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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Open Access
Design fabrication and testing of an arecanut dehusker
(Department of Farm Power Machinery and Energy, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology,Tavanur, 1993) Febi Varghese; KAU; Jippu Jacob
A power operated arecanut dehusker is designed, developed and its performance evaluated. The major parts are the hopper, feeder, lead plate, cutting blade, shearing roller, friction plate and scraper. The feeder receives the graded fruit from the hopper and delivers it on the lead plate. The fruit is compressed between the rotating shearing roller and the lead plate. The teeth on the roller peel off the husk and the kernel is ejected out through the slot on the lead plate and the husk removed. A single phase 0.5 hp motor operates the machine. From the studies, the optimum set - up of the machine for deriving maximum dehusking efficiency and Iower percentage of the number kernels damaged is at a speed of 35 rpm, blade angle of 600 and slot angle of 1400. At this set - up the machine gives an output of 9.0 kg dried fruit/h, with 84.5 per cent dehusking efficiency.
Open Access
Effect of land use on water yield from small agricultural watersheds of western ghats
(Department of Land and Water Resources and Conservation Engineering, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 1993) Abdul Hakkim, V M; KAU; Xaviour Jacob, K
Effect of deforestation and other land use changes brought about by human activities of hydrologic cycle continues to be of great concern. A study was conducted to assess the effect of land use on water yield from small agricultural watersheds of Western Ghats of Kerala. Four small watersheds planted with cashew, rubber, coffee and tea were selected for the study. To get information regarding rainfall, temperature, humidity and daily evaporation; raingauges, thermometers and USWB class A Pan evaporimeters were installed in each watershed. The runoff which is of specific concern was measured using stage level recorders along with weirs and flumes. Infiltration measurements were done using double cylinder infiltrometers. Soil samples were collected from each watershed and were analysed for grain size distribution, soil pH and organic carbon content. Different geomorphological characteristics of the watersheds were also worked out. Analysis of rainfall and runoff data indicated that nearly 50 per cent of the total rain fall leaves these watersheds as runoff except in the case of rubber watershed. The infiltration studies indicated that all these watersheds have high infiltration rates even after saturation, thereby absorbing even the most intense storms of the study period. From the hydrograph analysis of these watersheds it was observed that the hydrographs attain a sharp peak immediately as the rainfall and there is a baseflow which is folowing through the 3 watersheds, except in the case of rubber watershed. The rubber watershed is very small and lies adjacent to the Kuttiadi reservoir. The interflow from the rubber watershed was observed to join the reservoir avoiding the measuring channel. From the soil profile analysis of Western Ghat region it was observed that there is an impermeable clay layer lying below the laterite having an average thickness of 3.5 m located at 7 to 10.5 m below the ground surface. The results of the study leads to the conclusion that the infiltrated rain water meets the impermeable layer and there it flows laterally through the soil. This lateral interflow reaches the valley portion of the watersheds where it saturates the soil. This saturated area acts like an impervious layer producing 100 per cent surface runoff and it is responsible for the sharp peak of hydrographs. Runoff is generated from these source areas and Hortanian overland flow is a rare phenomenon in these watersheds. Thus from the study it was concluded that land use has no significant effect on water yield from the selected small agricultural watersheds of Western Ghats of Kerala.
Open Access
Development of rational formulae to predict the advance and recession flow in border irrigation method
(Department of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 1992) Mary Regina, F; KAU; Ramadevi, A N
An investigation was undertaken to develop the predictive relationship for water advance and recession in field borders with cow pea as the test crop. The experiment was conducted at the KCAET, Tavanur during February-April 1992. Border strips of 2 m width and 40m length were used for the study. The strips were laid out on three different slopes, 0.4 %, 0.3%, and 0.2%. Stream sizes of 4 Ips, 3 Ips, and 2 Ips per meter widths were used to irrigate the strips. There was nine treatments each replicated twice. Advance and recession times were noted at every 5 m distance from the upstream end of border. Advance and recession curves were plotted to draw conclusions on the effect of the three parameters viz stream size, slop and distance on advance and recession times. Uniformity of irrigation was also analysed for the different treatments and the treatment with 0.2% slope and 4 Ips/m width stream size showed the best uniformity. Multiple linear regression was done considering stream size, slope and distance from upstream end as independent variables. Advance and recession times were taken as dependent variables. Rational formulae to predict the advance and recession times were developed from the results of the multiple regression analysis.
Open Access
Studies on the Effects of Various Parameters on the Performance of Petti and Para
(Department of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 1994) Saji Kuriakose, M; KAU; John Thomas
Open Access
Design fabrication and testing of a rainfall simulator
(Department of Land and Water Resources and Conservation Engineering, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 1993) Kurien, E K; KAU; George, T P
Rainfall simulators are considered as effective aids in soil conservation research. Simulators make it possible to produce predetermined storms at any desired time and location. A rainfall simulator suitable for soil erosion studies was designed and fabricated at KCAET Tavanur. The developed simulator was tested for its performance. Erosion studies on laterite soil was conducted using the developed simulator. The rainfall simulator designed and fabricated was of an oscillating, tubing tip type. The crop former unit consisted of 112 numbers of 18 gauge hypodermic needles fitted on a 1.8 cm GI pipe network. The speed of oscillation was 8 oscillations per minute. The drop former unit was supported at a height of 3 cm above ground level. Intensity of rainfall was varied by changing the pressure of water supply to the simulator. The simulator was tested for intensity, droplet size and uniforimity of application of the rainfall produced. The intensity of rainfall was related to the pressure of water supply as 1 = 6.0386 – 31.9152 P + 177.30 P2 The drop size obtained was 2.31 mm for an intensity of 4.77 cm/hr and the corresponding drop sizes for intensities of 5.60, 6.73, 6.99 and 8.80 cm/hr were 2.20, 2.18, 1.05 and 0.80 m respectively. Christiansen’s uniformity coefficients calculated for intensities ranging from 4.77 to 8.80 cm/hr varied from 82 to 88 per cent. Experiments were also conduced to study soil loss and runoff from laterite soil. The soil loss increased with the intensity of rainfall for all the slopes studied. Maximum soil loss of 1464 kg/ha/hr occurred from a slope 20 per cent at a rainfall intensity of 8.80 cm/hr. A general trend of increase in soil loss with slope was observed. At an intensity of 8.80 cm/hr the soil loss from 5 per cent slope was 940.2 kg/ha/hr whereas the soil loss from 20 per cent slope was 1464 kg/ha/hr for the same intensity. At 5.60 cm/hr intensity of rainfall the runoff from a slope of 5 per cent was 325.33 m3 /ha/hr whereas the runoff was 432 m3 /ha/hr at 6.73 cm/hr intensity for the same slope. Empirical equations were developed for estimating soil erosion and runoff for various intensities of rainfall and land slopes. The equations are : 1. E = -982.384 + 2834.63 S + 225.239 1 (R = 0.94) 2. Q = -216.174 + 1104.65 S + 79.375 1 (R = 0.92)
Open Access
Effect of different tillage methods on percolation loss in rice fields
(Department of Land and Water Resources and Conservation Engineering, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 1993) Mini, P K; KAU; George, T P
Water loss by deep percolation constitutes a major part of the total water loss from the rice fields. Puddling is widely carried out in rice field to create favourable soil condition for the growth of rice plant and to reduce the loss of water through percolation. An experiment was conducted in sandy loam soil to determine the effect of different tillage methods on percolation loss of water and to evaluate their effect on grain yield. The treatments choosen for the study were puddling with power tiller, puddling with tractor cage wheel, puddling with animal drawn puddler (TNAU helical blade type), compaction using roller and puddling with country plough along with planking (control). The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with five replications. Seedlings of short duration rice variety ‘triveni’ were used for transplanting. The daily water loss from the experimental plots was measured using field hook guage. The water loss through percolation was obtained by subtracting the evapotranspiration from the total water requirement. The mean water requirement was highest in the plots puddle with country plough (1609.3mm) and was lowest in the plots puddled with tractor cage wheel (1510.3mm). The percolated water constitute 62 per cent and 64.34 per cent of the total water requirements in the plots puddled with tractor cage wheel and country plough respectively. The lowest mean percolation of 936.12 mm was recorded in the plots puddle with tractor cage wheel. It was followed by puddling with power tiller (949.92 mm), compaction using roller (966.02mm), puddling with animal drawn puddler (1025.02mm) and puddling with country plough (1035.12mm). However, the treatments did not differ significantly regarding the loss of water through percolation. The percentage variation of the percolated water for the different treatments over the control was maximum (17.66 per cent) during the vegetative phase. The variation from the control decreased during the latter two stages and was minimum during the ripening stage (3.89 per cent). The plots puddle with tractor cage wheel recorded the highest yield (11.26 kg/plot) compared to other treatments. The water use efficiency varied from 15.68 kg/ha-cm (puddling with country plough) to 18.64 kg/ha-cm (puddling with tractor cage wheel). The yield and water use efficiency also did not differ significantly among the treatments. The reason for the insignificant among the treatments regarding the loss of water through percolation, yield and water use efficiency could be attributed to the sandy loam nature of the soil since the response of rice plant to various tillage methods depends up on soil texture. It is known that the surface soil aggregates play a major role in controlling the infiltration rate of soil. Since the soil in the experimental field consists of 10 per cent gravel, 65 per cent sand, 12.5 per cent silt and 12.5 per cent clay, the amount of finer particles available for clogging of pores and surface seal development are less in these type of soil, which might be the reason for the treatments not showing any significant variation in the water loss through percolation. From the study undertaken, it was concluded that different tillage methods have no effect in light textured soil in controlling the loss of water through percolation.
Open Access
Modification and performance evaluation of six row rice transplanter for conventional seedlings
(Department of Farm Power Machinery and Energy, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 1990) Bainu, T Kuzhively; KAU; Sivaswami, M
The work was carried out at the Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur. The six – row rice transplanter was originally designed for mat type seedlings. Considering the importance of a transplanter using conventional type seedlings, the above transplanter was modified. The modifications were completed in three stages. The performance evaluation of the modified six row rice transplanter was conducted after each stage of modification. The average number of seedlings per hill could be reduced from the average value of six seedlings per hill before modification to 2.27 seedlings per hill after the modifications. The missing hills percentage was brought down from 20.83 per cent to 5.55 per cent and the floating hills percentage was reduced from 10 to 5.55. Percentage of damaged hills was reduced from 23.3 to 8.8. The field capacity of the machine was improved from 0.0139 ha/hr to 0.0162 ha/hr and field efficiency from 48.26 percent to 56.87 per cent. The use of the modified transplanter is profitable if it is operated beyond one hectare per annum. It gives a saving of Rs. 618.00 per hectare compared to the conventional hand transplanting giving a 2. 4 times reduction in total cost. The pay back period of the modified transplanter is 2.24 years when the annual utilization is 2 hectares per annum and 1.13 years when the annual utilization is 3 hectares per annum.
Open Access
Synthetic generation of streamflow data using computer simulation model
(Department of Land and Water Resources and Conservation Engineering, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 1993) Leven , K V; KAU; Jobi V, Paul
A Study has been made to develop a computer simulation model for the synthetic generation of streamflow data for Chaliyar, one of the larger basins of the state. The data were collected from different river gauging stations for different durations. A suitable mathematical model namely Thomas Fiering Model was developed for the generation of synthetic data. The model was fitted for the observed monthly steamflows. The validity of the model was checked by comparing the statistical parameters of historical and generated data and by comparing the flow duration curves. It is seen that the model preserves various statistical parameters like mean, standard deviation and correlation coefficient. The study reveals that the computer simulation model developed is a very effective tool in the proper management of water resources system.

Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur

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