Dr. Sushama P.K
Professor & Head
History
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Established as a Statutory Department of KAU in 1972 along with the inception of the College of Horticulture at Mannuthy
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Started M.Sc. (Ag) programme in 1976.
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Shifted the department to the present college building at Vellanikkara during November 1977
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Recognized as an approved centre for Ph.D. programmes in 1981
Vision
To meet the needs of students and employers by offering relevant, quality career education programmes, training and research in field of Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry so that our personnel could overcome their shortcoming and significantly commit to the expectations of our farming community.
Mandate
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To impart teaching at U G and P G levels on various aspects of Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry including various practical aspects
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To undertake challenges in the field of Soil Science through research activities
- To render advisory service to the farmers through different extension modes
Faculty
Dr. K. A. Mariam, Professor & Head
Dr. M. A. Hassan, Professor ( STCR Project)
Dr. P. K. Sushama, Professor
Dr. P. Sureshkumar, Professor (Radiation Safety officer, RTL)
Dr. Betty Bastin, Professor (STCR Project)
Dr. K. M. Durgadevi, Associate Professor
Dr. S. Mini, Assistant Professor (SS)
Dr. P. R. Suresh, Associate Professor (i/c of CLRRM)
Supporting Staff
Sri. P.R .Sathyan - Farm Manager ( STCR Project)
Sri. M. Ananthkrishnan - Farm Officer ( STCR Project)
Sri. K.A. Vinod – Lab. Assistant (STCR Project)
Smt. V. M. Baby (Lab Assistant Gr. II)
Land Resources
Experimental Area : 0.75 ha
Bio- composting Area : 0.25 ha
Current Activities
Teaching
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U G Programme
Offers 5 Major courses and 5 optional courses (Old syllabus) and 8 courses ( New syllabus), 5 courses for BSc.( Forestry).
UG Lab
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P G Programme
Offers 19 courses for M.Sc.(Ag) and 1
course for M.Sc (Ag. Stat) ( Old syllabus) and 7 core courses and 8
optional courses ( New syllabus)
PG Lab
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Ph.D. Programme
Offers 10 courses ( Old syllabus), 6 core courses and 6 optional courses ( New syllabus)
Research
Concluded Projects
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Coconut Root (wilt) Disease Project (1981-85)
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Project on Promotion of Agri-Electronics (1987-1992)
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Collaborative Research project on the evaluation of slow release fertilizers for important crops in Kerala (1995-1999).
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Collaborative Research Project on Adaptive Research for Evolving Recommendations for major Groups of Soils in Kerala (1993-1995)
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Variability in iron and zinc availability in laterite and lateritic soils of central Kerala with reference to rice nutrition. (ICAR A-hoc Project, 1996-1999)
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Utilization of indigenous phosphate Rock modified with chemical and biological amendments ( ICAR ad-hoc research project , 1998 – 2001)
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DST project on ‘Biochemical investigations of enriched coir pith compost materials’ (2003-2005)
Research projects undergoing
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AICRP on Soil Test Crop Response Studies (STCR)
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DST project - Biochemical investigation of enriched coir pith compost materials
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DBT project - Vermi technology for organic seed production and rural employment generation
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University Research Projects : 4
Research Lab
Facilities
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Separate laboratories for U G & P G students
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Research Laboratory for doing independent research
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Full fledged computer room
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Separate facilities for doing radio tracer related works
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Instrumentation room - AAS, Spectrophotometer, and instruments for routine analysis
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Organic farming Unit with Bio gas facilities
Computer Room
Instrument Facility
Achievements
Teaching
M.Sc (Ag) students passed out : 73
Ph. D students passed out : 11
SRF availed : 1
JRF availed : 36
Placements (ICAR) : 12
Awards
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One Post Graduate student received the Young Scientist Award of the Kerala Science congress in 2004
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Awarded ‘ISSS Zonal Award’ -south zone, for 2004 for best M. Sc (Ag) thesis
Members of Faculty received
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Dr. C.S. Venketa Ram Memorial Award for the best research paper published in the journal of Indian Society for Plantation crops (Twice) in 1988-90 and 2002-2004
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Dr. S. P. Raychaudhuri Gold Medal for the best Ph.D. thesis from India Society of Soil Science.
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Young Scientist Award of the Kerala Science congress in 1995
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H.S. Mehta memorial National Award in 2003 for the best paper in 9th National Seminar on new perspectives in spices, medicinal and aromatic plants, Indian Soc. for spices
Publications
Research papers : 200
Books : 9
Book Chapters : 15
Popular articles : 60
Research
Basic soil studies
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A new chemical method was evolved for the evaluation of Available Phosphorus and Potassium in soil employing a common extractant which simplified the soil testing procedure
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Significance of cationic ratio K/ (Ca + Mg + Fe + Mn) 1/ 2 + (Al) 1/ 3 based on Ratio law in fertility evaluation was established
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Soil Fertility classes and maps for the main campus of KAU, RARS Pattambi and BRS, Kannara have been prepared
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Soil resource inventory of the KAU Main campus, has been successfully attempted
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Exchangeable aluminium has been standardized as an index of the laterite soils of Kerala
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Iron toxicity in rice in laterite soils could be reduced by lime application at a rate of 600 kg ha-1 along with P and K at 35 and 105 kg ha-1 respectively.
Fertility management
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Availability indices for stressed nutrients for coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) in Ultisol has been assessed
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In the acidic soil of Kerala, Iron (Fe-P) followed by Aluminum (Al-P) and Calcium (Ca-P) are the major fractions formed from Maton Rock Phosphate
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Tunisia ( Gafsa) rockphosphate has been found to be a good substitute of SSP for direct application in acid soils of Kerala.
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Performance of slow release fertilizers for rice was found to be poor in acidic wetlands as compared to garden lands.
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Developed fertilizer prescription equations for various yield targets of the crops - Banana (Nendran), Ginger, Turmeric, Rice (Khahrif & Rabi), Sweet potato, Ash gourd, Coleus and Ground nut
Organic farming
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Composting time and C: N ratio of Oushadhi waste has been considerably reduced with the introduction of earth worms sp. Eisenia foeitda
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Aerobic composting of Oushadhi waste was effectively achieved by mixing the compost with cowdung, poultry manure neem cake at 10 % of the waste materials
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Combined addition of Pleurotus sajor- caju and mineral nitrogen in the form of urea was observed to enhance the mineralization of lignin rich coir pith
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Addition of coirpith application was reported to enhance the moisture retention capacity of coastal sandy soils, laterite soils and red soils of Kerala
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Vermiwash, the aqueous extract of the bioactive column, contain interactive bio agents and nutrients of substrate material.
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Organically produced Cardamom registered better size colour, oleoresin and volatile oil content when compared to conventionally produced crop.
Foliar diagnosis
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Methods of foliar diagnosis in pepper, Ginger, Turmeric and Coconut were standardized in relation to major plant nutrients
Pesticide Residue studies
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While assessing the Carbofuran residues in banana, application of recommended dose at planting and later on 2nd and 5th month after planting indicated that the fruit was totally free from residual Carbofuran
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2.4 -D residue studies in rice revealed that the present POP recommendation for weed control has not created any adverse effect in soil or crop produce
Heavy metal
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Selective retention of Heavy metals especially Cadmium and Lead in chillies have been had identified and quantified and found that chilli fruits are relatively free from heavy metal contamination while roots retained lead and shoots retained cadmium.
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Studies on the effect of cadmium in tomato indicated that it had a negetative effect on growth and development while there was no such effect for lead
Radiotracer studies
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Chemistry and dynamics of iron and sulphur under submerged condition was traced using Fe-59 and S-32 respectively
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Net Ionic Equilibrium (NIE) was defined and established as an index of soil fertility and nutrient status in plants. The significance of this NIE in yield limiting parameters in coconut was established.
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Foliar absorption of 14C labelled urea by vanilla and nitrogen absorption as urea molecule by rice was traced out using labelled fertilizers.
C. Management
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Dr. K. C. Marykutty, Head of Department, member of the Board of Studies of the Agricultural Faculty and DDO of the SPDL scheme
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Dr. K.A Mariam, Convenor of the Purchasing Committee of the College
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Dr. M.A. Hassan, Principal Investigator of the STCR Project
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Dr. P. K. Sushama the Unit Chief of the ATIC - ABARD on vermi-compost, Principal Investigator of DST and DBT Projects
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Dr. P. Sureshkumar, in charge of the Radio Tracer Laboratory
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Dr. Betty Bastin, Co- Principal Investigator of the STCR Project
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Dr. P.R.Suresh, in charge for Centre for Land Resource Research Management, Officer in charge of NSS programme and the Secretary of the Thrissur Chapter of the Indian Society of Soil Science.
Extension Activities
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Provide Resource Persons for Seminars, Symposia, Workshops / AIR / Doordarshan programmes
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Field visit to problem areas as a part of the Multi- Disciplinary Diagnostic Team for the Department of Agriculture, Government of Kerala
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Participation in the selection of State Agricultural Awards
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Provide expertise trainings in solid waste management, vermi-composting and organic recycling
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Provide expertise for the Evaluation of Macro Management Schemes operated in the Department of Agriculture, Government of Kerala
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Undertaking consultancy services in needed areas.
Training/Seminars/Endowment lectures/ Winter School organised
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Special training course in soil testing to High School (Science) teachers (1981)
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Introductory training on soil testing to the Scientific Assistants of the Department of Agriculture, Kerala (1992)
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A short term training in Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry to the Scientists of the Rubber research Institute of India, Kottayam (1993)
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Training on soil testing for the Agricultural Officers/Assistant Directors of the Department of Agriculture, Kerala (1995)
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Thrissur Chapter of Indian Society of Soil Science conducted Dr. B.V.Mehta Memorial Lecture on “New approaches in waste land development and watershed management” by Dr. K.M. Ramanthan (2000)
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DAE-BRNS Workshop on ‘ The Impact of Applications of Radiation on Food and Agriculture ’organised by BARC Mumbai and Kerala Agricultural University (2001)
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One day seminar on Consultation on Natural Resources of Kerala (2004)
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Training on vermicompost technology, organic farming and business management for farm women (2004, 2005 and 2006)
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Thrissur Chapter of Indian Society of Soil Science conducted Dr. Motiramani Endowment Lecture on “Organic Farming for Sustainability” by Dr. K.M. Ramanthan ( 2006)
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ICAR sponsored Winter School on “GIS based watershed planning in agriculture” (2006)
Associated centres
1. All India Co-ordinated Research project for Investigations On Soil Test Crop Response Correlation (AICRP on STCR)
The Project was sanctioned by ICAR during October 1996 and it became functional in the College of Horticulture attached to the Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry during February1997 with the mandate of providing scientific recommendations and guidelines for soil fertility management of various crops vis-a-vis sustainable crop production with reference to Kerala.
STCR
2. ATIC - ABARD SAIU on Vermi-composting
The Agricultural Technology Information Centre (ATIC) of Kerala Agricultural University is a single window support system for prescribing a package of services such as technology, products, diagnostic assistance and information in agriculture and allied branches of science to community. The unit, which is attached to this Department aims at providing employment generation for unemployed youth. At present the unit offers employment to 8 youths from the unemployed sector. These persons are now well trained in the various aspect of composting and their competency in this field is attracting lot of attention both from the academic and farming communities.
ABARD Training
3. Radiotracer Laboratory
The Radiotracer Laboratory at Kerala Agricultural University was established in the year 1982. Over the past years this laboratory has served as a central facility for research, employing radioisotopes and radiations for the faculty and students from different institutions of the university. The laboratory is also equipped except for the facility for analysis of stable isotope of nitrogen, N.
4. Centre for Land Resources Research and Management ( CLRRM)
The Centre for Land Resources Research and Management is a common facility which co-ordinate pilot studies on integrated resource management at farmstead, watershed and zonal levels and provides orientation and training in new and emerging technologies such as Remote Sensing, Geographic information Systems (GIS), Automated Land Evaluation and System Simulation. Facilities like computers, A0 digitiser, A0 colour plotter, PC Arc Info, Arc View, Spatial Analyst, 3D Analyst, GRAM++ and R2V have been established at the Centre for studying the Agro-ecological zonation of Kerala, SRI-Thrissur (Soil Resource information for Thrissur District), Land Information System (LIS) for the main campus KAU. Efforts are on, to develop an Integrated State Agricultural Resources Information System (ISARIS) at the Centre for multi-sectoral resource analysis and research
5. Soil Plant Diagnostic Laboratory (SPDL) – Revolving Fund mode of KAU
A revolving Fund is operating for the Analysis of the manure samples provided by Commercial Firms on payment basis under revolving scheme
6. Thrissur Chapter of the Indian Society of Soil Science
The Thrissur Chapter of the Indian Society of Soil Science started in 1997 in this Department and at present there are 30 members. The major activities of the chapter are being operated from this division. The activities of the Chapter, apart from helping the Society has been to initiate the genuine interest in the field of Soil Science, especially to those students with an innate inclination towards this subject.
Contact address:
Professor & Head
Department of Soil Science and Agrl. Chemistry
College of Horticulture
Kerala Agricultural University P.O., Thrissur- 680 656
Phone: 0487 2370822 extn (316)
Email: soilcoh@yahoo.co.in
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