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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: Pooja, A P × End date: 2019 × Start date: 2018 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Nutrient management for productivity enhancement of cassava var. Vellayani hraswa in lowlands
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture, Vellayani, 2018) Pooja, A P; KAU; Kumari Swadija, O
    A study entitled “Nutrient management for productivity enhancement of cassava var. Vellayani Hraswa in lowlands” was conducted at College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala to standardize the nutrient management for productivity enhancement of cassava var. Vellayani Hraswa in lowlands and to work out the economics of cultivation. The field experiment was conducted at Integrated Farming System Research Station, Karamana, Thiruvananthapuram from September 2017 to February 2018. The treatments consisted of three sources of organic manure (m1 - FYM @ 12.5 t ha-1, m2 - FYM @ 6.25 t ha-1 + green manuring in situ and m3 - poultry manure (PM) @ 2.5 t ha-1 + green manuring in situ), two levels of N (50 and 75 kg ha-1) and two levels of P (25 and 50 kg P2O5 ha-1) along with a uniform dose of 100 kg K2O ha-1. The 3 x 2 x 2 factorial experiment was laid out in randomized block design with three replications. Organic manures were applied at land preparation as per the treatments. Cassava var. Vellayani Hraswa was planted on ridges at a spacing of 90 cm x 90 cm after applying 1⁄2 N + full P + 1⁄2 K of the fertilizer dose as per the treatments. Cowpea @ 30 kg ha-1 was sown on the two sides of the ridges in between cassava plants for green manuring in situ and was incorporated 50 days after planting along with top dressing (1⁄2 N + 1⁄2 K) for cassava. Among the sources of organic manure, PM @ 2.5 t ha-1 + green manuring in situ produced taller plants with higher branch number, leaf number and leaf area index (LAI) at 4 months after panting (MAP) and harvest. Application of 75 kg N ha-1 registered taller plants and higher number of branches and LAI at 4 MAP and harvest and higher leaf number at all the stages. Application of 25 kg P2O5 ha-1 was found sufficient for improving growth characters. Application of PM @ 2.5 t ha-1 + green manuring in situ registered the highest number and weight of tubers plant-1, percentage of productive roots and length and mean weight of tuber and lower rind to flesh ratio. The yield attributes except rind to flesh ratio were significantly higher with 75 kg N ha-1. Application of 50 kg P2O5 ha-1 produced higher percentage of productive roots plant-1 and tuber girth while 25 kg P2O5 ha-1 produced higher tuber weight plant-1. The treatment combination m3n2p1 registered significantly higher tuber weight plant-1. The tuber yield was significantly and positively correlated with LAI at 4 MAP and harvest, number and weight of tubers plant-1 and mean tuber weight. Higher tuber yields were obtained from green manured plots. The highest tuber and top yields were produced by PM @ 2.5 t ha-1 + green manuring in situ, 75 kg N ha-1 and 25 kg P2O5 ha-1. The treatment combination m3n2p1 recorded the highest tuber yield of 36.22 t ha-1 and top yield of 10.04 t ha-1. Similar trend was observed in dry matter production. The practice of green manuring in situ reduced weed infestation in cassava and improved its growth and yield. The tubers with the lowest HCN content (38.92 mg kg-1) were produced by FYM @ 6.25 t ha-1 + green manuring in situ. Nitrogen @ 50 kg ha-1 recorded higher starch (27.03%) and lower HCN (39.83 mg kg-1) content while 75 kg N ha-1 registered higher protein content (2.61%). Application of PM @ 2.5 t ha-1 + green manuring in situ, 75 kg N ha-1 and 25 kg P2O5 ha-1 resulted in the highest N, P and K uptake. Poultry manure @ 2.5 t ha-1 + green manuring in situ recorded significantly higher pH, organic carbon and available N, P and K status in the soil after the experiment. Levels of N and P had significant influence only on available P status in the soil and higher P status was registered by 75 kg N ha-1 and 50 kg P2O5 ha-1. Higher net income of ₹ 373240 ha-1 and benefit cost ratio of 3.19 could be obtained from the combined application of PM @ 2.5 t ha-1 + green manuring in situ along with 75 kg N ha-1 and 25 kg P2O5 ha-1 (m3n2p1). The results indicated the feasibility of substitution of FYM with PM + green manuring in situ. The results of the study revealed that higher yield, net income and benefit cost ratio could be realized from cassava var. Vellayani Hraswa in lowlands by the application of poultry manure @ 2.5 t ha-1 + green manuring in situ with cowpea + 75 kg N ha-1 + 25 kg P2O5 ha-1 combined with 100 kg K2O ha-1.