43 rd Annual Report (2013 - 2014) Dr. M. Chadrasekaran, Ph.D., Dr. S. Murali Krishnasamy, Ph.D., Dr. K. Selvarasu, Ph.D., Dr. P. Murali Arthanari, Ph.D., DIRECTORATE OF PLANNING AND MONITORING TAMIL NADU AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY COIMBATORE - 641 003 CONTENTS Chapter Index Page 1.0 Introduction 1 2.0 University Administration 7 3.0 Education 33 3.1. School of Post Graduate Studies 33 3.2. Under Graduate Education 41 3.3. Directorate of Students Welfare 76 3.4. Directorate of Publications and Public Relations 81 3.5. Directorate of Open and Distance Learning 84 3.6. Controllerate of Examinations 86 4.0 Research 93 4.1. New Crop Varieties and Farm Machineries Released 93 4.2. Salient Research Findings 95 4.3. Directorate of Crop Management 97 4.4. Centre for Plant Molecular Biology and Bio-technology 110 4.5. Directorate of Natural Resource Management 113 4.6. Water Technology Centre 119 4.7. Centre for Plant Protection Studies 121 4.8. Centre for Plant Breeding and Genetics 124 4.9. Agricultural Engineering 128 4.10. Centre for Agricultural and Rural Development Studies 130 4.11. Forestry 139 4.12. Home Science 141 4.13. Seed Centre 144 4.14. Directorate of Planning and Monitoring 147 4.15. Directorate of Agri-Business Development 148 5.0 Directorate of Extension Education 151 Inputs produced and distributed and Laboratory services provided 6.0 157 by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University Awards conferred on Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, 7.0 163 Departments and Scientists 8.0 Funding sources 167 Annexures 169 I Publications 169 II Civil Works 223 Colleges, Research Stations and Krishi Vigyan Kendras under III 227 Tamil Nadu Agricultural University Introduction 43 rd Annual Report (2013-14) 1. INTRODUCTION Tamil Nadu Agricultural University is scientifi c developments, are offered through focusing its activities in six major domains its 11 constituent colleges and nine affi liated such as; Agricultural Education, Agricultural colleges. Research, Agricultural Extension Education, Three new private Agricultural Colleges Agri business Development, supporting youth were established during 2013-14, at Thuraiyur, by Open and Distance Learning Programmes Namakkal and Boothalur (Thanjavur) with to attract and retain them in agriculture and affi liation to Tamil Nadu Agricultural University. Agricultural Policy support to meet the Global Tamil Nadu Agricultural University has offered challenges of food production. The major 13 Under Graduate programmes, 35 Masters initiatives are; (1) Promoting sustainable degree and 26 Doctoral degree programmes. increase in agricultural production through During the year, 2013, i) M.Sc.(Ag.) soil quality assessment and management, (2) in Molecular Plant Breeding, ii) Integrated Weather and price information based decisions Ph.D. in 26 disciplines, iii) External Ph.D. in by farmers on crop choices and crop husbandry Agronomy, Agricultural Entomology, Genetics, activities to make agricultural production Soil Science and Microbiology were started. to be market driven and cost effi cient to B.Tech in Food Science and Technology was stand competition, (3) Use of integrated crop started at Indian Institute of Crop Processing management practices such as; Integrated Technology (IICPT), Thanjavur with affi liation to Nutrient Management, Integrated Pest Tamil Nadu Agricultural University. Management, Integrated Weed Management to make agriculture sustainable, (4) Mechanization During the year 2013-14, the number of farm operations, (5) Integrated Farming of Students admitted to Under graduate, System and Organic Farming to augment Postgraduate and Doctoral programmes were; income of farmers and conserve natural 1921, 449 and 135, respectively. resources particularly in fragile areas such as; The Directorate of Students’ Welfare dry lands and eroded soils and hill areas and (DSW) of the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (6) ramping up agricultural extension for quick, (TNAU), Coimbatore, is the hub providing inclusive and effective reach of information on career counseling and job placement for technology and farmer assistance development students. TNAU has an “Overseas Employment programmes. Unit” to facilitate graduates to get placement Agricultural Education in organisations abroad. A state-of-the-art ‘Communication Laboratory’ is also available to At National level, Tamil Nadu Agricultural improve the soft skills and employability of the University is recognized as one of the premier graduates. institutes among the Agricultural Universities. This Directorate facilitated students The courses, structured considering the by providing coaching on Graduate Record changing scenario, the growth needs and the Examination (GRE), Test of English as Foreign 43 rd Annual Report (2013-14) 1 43 rd Annual Report (2013-14) Language (TOEFL) and International English Refi nement of technologies through its 14 Krishi Language Testing System (IELTS) and guidance Vigyan Kendras has released; (A) four varieties to pursue higher studies abroad. During 2013- / hybrids viz., (1) Rice TPS 5, Blackgram MDU 14, 112 students were placed in Agro Industry, 1, Fodder sorghum Co 31, Butter pear Ooty Seed Industry, Food Industry, Fertilizer Industry, 1 and (B) one agricultural implement, viz., (1) Non Government Organisations, Plantations Tractor operated single row / two row cassava and Banking sector. harvestor for the benefi t of farming community. Tamil Nadu Agricultural University The National Variety Release Committee is offering many correspondence courses has notifi ed the release of following six crop through the Directorate of Open and Distance varieties at National Level during 2013 (as per Learning. At present, one Diploma programme, the information received recently); (1) Maize fi ve Postgraduate diploma programmes, hybrid COH (M) 7, (2) Maize hybrid COH (M) 8, three Postgraduate degree programmes, 16 (3) Maize hybrid COH (M) 9, (4) Maize hybrid Certifi cate courses besides, one Bachelor COH (M) 10, (5) Kodomillet variety TNAU 86 degree - B. F. Tech. (Bachelor of Farm and (6) Guinea grass CO (GG) 3. Technology), to benefi t farmers and rural youth The Food Processing Research and are offered. The number of candidates enrolled Training Institute was established at Chettinad in 2013-14 is; 392 in certifi cate courses, 60 in in Sivagangai district during January 2014. Postgraduate degree programmes and 12 in Postgraduate diploma programmes besides, New technologies developed for 253 in B.F. Tech course. increased yields In TNAU Library, a total of 7.80 lakh pages In groundnut, seed treatment with Sulphur of valuable documents (rare books, theses, Oxidizing Bacterial (SOB) inoculant @ 1 kg/ha back volumes, annual reports, etc.) have with Rhizobium @1kg/ha was standardized. been digitalized for the use of students and This along with basal application of gypsum @ scientists, through the NAIP–ICAR Project on 400 kg/ha and soil application of SOB @ 5 kg / th Strengthening of Digital Library and Information ha on 45 day after sowing enhanced the yield Management (e-Granth). All these contents upto 21.0%. Development and standardization are made available in the Digital Repository of of rooting mixture for raising sugarcane chip Krishikosh and could be referred by anybody at bud seedling under Sustainable Sugarcane any time. Initiative (SSI) technique were made. Standardization of nursery techniques for Agricultural Research quality seedling production in ‘White Kadamba’ Newly released Varieties / Hybrids tree was made. Mini clonal technology for mass and Farm machinery multiplication of Casuarina was developed. In the year 2014, Tamil Nadu Agricultural Mixed inoculants like Azophos and Azophosmet University through the research work carried for supply of N, P and growth hormones were out at 11 constituent colleges and 38 research standardized for application to different crops. stations and On farm testing, Assessment and Formulation, dosage, method of application 2 43 rd Annual Report (2013-14) 43 rd Annual Report (2013-14) and feeding schedules of liquid biofertilizer small millets, combine harvester for groundnut were developed for precision farming system. and tractor operated fertilizer dibbler for ratoon Nutrient management for cotton under drip sugarcane were developed. fertigation system was standardized. Long During the year 2013-14, four inventions term experiment on STCR-IPNS technology were fi led for patent rights. revealed that yield increase over blanket recommendation was 25.0 per cent and 21.8 Agricultural Extension per cent during Kharif and Rabi season, Transfer of Technology programmes were respectively, in rice – rice cropping system. takenup through the 14 Krishi Vigyan Kendras. Irrigating groundnut with micro-sprinkler Totally, 71 On Farm Testing (OFT), 174 Front registered the maximum yield of 2844 kg/ha Line Demonstrations (FLD) of newly released followed by sub-surface drip irrigation method varieties and technologies were conducted, (2655 kg/ha). Application of NPK at 17:34:51 besides, 4281 trainings to extension offi cers, kg /ha with 50 per cent P and K as basal as rural youth and SHG members and 13413 farm straight fertilizer and the balance P and K and advisory were issued. full N as water soluble fertilizer registered The National Initiative on Climate increased pod yield (2685 kg/ha). Sub-surface Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) project has been drip fertigation system in maize - cotton - sanctioned to Villupuram, Nagapattinam and maize sequence was standardized.Pruning Ramanathapuram Krishi Vigyan Kendras.