Instructional Farms - S.Thangapazham Agriculture College

S. No.	Department	Name of the Instructional Farm	Area	Details
1.	Agronomy	Field lab cum Class room	140 sq.m	Field lab cum class room available at central farm – A Block of this college is utilized for the conduct of demonstrations pertaining to Weed management and Farm mechanization courses.
		Crop husbandry	2.4 ha.	III year UG students are allotted with an area of 5-10 cents to carry out the crop cultivation.
		Cafeteria unit	2 acres	2 acres covering all crops are maintained regularly.
		Irrigation cafeteria unit	1000 m²	Irrigation cafeteria was laid and maintained at an area of 1000 m2 to expose the practical knowledge on irrigation water measuring devices, different methods of irrigation and micro irrigation techniquesto the students. The water measuring devices parshall flume, 90°V notch, trapezoidal or cipolletti weir and rectangular weir are installed in the cafeteria, the layout on irrigation methods such as uncontrolled flooding, beds and channel, ridges and furrows, check basin, ring basin and furrow irrigated raised beds were maintained. Also, the micro irrigation methods, drip irrigation and sprinkler irrigation were laid to impart skills on micro irrigation techniques to the students.
		IFS (Wetland based unit)	1 ha	Farm pond (20 x 15 m), Poultry shed, one milch animal, 4 + 1 sheep are maintained in 1 ha wetland system.
	Soil Science and agricultural Chemistry	Vermicompost unit	400 sq.m	Mass production of vermicompost- A Quantity of 6 tonnes of vermicompost was produced.
	Agricultural Microbiology	Azolla Production Unit	64 sq.ft	Mass production of Azolla and used as biofertilizer for paddy and also as cattle feed.
	Environmental Science	Farm waste	1500 cu.ft	Farm waste are collected and shredded by shredding machine. Then these shredded materials are made into compost by pit method.
	Ag. Engineering	Solar panel unit	300 sq.ft	Solar panel unit is installed to run the 5 hp submergible pump in the bore well.
2.	Plant Breeding and Genetics	Student’s Crop Cafeteria	2 acres	Here, recent varieties of crops and its wild/germplasm accessions are raised and maintained to help the students to observe and learn botany and its life cycle.
2.	Seed Science and Technology	Seed Production Farm	3 acres	Seed production is initiated to produce paddy certified seed production in an area of 3 acres. The seed farm is maintained to help the students to learn the package of practices and minimum seed certification procedures that are followed during the certified seed production. A seed company viz., STAC seeds was registered at Tamil Nadu Seed certification Department.
3.	Agricultural Entomology	Apiary	10 hives	Indian honey bees, Apis cerana indica hives are maintained for giving hands on training to the students.
	Agricultural Entomology	Sericulture Unit	21 m²	Mulberry plants are cultivated in 0.5 acrewith suitable farming system. Silkworm rearing unit is also maintained to give hands on training to the students and farmers.
	Plant Pathology	Mushroom shed	40 m²	A mushroom shed is being maintained with a size of 40 m² for giving hands on training to the students.
4.	Horticulture	Commercial Orchard	94.27 acres	An area of 94.27 acres has been established for commercial cultivation of Mango, Guava, Citrus, Amla, Manila Tamarind and Coconut.
		Mini Orchard	1 acre	A mini orchard is being maintained in ultra high density planting for all tropical fruit crops, plantation crops. Mainly for practicing horticultural techniques like nipping, training and application of water soluble fertilizers by the undergraduate students. Infrastructure: Bore-well and power room; Drip irrigation system.
		Polyhouse	400 sq.m	400 sq.m for cultivation of Hybrid Tomato (U.S.12) Infrastructure: Overhead sprinkler system; Drip irrigation and fertigation, ½ H.P motor.
		Shade -Net house	400 sq. m	400 sq. m for the propagation of fruits and ornamental plants and cultivation of vegetables.
		Nursery	2000 sq.m	Tree saplings, Fruit crop seedlings, Potted ornamental plants
		Mist chamber	136 sq.m	Propagation of garden plants viz., Citrus, Manila Tamarind, Guava, Henna, Duranda, Almond, Hibiscus, Ixora, Cliro Dendron and medicinal plants.
		Kitchen garden	288 sq.m	Cultivation of vegetable crops
		Flower and Ornamental plants unit	150 sq.m	Cultivation of flower and ornamental crops
		Herbal garden	300 sq. m	Endangered and native species of medicinal plants of about 50 species are maintained for the benefit of the students.
		Botanical garden	4000 sq. m	Endangered and native species of ornamental plants of about 40 species are maintained for the benefit of the students.
5.	Forestry	Wood lot	8.84 acres.	A total of 33 species of trees are being maintained in the wood lot.
5.	Forestry	Nursery	2000 sq.m	Tree saplings (1000) are produced to plant around the periphery of the campus.