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

1994 - 19972
Reset filters
Author: Moossa, P P × End date: 1998 ×
Reset filters

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Leaf litter dynamics in acacia and eucalyptus plantations
    (Department of soil science and agricultural chemistry, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1997) Moossa, P P; KAU; Venugopal, V K
    An investigation entitled “Leaf litter dynamics in Acacia and Eucalyptus plantations” was undertaken to study the leaf litter production, litter decomposition and nutrient release characteristics, and impact of Eucalyptus and Acacia monoculture plantations on the soil physico-chemical and biological characteristics during 1994-97. One hectare each of Acacia auriculiformis, Eucalyptus tereticornis and a moist deciduous forest coming under the Kulathupuzha range of Kerala Forest Department were selected for the study. Field experiment were conducted to determine the leaf litter production and decomposition characteristics of plantation and natural forest. Leaf litter collected at monthly intervals showed that highest litter production was in Acacia (9.4 t ha-1 year-1) followed by natural forest (6.67 t ha-1 year-1) and Eucalyptus (4.68 t ha-1 yaer-1). Pattern of litter production was unimodal in Acacia and natural forest while in Eucalyptus it was bimodal. Chemical analysis of litter samples of plantations and natural forest revealed that with respect to nutrient content fresh and leaf litter of Acacia and Eucalyptus is superior to natural forest whereas litter quality in terms of water soluble components, polyphenols, lignin and cellulose were superior in natural forest. Annual dry matter loss of leaf litter by decomposition followed the order natural forest > Acacia > Eucalyptus. Nutrient release pattern of major and micro nutrients were also worked out for the leaf litter during the process of decomposition and natural forest litter recorded the highest mobility for all the nutrients on decomposition. Improvement in soil physico-chemical properties were noticed due to leaf litter decomposition in the monoculture plantation and natural forest. Biological activity in terms of earthworm and nematode under monoculture plantation was significantly lower than that of adjacent natural forest. Microbial content of soil below the litter bag during different months of decomposition were low in Eucalyptus and Acacia. Chemical analysis of the profile samples of various plantations revealed lower nutrient status in respect of major and micronutrients compared to natural forest. The physical properties of the soil also recorded as unfavourable change in the monoculture plantations as compared to the adjacent natural forest. Proximate anlysis of soil organic matter and humus characterization of the soil organic matter separated from various plantations indicated a low rate of humification and condensation under Eucalyptus. Low humic acid and fulvic acid content in humus and dominance of fulvic acid over humic acid was also noticed in Eucalyptus plantations. Functional group analysis of humic acid and fulvic acid showed that humic material separated from natural forest contained higher quantity of total acidity, contributed by COOH and phenolic group compared to plantation soils. UV, IR, DTA and TGA analysis of humic acid and fulvic acid separated from various plantations showed no variation with respect to natural forest. Allelopathic effect of fresh leaf and leaf litter extract of various plantations on the germination and growth of rice and cowpea followed the order Eucalyptus > Acacia > natural forest and as the concentration decreased from 1: 2 to 1: 10, the allelopathic inhibition also decreased significantly. Allelopathic effect of soil extract also followed the order Eucalyptus > Acacia > natural forest. Thus it can computed that though the leaf litter production and litter quality of monoculture plantations are comparable with that of natural forest, leaf litter decomposition and nutrient released were significantly lower than that of natural forest. Soil physico-chemical properties, soil fertility and biological activities were also adversely affected by monoculture plantations.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Modelling of carbofuran movement and sorption in soils with varying physico-chemical properties
    (Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1994) Moossa, P P; KAU; Rajendran, P
    An experiment was conducted at the College of Agriculture, Vellayani, during 1992 – 93 for modelling carbofuran movement and sorption in soils with varying physic – chemical properties. Undisturbed vertical and horizontal soil columns were used for the study. Five major locations of the state cropped to banana were selected for the study viz. Malappuram (Ultisol), Chengannur (Inceptisol), Kayamkulam (Entisol), Nedumangad (Mollisol) and Kuttanad (Entisol). The soils exhibited wide variation in the major physico – chemical properties such as texture, water holding capacity, bluk density, particle density, hydraulic conductivity, CEC, AEC and organic matter. The mineralogy of the clay samples had revealed the occurrence of Kaolinite, quartz and smetite as major minerals in these soils. Distribution of carbofuran in the vertical soil columns showed high concentration of carbofuran at lower depths in the first observation for the Inceptisol of Chengannur and the Entisol of Kayamkulam. While in the 6th observation, the Ultisol of Malappuram, Entisol of Kuttanad and the Mollisol of Nedumangad showed higher concentrations in the lower layers due to higher adsorption. Horizontal distribution of carbofuran was very low though significant differences were observed between soils. Maximum horizontal distribution was observed in the Entisol of Kuttanad and the least for the Entisol of Kayamkulam. Regression equation of soil properties on carbofuran content indicated significant influence for organic matter and clay content. Path coefficient analysis of soil properties revealed significant direct positive effect for organic matter and significant direct negative effect for clay content. Indirect negative effects expressed through pH, clay content, Bulk density and AEC with respect to organic matter was not strong enough to counteract the direct positive effect. Similarly the indirect positive effect contributed by clay through organic matter, CEC and sesquioxide was also not sufficient to overcome the direct negative effect. Concentration of carbofuran in the leachate showed highest values for the Inceptisol of Chengannur followed by the Entisol of Kayamkulam, both having low CEC, organic matter and clay content. The Ultisol of Malappuram with high organic matter, CEC and clay had given the lowest value for carbofuran in the leachate. Persistence of carbofuran of was maximum in the Mollisol of Nedumangad with high organic matter, clay content and CEC. Persistence was poor in the Inceptisol of Chengannur and the Entisol of Kayamkulam which are low in organic matter, clay content and CEC. Persistence was poor in the Inceptisol of Chengannur and the entisol of Kayamkulam which are low in organic matter, clay content and CEC. The only transformation product identified was 3 – keto carbofuran observed in the surface soil of Ultisol of Malappuram and Mollisol of Nedumanged in the last observation made at 80 days after application.