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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: Rajendran, P × End date: 1993 × Thesis Type: Ph.D ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Feasibility and utilization of agricultural technologies among scheduled caste farmers
    (Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1992) Rajendran, P; KAU; Menon, A G
    A Study was conducted in Kerala State with the over-riding objective of analyzing the feasibility perception and utilization pattern of agricultural technologies by the scheduled caste farmers of the state and the constraints in and the consequences of utilization of technologies by them. The study was conducted covering all the five agro-climatic regions of the state, using probability proportionate to size random sampling procedure. Three hundred and thirty seven scheduled caste farmers from five panchayaths coming under five Blocks with the highest scheduled caste population representing each agro-climatic region were selected as the respondents. Five enterprises viz, coconut cultivation, tuber crops cultivation, banana cultivation, cattle rearing and goat rearing were selected and five specific practices for each of these enterprises were selected for assessing the utilization pattern of farmers. Feasibility of technology was analysed in terms of different attributes. Fifteen attributes viz., initial cost, availability of raw materials, availability of supplies and services, physical compatibility, efficiency profitability, availability of technology, simplicity suitability time utilization pattern, social acceptability, rapidity of returns, income generation potential, regularity of returns and viability, were selected for the study. The characteristics of the farmers such as education, family size, experience in farming, farm size, annual income, indebtedness, social participation, extension guidance, extension participation, cosmopoliteness, achievement orientation, development orientation, risk orientation, economic motivation, market orientation, self confidence, level of aspiration, rational orientation and innovativeness were selected for the study. These variables were quantified using standardized procedures. Statistical methods such as mena, percentage analysis, zero-order correlation, Kruskallwalli’s one-way analysis of variance, Kendall’s coefficient of concordance, spearman rank order correlation and stepwise regression analysis were employed for analyzing the data. The major findings of the study were: 1. Goat rearing was perceived as the most feasible enterprise while cattle rearing was perceived the least feasible enterprise by the respondents in general, 2. Agro-climatic differentiations caused variations in the perception of feasibility of the enterprises. 3. Simplicity, initial cost, physical compatibility, suitability, availability of raw materials, efficiency and availability of technology were found to be the crucial determinants of feasibility of agricultural technologies in general. 4. More than 50 percent of the respondents were distributed in the medium category with respect to the level of utilization of the selected enterprises, 5. Feasibility perception of the enterprises and its utilization by the respondents were found significantly related with respect to only coconut and cattle enterprises. 6. There was marked inter regional differences in most cases with respect to feasibility perception and utilization of practices for the five enterprises studied, 7. Lack of technical knowledge, lack of necessary supporting services and unavailability of raw materials were reported as the major constraints in the utilization of agricultural technologies in general. 8. Untimely and ineffective utilization of inputs and inclusion in the defaulters list of credit agencies were reported as the major consequences of utilization of agricultural technologies in general. 9. The characteristics of the respondents viz., extension guidance, risk orientation, self confidence, education, economic motivation, market orientation and cosmopoliteness were found to be significant in influencing and explaining the variation in the utilization of the enterprises by the scheduled caste farmers. Based on the findings of the study, a model for the effective implementation of agricultural development programmes among scheduled caste farmers in the state has been suggested.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Electro-chemical properties of selected oxisols and ultisols of Kerala with special reference to charge characteristics and surface mineralogy
    (Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1992) Rajendran, P; KAU; Subramonia Iyer, R
    A study has been conducted in seven selected profiles of Oxisols and Ultisols representing the important pedological units with a wide geographical distribution in the state to have a deeper insight in to the electro-chemical behaviour of these soils. A multipronged approach to the studies made are highlighted to enable a clear understanding of the achievements as against the major objectives and approaches made. A laboratory study with thirty six samples from seven profiles representing six Ultisols and one Oxisol has been carried out. Path coefficient analysis of important thirteen charge contributing factors against two parameters for measurement of charge and the inter-relationship of 15 soil characters show that organic matter5, clay %, R2 O3%, Alo% and Feo% are the major factors that control the surface charge behaviour of the soils. The factors studied explained only 55% and 48% of the variability of cation exchange and anion exchange respectively. Study of the distribution of the electric charges in the surface and sub- surface horizons of the soils was made by the means of potentiometric titrations and by measurement of adsorption of ions in the presence of varying concentration of electrolytes. The titration curves at different ionic strengths crossed at the common point intersection the zero-point of charge (zpc). Thus the electro-chemical behaviour of these soils was found to be similar to that exhibited by many metallic oxides in which the surface potential of reversible double layer is determined solely by the activity of potential determining ions, H+ and OH- in the bulk of the solution. The zpc for the surface horizons was found to be lower than the sub-surface and sub- surface horizons in all the soils studied. Soil to soil variation in zcp between surface and sub-surface horizons were more or less the same for all samples. Thus zcp can not be recommended as a taxonomic tool in soil classification to distinguish Oxisols from Ultisols. From known values of surface area and zpc of these soils, the values for net electric charge was calculated by the application of the Gouy- Chapman model of double layer and was found to obey the theory only at a critical electrolyte concentration. As the soils were found to be similar to that of constant potential systems, the charge distribution varied substan\tially with PH and electrolyte concentration. Direct measurement of adsorption of ions from solutions of KC1 NaCl and CaCl2 showed that the nature and valence of index cations also influenced the magnitude of the negative charges on the soils particles. On the basis of the influence of PHJ, electrolyte concentration and the valence of the counter-ions on the electric charges of the soils most of the conventional methods of ion-exchanged determinations using buffered electrolytes at high concentrations appears to be inappropriate for tropical soils. In a study for the evaluation of ion-exchange measurements it was found that the compulsive exchange methods is most suitable for the combined estimation of CEC and AEC. The traditional ammonium acetate method was found to give over estimations of CEC and thus very high values. Calcium chloride, 0.002 M was found to be equally effective but owing to the simplicity of the procedure, the former appeared better. The compulsive exchange method is free from the inherent defects of neutral normal ammonium acetate and hence would seem well suited for the Oxisols and Ultisols of Kerala. Although sesquioxidic components in combination with organic matter apparently dominate the charge properties of these soils, there was evidence from the titration curves to shows the presence of small amounts of clay minerals with permanent negative charge. This was confirmed by different methods and was found in good agreement with the estimated theoretical results. However under field conditions the expression of this constituent was minimum and the variable charge components such as Fe, al oxides certainly control the electro-chemical characteristics. In a separate experiment to find out the contribution of organic matter and sesquioxides towards exchanges properties of soils, it was observed that bout 64% of the negative sites and 8% of the positive was contributed from organic matter. Sesquioxides explained only 11% of the variablility in CECX and 22% of the variability in AEC. The combined effect of organic matter and R2O3 removal was highly significant with respect to CEC and AEC in all the soils studied. Mineralogical investigation revealed the presence of kaolinite as the dominant clay mineral. Appreciable amounts of smectities, quartz and gibbsite was also identified. The presence of smectities was not reflected in the CEC of any of the samples. Scanning electron micrographs did not give much information other than the presence of a thick coating of iron and amorphous materials over clay aggregates. The specific surface measured by ethylence glycol retention method invariably showed higher values than the determined values obtained for negative adsorption data. The specific surface determined closely followed the organic matter content of the samples inspite of the vertical increase in clay content with in profiles.