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The agronomical investigation began with the inception of the station at Tocklai although, in those early years, they were generally exploratory in nature and carried out in various tea estates in collaboration with their management. In 1914, about 50 ha grazing land was acquired at Borbhetta, at a distance of about 3 km from Tocklai. Since then a very large number of trials on different aspects of tea agronomy like pruning, manufacturing, cultivation, shade etc., had been carried out at Borbhetta Field Experimental Estate. Results of the trials conducted at Borbhetta, supplemented by trials carried out in different tea estates, became the basis for various recommendations made by Tocklai from time to time on different aspects of tea agronomy. Until 1946, following Officers of the chemistry department looked after tea agronomy and the Borbhetta Experimental Estate:
In 1946, the Agriculture Department was established with Dr. E. K. Woodford joining the post of Agriculturist. In 1947, Mr. S.K. Dutta joined as Agriculturist and took over charge of the department in 1948. Till 1953, the department remained as a part of Agri-Botany Branch in the Botany Department. Thereafter, this branch was known as Agriculture Branch till 1977 when the present full-fledged Agronomy Department came into being. In the meantime, another 150 ha of area under tea, the Tocklai Division was acquired from Assam Tea Corporation while a part of the Borbhetta estate was handed over to Assam Agricultural University. |