The Agronomic Research Station was established on February 14th, 1972 by the Department of Agriculture, Kerala. The KAU took over the station in 1973 for implementing the Co-ordinated project for research on water management sponsored by ICAR. The Scheme started functioning from July 1974.

The lead functions are water management for rice and rice-based cropping system and other annual crops. The verification functions include agro-techniques in rice and rice-based cropping system. The AICRP on water management is functioning at this centre from 1974.

• A phasic stress irrigation schedule was evolved for summer rice (under limited supply of irrigation water) which can save substantial quantity of irrigation water without any reduction in yield.

• Water requirement of rice was also estimated.

• The centre developed economic and efficient water management practices for the following crops: cowpea, sweet potato, black gram, pineapple, groundnut, Elephant foot yam, sesame, coconut, banana, bitter gourd, cassava, ash gourd and ginger.