacity and wilting coefficient and the percentage available water of the soil were not significantly influenced by the substitution of KCI, by NaCI to various extent. The aggregate analysis of the soil of both the experiment sites showed that there was no significant defference between treatments in the percentage aggregate stebility of the soil. Thus the structure of the soil was not found affected due to the application of NaCI at the rate employed in the experiment. The treatments did not differ in their influence on the percentage organic carbon in soil, total N in soil and available P in soil in both the experiments. Available K in soil registered significant difference between treatments in both the experiments. Invariably, treatment receiving the highest amount of K (T2 1000 g K2O) retained the highest amount of this element in soil. In general soil receiving a higher quantity of NaCI recorded higher values for available Na in soil. However, the differences between treatment means were not sufficient to establish statistical significance, in the case of the first experiment. In the second experiment the treatments had significant influence on available Na in soil and the treatment T6 (1000 g of Na2O) registered a significantly higher value of available Na than all other treatments. The available chlorine in soil did not differ significantly due to the application of treatments. The treatments did not differ significantly as far as CEC of the soil in both experiments was considered. Exchangeable Ca and Mg contents in soil in both the experiments did not differ significantly between treatments. The treatments could decisively influence the exchangeable K in soil in the first experiment but failed to do so in the second experiment. The values of exchangeable K registered by individual treatments increased in accordance with the increasing order of application of K to soil in the first experiment. Exchangeable Na as well as exchangeable Na percentage in soil were not significantly different when the treatment means were compared. These results showed that substitution of K2O applied to coconut palms as KCI, by Na2O applied as NaCI to the extent of 50 per cent is possible without a reduction in the yield, quality of soil and adverse effects on soil characteristics, under the climatic and soil conditions comparable to that tried in this experiment

Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur

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